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Bartow County, GA

RANK #948 / 996  ·  POP 109,410  ·  GA

PROJECTED GROWTH: -2.6%

Bartow County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Bartow County?

Bartow County, Georgia, located approximately 45 miles north of Atlanta, offers a blend of historical significance and natural beauty. Cartersville, the county seat, is notable for its three Smithsonian-affiliated museums, including the Tellus Science Museum and the Booth Western Art Museum. The county is also home to the Etowah Indian Mounds, a 54-acre archaeological site along the Etowah River, reflecting thousands of years of Native American history. Residents and visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation at Lake Allatoona and Red Top Mountain State Park, which offer opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and camping. Commuting to Atlanta is common, with Interstate 75 providing a direct route, and local transit services are available within the county.

Life in Bartow County combines a small-town atmosphere with access to larger city amenities. The community attracts families, with public schools in the Bartow County School District receiving positive ratings. The local economy is experiencing investment across several sectors, including manufacturing, energy, and data centers. This growth is contributing to an increased demand for housing and a focus on developing diverse housing options. The county's economic development efforts aim to create job opportunities and a competitive job market for its residents.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
3.9x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+8.5%

Well above national median

Home Prices
-0.0%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
1.2

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
12x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 3.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Bartow County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
109,410
+1.43% YoY
Median Household Income
$74,812
Median Home Value
$237,000
-0.03% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,090
Average Annual Pay
$57,660
+5.2% YoY
Employment
46,472
+3.9% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3157
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
5.35%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$331,500
Days on Market
81
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.8
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.6%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
16.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
29.0%
Building Permits (2024)
1,622
Single-Family Permits
1,139

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$34,900M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Project Bunkhouse Data Center Campus
Undisclosed Developer (working with Kimley-Horn)
$19,000M Proposed
EV Battery Manufacturing Facility
Hyundai Motor Group and SK On
$5,000M Under Construction
Project Springbank Data Center Campus
Atlas Development, LLC
$4,500M Proposed
Solar Manufacturing Facility (Ingots, Wafers, Cells, Panels)
Qcells
$2,500M Under Construction
Grand Etowah Mixed-Use Development
Willoughby Investments
$2,400M Proposed
Natural Gas Units at Plant Bowen
Georgia Power
$1,500M Proposed

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +8.5% 97 percentile
Population Growth +1.4% 81 percentile
Income Growth +14.1% 99 percentile
Vacancy Rate 2.0% 9 percentile
Home Price Change -0.0% 30 percentile
Rent Growth -0.7% 7 percentile
Price/Rent 12x 72 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bartow County, GA a good place to move to?

Bartow County has a Boom Town Index score of 5/100, ranking #948 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.9% and a median household income of $74,812, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Bartow County affordable?

The median home value in Bartow County is $237,000 with median rent at $1,090/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3157, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Bartow County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.9%. Home values changed -0.0% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Bartow County?

Yes — 5.35% of Bartow County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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