1st Advantage MortgageThe median Paulding County household earns $98,031, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Georgia license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Paulding County
- Household income in Paulding County
- The Paulding County job picture
- Renting and owning in Paulding County
- Places inside Paulding County
- How Paulding County compares with nearby counties
- A Paulding County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Paulding County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Paulding County
- Georgia rules that apply in Paulding County
- Four steps for Paulding County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Paulding County
Paulding County is home to about 178,909 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Packed into 312 square miles, that is close to 573 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 3 Census places inside Paulding County, Dallas leads by population with about 14,714; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Household income in Paulding County
At $98,031, the typical Paulding County household income is 49% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 7th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Paulding County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.0% | -11.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 38.3% | +11.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.0% | -0.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 49% of Paulding County households make $100,000 or more, and 11% make less than $35,000. 6.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.359 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Paulding County median.
The Paulding County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 10% locally and 7% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Paulding County. Long commutes are common here: 40% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 2.5% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Paulding County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.1% | -2.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Paulding County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,772 in Paulding County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 46% of Paulding County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $326,300, or 3.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 81%.
| Home costs | Paulding County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,772/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $326,300 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.2% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Paulding County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Places inside Paulding County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Paulding County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 20,345 residents, leaving about 89% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Paulding County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | city | 14,714 | $75,545 | $1,492 | 2 mi |
| Hiram | city | 5,231 | $85,119 | $2,085 | 7 mi |
| Braswell | town | 400 | $86,875 | $992 | 7 mi |
How Paulding County compares with nearby counties
Douglas County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Fulton County, is 25 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Paulding County; Cobb County is highest at $102,738 and Polk County lowest at $58,515.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paulding County | - | $98,031 | $1,772/mo | 81% |
| Douglas County, GA | 16 mi | $82,984 | $1,570/mo | 67% |
| Cobb County, GA | 17 mi | $102,738 | $1,730/mo | 67% |
| Polk County, GA | 19 mi | $58,515 | $918/mo | 66% |
| Haralson County, GA | 22 mi | $72,127 | $923/mo | 72% |
| Bartow County, GA | 22 mi | $82,243 | $1,268/mo | 73% |
| Fulton County, GA | 25 mi | $95,292 | $1,732/mo | 54% |
A Paulding County household budget, worked through
Paulding County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $8,169 gross per month ($98,031 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,772, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,087 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $3,676 total minus rent leaves $1,904
Two-income households and single earners in Paulding County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Paulding County, in numbers
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. 10.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Paulding County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.5% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Paulding County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 10.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.4% |
| 60+ min | 23.0% |
Before borrowing in Paulding County
What the Paulding County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Long drives. With 40% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Paulding County budgets.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 49% of Paulding County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Georgia rules that apply in Paulding County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Paulding County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Paulding County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Paulding County:
- Price the Paulding County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Georgia borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Paulding County household make?
About $98,031 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 27% above the Georgia median.
How does Paulding County rent compare with Georgia?
$1,772 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 27% above.
What are the biggest places in Paulding County?
By population: Dallas, Hiram, Braswell. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Paulding County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Is there a Paulding County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.