1st Advantage Mortgage51% of Cobb County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $102,738 (ACS 2020-24). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Cobb County, and confirm each one's Georgia license.
On this page
- Cobb County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Cobb County
- The $102,738 median and what sits around it
- How Cobb County ranks in Georgia
- Labor force snapshot: Cobb County
- Counties near Cobb County
- Cobb County towns compared
- Cobb County demographics against Georgia
- What a median Cobb County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Cobb County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Cobb County
- Steps before you apply in Cobb County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Cobb County by the numbers
Roughly 775,208 residents live in Cobb County, Georgia, 3rd by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 340 square miles, that is close to 2,282 residents for every square mile of land. Metro area: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (OMB, 2023). Largest place: Roswell, about 92,621 residents (12% of Cobb County); 11 Census places in all.
Housing costs in Cobb County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,730 in Cobb County versus $1,393 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 50% in Cobb County, 52% statewide. Median value $407,200; median income $102,738; ratio 4.0. 67% of Cobb County households own their home and 33% rent. Nationally, Cobb County's $1,730 rent is 97% above the middle county.
| Cost | Cobb County | Georgia figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 22% | 26% | -4.1 pts |
| Median home value | $407,200 | $303,300 | 34% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,730/mo | $1,393/mo | 24% higher |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | -2.3 pts |
| Owners | 67% | 66% | +1.3 pts |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The $102,738 median and what sits around it
Half of Cobb County households take in less than $102,738 a year and half take in more, 33% above the Georgia median of $77,353. That places it 6th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Cobb County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.8% | -8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.8% | -4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.7% | +5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.7% | +7.9 pts |
On the low end, 14% of Cobb County households report under $35,000; at the top, 51% report $100,000-plus. The poverty rate is 8.7%, 5 points lower than the state's 13.4%. Gini index for Cobb County: 0.446. None of these numbers decides a Cobb County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Cobb County ranks in Georgia
Ranked against the other 158 county-level areas in Georgia, these are the Cobb County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Georgia counties match Cobb County on the share of workers who work from home: 23.6% here, 15.9% for the state, ranking 3rd highest of 159. Remote and self-employed income may need tax returns as proof.
- Few Georgia counties match Cobb County on the share of mobile homes: 0.9% here, 7.8% for the state, ranking 3rd lowest of 159. Few mobile homes means most owners have traditional equity options.
- Population: 775,208 in Cobb County. Only 2 of 159 Georgia counties are higher. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 51% in Cobb County. Only 3 of 159 Georgia counties are higher. Student loan payments count in a debt-to-income ratio, so list them.
Labor force snapshot: Cobb County
Education and health care (19%), professional and administrative services (18%) and retail trade (11%) lead Cobb County's job mix. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (18% against 14%). Unemployment in Cobb County, ACS five-year: 4.5%; Georgia: 5.1%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 21%; under 15 minutes: 18%.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cobb County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 18.5% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.0% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Cobb County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cobb County's, from 12 to 26 miles away. Richest neighbor: Cherokee County, $108,115. Poorest: DeKalb County, $80,644. Cobb County: $102,738.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | - | $102,738 | $1,730/mo | 67% |
| Fulton County, GA | 12 mi | $95,292 | $1,732/mo | 54% |
| Paulding County, GA | 17 mi | $98,031 | $1,772/mo | 81% |
| Douglas County, GA | 20 mi | $82,984 | $1,570/mo | 67% |
| Cherokee County, GA | 22 mi | $108,115 | $1,799/mo | 77% |
| DeKalb County, GA | 23 mi | $80,644 | $1,692/mo | 59% |
| Bartow County, GA | 26 mi | $82,243 | $1,268/mo | 73% |
Cobb County towns compared
Places, by size: the top 11 of 11. Roughly 49% of Cobb County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $65,658, Roswell over Fair Oaks. Median rent ranges from $1,314 in Fair Oaks to $1,845 in Kennesaw. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Cobb County community.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roswell | city | 92,621 | $128,654 | $1,810 | 15 mi |
| Mableton | city | 77,678 | $77,980 | $1,472 | 9 mi |
| Marietta | city | 62,263 | $72,725 | $1,586 | 2 mi |
| Smyrna | city | 56,633 | $100,061 | $1,739 | 6 mi |
| Kennesaw | city | 34,605 | $83,356 | $1,845 | 7 mi |
| Acworth | city | 22,473 | $83,539 | $1,664 | 10 mi |
| Powder Springs | city | 18,009 | $105,070 | $1,583 | 8 mi |
| Vinings | CDP | 14,390 | $94,982 | $1,839 | 8 mi |
| Fair Oaks | CDP | 9,014 | $62,996 | $1,314 | 2 mi |
| Austell | city | 8,447 | $72,938 | $1,494 | 9 mi |
| Kennesaw State University | CDP | 2,284 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Cobb County demographics against Georgia
Degree holders: 51% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Cobb County: 12.0%; Georgia: 12.4%.
| People and households | Cobb County | Compared with Georgia | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 50.8% | +15.8 pts | +28.6 pts |
| Work from home | 23.6% | +7.6 pts | +14.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | -4.7 pts | -4.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | -3.7 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | -2.0 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | -0.6 pts | +0.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | -0.4 pts | +4.2 pts |
| Median age | 37.5 | -0.1 yrs | -4.0 yrs |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
What a median Cobb County budget can carry
DTI math using Cobb County medians ($102,738 income, $1,730 rent):
- Monthly gross at the median, Cobb County: $8,562
- Median rent: $1,730, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,267: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $2,123 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $102,738 median has less room than this, often none.
What the numbers mean for Cobb County borrowers
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Cobb County budgets.
- 51% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Cobb County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Lender oversight for Cobb County
Cobb County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Cobb County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cobb County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Cobb County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Cobb County a high-income county?
Its $102,738 median ranks 6th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Cobb County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,730 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Cobb County?
By population: Roswell, Mableton, Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Cobb County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Cobb County check a lender's license?
With the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.