RANK #845 / 1001 NAT · #29 / 41 GA · POP 775,208
1YR FORECAST: -1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
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.
Cobb County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -2.7% YoY, population +0.8%, wages +2.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 10.4x — 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Cobb County scores just 15/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #845 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.7% and median household income of $102,738 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Cobb County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $407,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.25, with rents averaging $1,730/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Cobb County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.7%). Home values shifted -2.7% 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 4.59% 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.