RANK #835 / 1001 NAT · #26 / 41 GA · POP 281,032
1YR FORECAST: -1.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Cherokee County, Georgia, distinguishes itself with Lake Allatoona, a significant recreational lake offering fishing, boating, and sandy beaches. Located in northwest Georgia, the county is part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, with its southern parts closest to the city. Commuting to Atlanta is common, with options like the Xpress commuter coach service available from park-and-ride lots in Woodstock. The community blends suburban living with access to the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 43 miles of trails, 22 parks, and access to the Etowah River for kayaking and fishing contribute to the area's natural appeal.
Life in Cherokee County often appeals to families, drawn by the Cherokee County School District, which serves over 42,000 students across 40 public schools. The county has seen rapid growth, with a focus on balancing residential development with commercial and industrial expansion. Economic development efforts aim to diversify employment beyond its historical manufacturing base, shifting towards professional services, technology, education, and healthcare. Major employers include Pilgrim's Pride, Chart Industries, and Inalfa Roof Systems. The county's GDP grew by approximately 15% from 2018 to 2022, indicating recent economic expansion.
Cherokee County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.1% runs below the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 29.2x — 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Cherokee County scores just 16/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #835 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.6% and median household income of $108,115 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Cherokee County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $435,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.25 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,799/month on average.
Cherokee County's population is growing — up +2.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.6%). Home values shifted -1.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.26% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cherokee County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.