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Paulding County, GA

RANK #826 / 996  ·  POP 169,898  ·  GA

PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.8%

Paulding County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Paulding County?

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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
10.9x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+6.2%

Well above national median

Home Prices
-1.5%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.4

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
10x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks overvalued at 10.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Paulding County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
169,898
+2.54% YoY
Median Household Income
$89,237
Median Home Value
$251,100
-1.53% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,464
Average Annual Pay
$48,705
+4.0% YoY
Employment
30,033
+2.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3554
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
5.99%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$367,100
Days on Market
76
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.2
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.9%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
21.3%
Listings w/ Price Drops
28.1%
Building Permits (2024)
1,458
Single-Family Permits
1,458

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

[05] Capital Investment

$960M
TOTAL
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.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +6.2% 91 percentile
Population Growth +2.5% 93 percentile
Income Growth +11.2% 92 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.2% 43 percentile
Home Price Change -1.5% 18 percentile
Rent Growth +0.7% 16 percentile
Price/Rent 10x 86 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Paulding County has a Boom Town Index score of 17/100, ranking #826 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.6% and a median household income of $89,237, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Paulding County affordable?

The median home value in Paulding County is $251,100 with median rent at $1,464/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3554, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Paulding County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +2.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.6%. Home values changed -1.5% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Paulding County?

Yes — 5.99% of Paulding County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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