7 / 100

Cobb County, GA

Acworth-Kennesaw

RANK #922 / 996 NAT  ·  #35 / 41 GA  ·  POP 765,813

1YR FORECAST: -1.9%

5YR OUTLOOK: +10%

Our model projects Cobb County's housing market at -1.9% over the next year, underperforming most U.S. counties.

[01] Why Cobb County?

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, a significant Civil War site with miles of trails and panoramic views, is a distinctive landmark in Cobb County. Located immediately northwest of Atlanta, Cobb County offers a blend of suburban living and access to a major metropolitan area. Commute times to Atlanta average around 30 minutes, though they can extend during peak hours. The county provides various transit options, including CobbLinc bus services and connections to MARTA. Beyond historical sites, outdoor recreation is plentiful with Lake Allatoona, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and the 61-mile Silver Comet Trail.

Cobb County maintains a high quality of life, attracting families with its public school system, which is the second largest in Georgia and highly rated. The county's economy is experiencing growth, with recent activity in food-related businesses, professional services, healthcare, and home services. Major employers include WellStar Health System and Lockheed Martin Aeronautical. Tourism also contributes significantly to the local economy, supported by attractions like Truist Park, home to the Atlanta Braves. The county's focus on attracting private investment and supporting businesses, from startups to larger corporations, shapes its economic landscape.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.1x

Below national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+1.0%

Well below national median

Home Prices
-2.8%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
-0.2

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
16x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 4.1x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    WellStar Health System Healthcare
    5,000+
  2. 2
    Cobb County School District Education
  3. 3
    Kennesaw State University Education
    2,500+
  4. 4
    Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Manufacturing
  5. 5
    Cobb County Government Government
  6. 6
    The Home Depot Retail
  7. 7
    Publix Super Markets, Inc. Retail
  8. 8
    The Kroger Company Retail
  9. 9
    Walmart Retail
  10. 10
    Dobbins Air Reserve Base Military

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Cobb County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
765,813
+0.43% YoY
Median Household Income
$94,244
Median Home Value
$346,000
-2.79% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,535
Average Annual Pay
$77,531
+4.0% YoY
Employment
384,275
-0.2% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2724
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.8%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
49.7%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$427,000
Days on Market
71
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.8
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.1%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
16.7%
Listings w/ Price Drops
26.4%
Building Permits (2024)
1,604
Single-Family Permits
1,143

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

[05] Crime & Safety

B-
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
4.7
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
11.4
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
62.6
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Below national avg
based on homicide rate

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 →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
41.3
Good
Good Air Days
74%
664 of 893 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
4
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Ground-level ozone
Yearly Trend
2021
41
2022
40
2023
43
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$1,330M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
MMM Acquisitions Data Center
MMM Acquisitions
$1,080M Planned
Cobb Galleria Centre Redevelopment
Cobb Galleria Centre
$150M Under Construction
Acworth Residential Project
Novare Group, BCDC, PointOne Holdings
$50M Under Construction
Cobb Solar & Battery Storage Portfolio
Cobb Electric Membership Corporation
$50M Operating

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

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.0% 17 percentile
Population Growth +0.4% 49 percentile
Income Growth +9.6% 74 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.1% 48 percentile
Home Price Change -2.8% 10 percentile
Rent Growth +1.8% 31 percentile
Price/Rent 16x 23 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

The data is not encouraging — Cobb County scores just 7/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #922 of 996 counties. Job growth at -0.2% and median household income of $94,244 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.

Is Cobb County affordable?

Housing in Cobb County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $346,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,535/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Cobb County growing or shrinking?

Population and employment in Cobb County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs -0.2%. Home values shifted -2.8% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.

Are people moving to Cobb County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.8% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cobb County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

DeKalb County, GA 8 Rockdale County, GA 8 Gwinnett County, GA 6 Newton County, GA 6 Chatham County, GA 5 Fayette County, GA 10 El Paso County, CO 6 Denver County, CO 6