RANK #717 / 1001 NAT · #29 / 41 GA · POP 147,888
1YR FORECAST: -3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Douglas County, Georgia, distinguishes itself with Sweetwater Creek State Park, a wilderness preserve featuring Civil War-era mill ruins along Sweetwater Creek. Located west of Atlanta, the county seat, Douglasville, is about 20 miles from downtown, offering a suburban feel with access to urban amenities. Commuting to Atlanta is common, with options including express bus services and vanpools. The county provides various outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, fishing, and multi-use trails at places like Boundary Waters Recreational Complex.
Life in Douglas County often appeals to families and young professionals, with many residents owning their homes. The public school system serves over 25,000 students across numerous elementary, middle, and high schools. The local economy has seen growth, attracting investment and job creation across various sectors, including technology, data, and advanced manufacturing. This economic development contributes to the county's evolution from a traditional bedroom community to a more diversified area.
Douglas County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -3.0% runs above the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 14.9x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Douglas County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS Douglas County Data Center
Amazon (AWS)
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Stream Data Center (Polk Road)
Stream Data Centers (affiliate)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
West Atlanta Energy Storage
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$398M | Planned |
|
Google Data Center Campus Expansion
Google
|
$300M | Completed |
|
Douglas Forward Reinvestment Plan Phase 2 (Infrastructure, Public Safety, Economic Development, Quality of Life)
Douglas County Board of Commissioners
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Lee Road Widening Project, Phase II
Douglas County
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 28/100, Douglas County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $82,984 combined with job growth of -2.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Douglas County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $296,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,570/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Douglas County is attracting residents (population +1.2% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -2.2%. Housing values changed -3.0% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
In significant numbers — 5.47% of Douglas County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.