Find a Job You Really Want In
Starting a new job can often bring about anxiety and tightness in your chest, a feeling many can relate to. However, certain areas in Georgia are grappling with stressors that extend well beyond just the first day on the job.
With lengthy commutes, extended working hours, and the ongoing challenges of finding stable employment, some places in Georgia stand out as particularly high-stress environments. Here’s a look at the cities where stress levels are especially pronounced:
- Clarkston
- Stone Mountain
- Forest Park
- Norcross
- East Point
- Riverdale
- Hampton
- Lovejoy
- Lawrenceville
- Austell
Let’s dive deeper into why these locations in Georgia are experiencing heightened stress levels.
For further insights into Georgia’s job market, explore these articles:
How We Assessed Stress Levels in Georgia
To determine the stress levels across various cities in Georgia, we analyzed six key factors that contribute to daily stress. We focused on areas with populations exceeding 5,000 based on the most recent American Community Survey:
- Percentage of residents with a long commute (over 30 minutes)
- Unemployment Rate
- Average Hours Worked
- Population Density
- Percentage of Income Spent on Rent
- Percentage of Population Lacking Health Insurance
The higher the values for these factors, the greater the stress experienced by residents.
We ranked each city from 1 to 127 (with 1 being the most stressed) based on these criteria. The resulting average ranks formed a comprehensive Stress Score, highlighting Clarkston as the most stressed location in Georgia.
1. Clarkston
Population: 7,717
High Rent Residents: 53.3%
Long Commute Residents: 56.7%
Uninsured Residents: 31.5%
2. Stone Mountain
Population: 5,924
High Rent Residents: 61.2%
Long Commute Residents: 60.1%
Uninsured Residents: 26.7%
3. Forest Park
Population: 18,783
High Rent Residents: 61.2%
Long Commute Residents: 43.1%
Uninsured Residents: 42.9%
4. Norcross
Population: 15,799
High Rent Residents: 62.7%
Long Commute Residents: 55.1%
Uninsured Residents: 35.5%
5. East Point
Population: 35,070
High Rent Residents: 59.4%
Long Commute Residents: 41.0%
Uninsured Residents: 28.7%
6. Riverdale
Population: 15,496
High Rent Residents: 64.1%
Long Commute Residents: 34.8%
Uninsured Residents: 24.8%
7. Hampton
Population: 7,092
High Rent Residents: 81.1%
Long Commute Residents: 43.0%
Uninsured Residents: 23.8%
8. Lovejoy
Population: 6,433
High Rent Residents: 56.8%
Long Commute Residents: 50.8%
Uninsured Residents: 19.6%
9. Lawrenceville
Population: 29,364
High Rent Residents: 56.7%
Long Commute Residents: 45.8%
Uninsured Residents: 25.3%
10. Austell
Population: 6,944
High Rent Residents: 61.3%
Long Commute Residents: 58.2%
Uninsured Residents: 22.5%
Comprehensive Ranking of Stressed Cities in Georgia
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Clarkston | 1 |
| Stone Mountain | 2 |
| Forest Park | 3 |
| Norcross | 4 |
| East Point | 5 |
| Riverdale | 6 |
| Hampton | 7 |
| Lovejoy | 8 |
| Lawrenceville | 9 |
| Austell | 10 |
In conclusion, stress in the workplace and living environments is a significant issue in many parts of Georgia. Understanding these stress factors can help residents and policymakers address the challenges faced by these communities. Whether it’s advocating for better transportation options, affordable housing, or healthcare access, there’s a clear need for proactive solutions to improve quality of life across the state.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
