RANK #518 / 1001 NAT · #22 / 41 GA · POP 103,313
1YR FORECAST: -0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Monroe, the county seat, stands out in Walton County, Georgia, known for its historic downtown and antebellum homes. Located about 45 miles east of Atlanta, Walton County offers a small-town atmosphere with convenient access to a major city. Commutes to Atlanta can take around an hour, but the county is also about 20 minutes from Athens. Residents enjoy local parks, athletic fields, and walking trails, with nearby state parks like Fort Yargo providing opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating.
Life in Walton County combines a community-oriented pace with suburban amenities. Many families reside here, drawn by the public school system, which is highly rated. The economy is experiencing growth, with new housing permits on the rise. Major investments are occurring across sectors such as data centers, infrastructure, and manufacturing, contributing to a diversifying economic landscape.
Walton County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.3% YoY, population +2.9%, wages +3.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 23.6x — 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 Walton County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta Data Center
Meta (formerly Facebook)
|
$42,000M | Operating |
|
Rivian Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Plant
Rivian
|
$5,000M | Under Construction |
|
Atlas Development Data Center
Atlas Development
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Walton County Public Safety Complex
Walton County
|
$152M | Under Construction |
|
Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Water Treatment Plant
Walton County Water & Sewerage Authority
|
$122M | Under Construction |
|
Dycom Industries Digital Infrastructure Training Center
Dycom Industries
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Walton County scores 48/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#518). Median household income is $84,945 and job growth is running at +0.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Walton County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $339,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.25, with rents averaging $1,175/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Walton County's population is growing — up +2.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.1%). Home values shifted +0.3% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 6.06% of Walton 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.