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Living in
Norcross.
About
Life in Norcross
Living in Norcross means you're getting a genuine suburb that's growing fast—the population nearly doubled between 2010 and 2020—without losing its grounded, family-oriented character. The location is genuinely convenient; you're about 20 miles from downtown Atlanta but positioned right off I-85 and I-285, which means a reasonable 28-minute commute for most people heading into the city, though that can stretch during rush hour. Housing costs are moderate for the Atlanta metro (median home around $403k, median rent around $1,715), and the job market is steady with a 3.1% unemployment rate and actual employers based here—Waffle House headquarters, semiconductor and tech companies, LED display manufacturers—so you're not entirely dependent on commuting.
Norcross at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.2%
Foreign-Born
34.5%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+10.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics34.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Norcross: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Norcross, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.6%), and 35.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
9.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.7%
of households
Married Couples
44.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% above GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Norcross
In Norcross, rent runs 23% above the GA average, and home values are 33% above the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
68.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
33.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,967
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $321,220 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for GA
Unemployment in Norcross and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Gwinnett County, which includes Norcross, is close to the GA average.
Unemployment rate
Norcross: Gwinnett County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Gwinnett County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Norcross is about 2% of Gwinnett County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Norcross Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area
Commute27.6 min avg
How Norcross residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Norcross, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Norcross runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,749.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Norcross Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Gwinnett County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Gwinnett County, which includes Norcross, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2024 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $102,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $247,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $327,500 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Gwinnett County, county-wide
Norcross is about 2% of Gwinnett County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Gwinnett County, which includes Norcross, is typically good — 211 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
211
per year
Moderate Days
151
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Gwinnett County, county-wide
Norcross is about 2% of Gwinnett County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Norcross has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
56.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.5"
Hot Days/Year
53
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
49
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 33°F | 4.57" |
| Feb | 56°F | 36°F | 4.47" |
| Mar | 64°F | 42°F | 4.70" |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 3.87" |
| May | 80°F | 59°F | 3.83" |
| Jun | 86°F | 66°F | 4.69" |
| Jul | 89°F | 70°F | 4.71" |
| Aug | 88°F | 69°F | 4.51" |
| Sep | 83°F | 63°F | 4.12" |
| Oct | 73°F | 51°F | 3.39" |
| Nov | 63°F | 41°F | 4.21" |
| Dec | 54°F | 36°F | 4.36" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Norcross
Uninsured
22.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Norcross's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northside Hospital Duluth
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.2 mi away · Duluth
Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta
Psychiatric · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Atlanta
Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.6 mi away · Atlanta
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Norcross
Norcross's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 40.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Norcross (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 11,344 students · in-state tuition $4,532 · 25% graduate · median earnings $48,736 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,298 students · in-state tuition $68,056 · 93% graduate · median earnings $93,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Georgia
8.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 1,940 students · in-state tuition $21,250 · 73% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,352 students · in-state tuition $49,430 · 53% graduate · median earnings $60,002 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 836 students · in-state tuition $52,552 · 75% graduate · median earnings $60,457 (10 yrs after entry)
American InterContinental University-Atlanta
8.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 734 students · in-state tuition $13,297 · 19% graduate · median earnings $42,612 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Norcross
Norcross has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
6 mi awayMartin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
16 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
22 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
84 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
87 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
93 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Norcross
Norcross
5735 Buford Highway, Norcross
Cities Near Norcross
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Norcross?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Norcross FAQ
Is Norcross, Georgia affordable?⌄
Norcross's median rent is $1,715/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $75,266/year. Median home value is $403,400.
Is Norcross, Georgia safe?⌄
Norcross's violent crime rate was 182 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1750 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Norcross, Georgia?⌄
Gwinnett County, which includes Norcross, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Norcross, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Norcross is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,715/month and median household income is $75,266/year. The median home value is $403,400. About 68% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Norcross, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Norcross is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from