Hiram
RANK #873 / 996 NAT · #29 / 41 GA · POP 169,898
1YR FORECAST: -0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +13%
Paulding County, Georgia, is often recognized by locals for the Silver Comet Trail, a 61.5-mile paved path built on a former railway line, offering opportunities for biking, walking, and rollerblading through towns like Hiram and Dallas and into the Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area. Located northwest of Atlanta, Paulding County provides a blend of small-town character with access to a major metropolitan area, typically a 45-60 minute commute to downtown Atlanta. The county features rolling hills and forests, with over 1,000 acres of parkland, including Pickett's Mill Battlefield Historic Site, one of the nation's best-preserved Civil War battlefields.
Life in Paulding County appeals to families and professionals seeking more space and a quieter environment, often accepting a longer commute to Atlanta for work. The Paulding County School District operates 34 schools, which are generally well-regarded. The local economy is experiencing growth, with recent investments in sectors such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. Paulding County also benefits from a moderate cost of living compared to other metro Atlanta counties.
Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 10.9x — 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Data Center on Cole Lake Road
Undisclosed
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
WellStar Paulding Hospital Expansion
WellStar Paulding Hospital
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Automann Southeastern Headquarters
Automann
|
$60M | Completed |
|
Paulding Northwest Atlanta Regional Airport Access Road
Georgia Department of Transportation
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Seven Hills Boulevard at Nature Walk Roundabout
Paulding County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Paulding County scores just 12/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #873 of 996 counties. Job growth at +2.6% and median household income of $89,237 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
By national standards, Paulding County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $251,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,464/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Paulding County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.6% clip. Home values shifted -1.5% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.99% of Paulding 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.