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As we step into 2026, women in Georgia, like many across the United States, continue to encounter significant challenges in the workforce, from disparities in pay to underrepresentation in leadership roles. Despite progress in some areas, the reality remains that women often face unique hurdles in their professional lives.
To better understand these challenges, we’ve analyzed cities across Georgia to identify where women fare the worst in terms of economic opportunities and support. The results reveal that location plays a crucial role in determining the quality of life for women in the state.
Continue reading to discover which cities rank lowest for women and the factors influencing these rankings.
The 10 Worst Cities To Be A Woman In Georgia
The cities listed above represent the most challenging environments for women in Georgia. Read on to understand the underlying causes of these rankings or jump to the end for insights into the best cities for women in the state.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In Georgia
Each city was ranked across four key categories:
- Percentage Of Women In Management (Lower is worse)
- Percentage Of Women In Poverty (Higher is worse)
- Women’s Earnings Relative to Male Earnings (Lower is worse)
- Uninsured Women (Lower is worse)
To assess the income gap between women and men in each city, we utilized data from the Census’ American Community Survey. The income disparity was determined by dividing median male income by median female income, providing insight into how much women earn per male dollar earned.
For the percentage of women living in poverty, we sourced data from the ACS, focusing specifically on women living without relatives, a demographic that typically faces greater economic challenges. This approach provides a clearer perspective on the economic struggles women encounter.
We also examined the percentage of women in management roles from the ACS, recognizing the importance of representation in leadership positions for women’s advancement in the workplace.
Finally, we referenced the ACS to determine the percentage of uninsured women in each city.
Our analysis included cities in Georgia with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Waycross
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.62
Women In Management: 19.0%
Women In Poverty: 33.0%
Women Uninsured: 18.9%
Waycross ranks as the most challenging city for women in Georgia, marked by low representation in management and high poverty rates. Women in Waycross face significant barriers to economic stability and health insurance access.
2. Tifton
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.63
Women In Management: 35.6%
Women In Poverty: 39.4%
Women Uninsured: 21.4%
In Tifton, women encounter significant economic difficulties, with high poverty rates and low earnings compared to men, making it the second most challenging city for women in Georgia.
3. Barnesville
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.53
Women In Management: 22.8%
Women In Poverty: 38.1%
Women Uninsured: 14.6%
Women in Barnesville face considerable challenges, with low management representation and high poverty rates contributing to a difficult environment for economic advancement.
4. Thomaston
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.53
Women In Management: 29.5%
Women In Poverty: 30.0%
Women Uninsured: 16.7%
Thomaston ranks fourth, with a significant percentage of women living in poverty and lacking health insurance, indicating a challenging socioeconomic environment for women.
5. Sandersville
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.40
Women In Management: 36.1%
Women In Poverty: 37.9%
Women Uninsured: 13.6%
Sandersville falls fifth in the rankings, where despite some management opportunities, women still grapple with high poverty rates.
6. Moultrie
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.89
Women In Management: 18.3%
Women In Poverty: 37.4%
Women Uninsured: 23.3%
Moultrie ranks sixth, marked by a low percentage of women in management and high rates of poverty among women, indicating significant barriers to economic success.
7. Thomson
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.82
Women In Management: 8.5%
Women In Poverty: 36.5%
Women Uninsured: 17.5%
Thomson is another difficult city for women, with low management representation and high poverty rates contributing to the challenges faced by women in the workforce.
8. Calhoun
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.84
Women In Management: 16.0%
Women In Poverty: 30.0%
Women Uninsured: 21.9%
Calhoun ranks eighth, with high poverty levels and low management representation, making it a challenging place for women to thrive economically.
9. Cordele
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.67
Women In Management: 41.5%
Women In Poverty: 49.3%
Women Uninsured: 16.5%
Cordele is the ninth city on our list, where women face high poverty rates and a significant income gap relative to men, indicating a challenging environment.
10. Valdosta
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.70
Women In Management: 39.1%
Women In Poverty: 36.0%
Women Uninsured: 16.7%
Valdosta rounds out the top ten, where women face considerable economic challenges, particularly with a significant percentage living in poverty.
Summary On Worst Cities to Be A Woman In Georgia
The cities outlined above represent the most challenging environments for women in Georgia. Women in these areas continue to encounter systemic barriers that hinder their economic progress and overall quality of life.
While progress is being made statewide, the disparities in income, management representation, and health insurance accessibility highlight the need for continued efforts to improve conditions for women in these cities. Understanding these challenges is crucial for advocating for change and supporting women in their professional journeys.
