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Rockdale County, GA

Conyers

RANK #911 / 996 NAT  ·  #34 / 41 GA  ·  POP 93,641

1YR FORECAST: -2.1%

5YR OUTLOOK: +11%

Our model projects Rockdale County's housing market at -2.1% over the next year, underperforming most U.S. counties.

[01] Why Rockdale County?

Just east of Atlanta, Rockdale County, Georgia, offers a blend of suburban living with easy access to big-city amenities. The county seat, Conyers, provides a charming historic district with local shops and restaurants. You'll find a diverse community here, with many residents owning their homes. For outdoor enthusiasts, Rockdale boasts several appealing options, including Panola Mountain State Park, offering hiking and scenic views, and the Georgia International Horse Park, a large multi-purpose facility with trails for various activities. Black Shoals Park and Randy Poynter Lake also provide opportunities for fishing, boating, and picnicking.

While the housing market has seen some price corrections, with median home prices down slightly year-over-year, the local economy is experiencing some positive developments. Rockdale County is actively working to expand its retail options and is proactively recruiting companies in advanced manufacturing, technology, and pharmaceutical industries. Major employers in the area include Pratt Industries, Acuity Brands Lighting, Hill-Phoenix, Golden State Foods, and Rockdale Medical Center. Notably, the T1 Energy project, an $800 million investment, is expected to bring over 1,800 new jobs to the region, and there's a proposed multi-building data center campus by DC BLOX, aiming to strengthen local technology resources and create jobs.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.6x

Below national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+1.8%

Below national median

Home Prices
-3.2%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.1

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
11x

Strong rental yield

Housing is fairly valued at 4.6x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Rockdale County Public Schools Education
    2,500+
  2. 2
    Rockdale County Government Government
    1,000+
  3. 3
    Piedmont Rockdale Hospital Healthcare
  4. 4
    Pratt Industries Manufacturing
  5. 5
    Acuity Brands Lighting Manufacturing
  6. 6
    Hill-Phoenix Manufacturing
  7. 7
    Golden State Foods Logistics
  8. 8
    20th Century Fox Television Other
  9. 9
    Warner Brothers / Bonanza Productions Other

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

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Rockdale County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
93,641
+0.71% YoY
Median Household Income
$68,999
Median Home Value
$221,800
-3.18% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,263
Average Annual Pay
$61,314
+5.4% YoY
Employment
35,707
-2.2% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3111
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
8.06%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
28.1%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$310,000
Days on Market
83
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.1
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.0%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
11.6%
Listings w/ Price Drops
23.2%
Building Permits (2024)
483
Single-Family Permits
483

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

[05] Crime & Safety

D
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
11.9
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
21.9
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
79.3
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Well above 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)
39.3
Good
Good Air Days
88%
637 of 728 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
4
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Ground-level ozone
Yearly Trend
2021
39
2022
39
2023
40
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

$2,088M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
DC BLOX Atlanta East Hyperscale Data Center Campus
DC BLOX
$1,000M Under Construction
Project Rockforge Data Center
MMM Acquisitions
$500M Planned
Rockdale Technology Park 1 Data Center
Strategic Real Estate Partners
$500M Proposed
Panola Grove Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Treaty Oak Clean Energy (Zurisol LLC)
$50M Proposed
Honey Creek Road Bridge Replacement
Rockdale County (with federal and state funds)
$38M Planned

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

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.8% 31 percentile
Population Growth +0.7% 61 percentile
Income Growth +7.4% 25 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.6% 20 percentile
Home Price Change -3.2% 9 percentile
Rent Growth -0.6% 7 percentile
Price/Rent 11x 77 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

The data is not encouraging — Rockdale County scores just 8/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #911 of 996 counties. Job growth at -2.2% and median household income of $68,999 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.

Is Rockdale County affordable?

Housing in Rockdale County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $221,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,263/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Rockdale County growing or shrinking?

Rockdale County is attracting residents (population +0.7% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -2.2%. Housing values changed -3.2% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.

Are people moving to Rockdale County?

In significant numbers — 8.06% of Rockdale 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.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

DeKalb County, GA 8 Cobb County, GA 7 Fayette County, GA 10 Gwinnett County, GA 6 Newton County, GA 6 Hall County, GA 11 Mendocino County, CA 8 James City County, VA 8