1. Start with the Clarkston service area, not an assumed market
Clarkston city is a municipality in DeKalb County, Georgia. The 2020–2024 ACS 5-year population estimate for the city is 14,557, with a margin of error of 25. That is geographic and eligibility context only; it does not establish legal demand, case volume, competition, search behavior or revenue. A custom-software decision should therefore describe the firm’s actual operating area precisely. A practice serving Clarkston may also work across DeKalb County or elsewhere in Georgia, but those geographies should not be treated as interchangeable. The system should record the service area and matter information your firm actually uses rather than turning a population figure into a forecast.
Recommended approach
At consultation, define whether the tool is for Clarkston matters, DeKalb County matters, a broader Georgia practice, or an internal process that does not depend on geography. Keep geographic labels separate from household, individual and population measures. If the tool touches marketing or intake, agree on how location will be captured and reviewed before implementation.
