RANK #529 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 41 GA · POP 113,113
1YR FORECAST: -1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
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.
Bartow County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.7% YoY, population +1.8%, wages +6.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Bartow County scores 47/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#529). Median household income is $82,243 and job growth is running at +2.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Bartow County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $289,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,268/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Bartow County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.5% clip. Home values shifted +0.7% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.76% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Bartow County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.