Explore the detailed rankings below to better understand how different cities compare in terms of opportunities for women.
Detailed List Of The Worst Cities For Women In Georgia
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waycross | $0.62 |
| 2 | Tifton | $0.63 |
| 3 | Barnesville | $0.53 |
| 4 | Thomaston | $0.53 |
| 5 | Sandersville | $0.40 |
| 6 | Moultrie | $0.89 |
| 7 | Thomson | $0.82 |
| 8 | Calhoun | $0.84 |
| 9 | Cordele | $0.67 |
| 10 | Valdosta | $0.70 |
| 11 | Forest Park | $0.70 |
| 12 | Palmetto | $0.66 |
| 13 | Brunswick | $0.68 |
| 14 | Griffin | $0.66 |
| 15 | Jesup | $0.88 |
| 16 | Cedartown | $0.77 |
| 17 | Adel | $0.85 |
| 18 | Dahlonega | $0.48 |
| 19 | Canton | $0.63 |
| 20 | Kingsland | $0.50 |
| 21 | Fort Valley | $0.78 |
| 22 | Auburn | $0.63 |
| 23 | Athens-Clarke County | $0.72 |
| 24 | Commerce | $0.74 |
| 25 | Thomasville | $0.75 |
| 26 | Bainbridge | $0.73 |
| 27 | Rincon | $0.58 |
| 28 | Cumming | $0.91 |
| 29 | Dalton | $0.89 |
| 30 | Warner Robins | $0.66 |
| 31 | Vidalia | $0.77 |
| 32 | Cartersville | $0.78 |
| 33 | Fitzgerald | $0.62 |
| 34 | Milledgeville | $0.68 |
| 35 | Fair Oaks | $0.87 |
| 36 | Clarkston | $0.92 |
| 37 | Statesboro | $1.02 |
| 38 | Hampton | $0.80 |
| 39 | Covington | $0.61 |
| 40 | Sylvester | $0.69 |
| 41 | Holly Springs | $0.52 |
| 42 | Savannah | $0.79 |
| 43 | Monroe | $0.83 |
| 44 | Doraville | $0.94 |
| 45 | Perry | $0.70 |
| 46 | Newnan | $0.56 |
| 47 | Chamblee | $1.03 |
| 48 | Sugar Hill | $0.67 |
| 49 | Carrollton | $0.51 |
| 50 | Mcrae-Helena | $0.62 |
| 51 | Norcross | $0.94 |
| 52 | Dublin | $0.69 |
| 53 | Gainesville | $0.80 |
| 54 | Toccoa | $0.66 |
| 55 | Buford | $0.73 |
| 56 | Douglas | $0.95 |
| 57 | Lafayette | $0.60 |
| 58 | Columbus | $0.73 |
| 59 | Americus | $0.56 |
| 60 | Grovetown | $0.61 |
| 61 | Jefferson | $0.60 |
| 62 | Loganville | $0.74 |
| 63 | Albany | $0.77 |
| 64 | College Park | $0.83 |
| 65 | Byron | $0.54 |
| 66 | Lawrenceville | $0.78 |
| 67 | Morrow | $0.66 |
| 68 | Waynesboro | $0.62 |
| 69 | Dock Junction | $0.85 |
| 70 | Macon-Bibb County | $0.80 |
| 71 | Brookhaven | $0.76 |
| 72 | Garden City | $0.73 |
| 73 | Winder | $0.88 |
| 74 | Georgetown | $0.66 |
| 75 | Lagrange | $0.69 |
| 76 | Centerville | $0.69 |
| 77 | Richmond Hill | $0.53 |
| 78 | Suwanee | $0.54 |
| 79 | Eatonton | $1.05 |
| 80 | Peachtree City | $0.40 |
| 81 | Irondale | $0.83 |
| 82 | St. Marys | $0.51 |
| 83 | East Point | $0.78 |
| 84 | Tyrone | $0.52 |
| 85 | Milton | $0.48 |
| 86 | Gresham Park | $0.80 |
| 87 | Marietta | $0.85 |
| 88 | Scottdale | $1.01 |
| 89 | Braselton | $0.65 |
| 90 | Roswell | $0.69 |
| 91 | Rome | $0.91 |
| 92 | Whitemarsh Island | $0.71 |
| 93 | Lilburn | $0.85 |
| 94 | Riverdale | $0.91 |
| 95 | Villa Rica | $0.64 |
| 96 | Duluth | $0.74 |
| 97 | Atlanta | $0.75 |
| 98 | Alpharetta | $0.54 |
| 99 | Johns Creek | $0.50 |
| 100 | Mableton | $0.74 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
