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About Cobb

About Cobb

With over 760,000 residents, Cobb County is the third most populous county in Georgia and is a core part of the metropolitan Atlanta area.  Cobb County is home to incredible recreation areas including Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the Chattahoochee River, the Silver Comet Trail and Lake Allatoona. Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Six Flags Over Georgia, four Fortune 500 companies, and the third largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State University, all make their home in Cobb. Cobb County is also the home of the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball Club at Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta. With a strong economy, incredible amenities and exceptional schools, your family will be glad to call Cobb County home.

Why Cobb

  • Cost of Living

    single family home in the eveningAffordability

    Cobb County is located in the Metro Atlanta Area. Cobb ranks in the top 20 most affordable metro areas in the United States. It costs less to live here than in most major metropolitan areas, including Denver, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and Boston. A key component of that figure is housing; the metro-Atlanta area currently ranks below the national average.

    Home Ownership

    The average sale price for a single family home in Cobb County is $300,000. Smaller cities’ home prices may be found between $146,000 and $310,000.

    A condo or townhome is perfect for a small family or individual seeking an inviting community with amenities and services. In Austell or Powder Springs, a condo or townhome may cost around $95,000 while a townhome by the Square in Marietta may run upwards of $350,000+.

    Low Taxes

    Cobb County has the lowest property taxes in the Metro Atlanta Area compared to neighboring counties. Property tax is assessed at 40% of the fair market value. This value is determined on an annual basis by the Cobb County Tax Assessor's Office. Property located in the city limits of Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs or Smyrna is taxed by the city and county.

    The Cobb County sales tax is currently 6%. This percentage is made up of a 4% state sales tax and two 1% special local option sales taxes (SPLOST). SPLOST is voted upon by county residents every 4 years and funds specific projects around the county.

  • Education

    graduates tossing up hatsCounty & City Schools

    The Cobb County School District (CCSD) is the second largest school system in Georgia and the 23rd largest in the nation. It serves nearly 113,00 students with 112 schools, including 67 elementary schools, 25 middle schools, 16 high schools, one charter school, one special education center, one adult education center and one performance learning center.

    Marietta City Schools (MCS) serves 8,900 students and is Georgia’s first Charter School System and International Baccalaureate (IB) World School District. MCS offers 8 elementary choice schools, 1 sixth-grade school, 1 middle school and 1 high school. STEM certified programs are offered in one MCS elementary school, the sixth-grade school and the middle school. The middle school is also recognized as a Georgia Lighthouse School to Watch (2012, 2015). The high school is known for its stellar football program.

    Colleges & Universities

    Seven Colleges and Universities are located in Cobb County. These include Kennesaw State University, Saint Leo University, Shorter University, DeVry University, Life University, Chattahoochee Technical College, and Georgia Highlands College.

    Ten colleges and universities are located within 25 miles of Cobb County, including Georgia Technical Institute (Georgia Tech), Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and Emory University.

  • Public Transportation

    CobbLinc busCobbLinc is Cobb County’s public bus service. This transportation system provides regional connectivity to MARTA and operates 89 full size buses on 16 routes per day. There are more than 750 bus stops throughout the county and in 2015, CobbLinc provided more than 2.4 million passenger trips.

    FLEX is an on-demand, curbside bus service available to all passengers for a fee of $2.50. Passengers can receive door-to-door service simply by making a reservation. They can be transported to destinations within their specific zone or connected to CobbLinc’s Route 30 to access additional locations in the county. FLEX service began in 2015 and operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

    Xpress Georgia, operated by the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA), runs 27 routes in 12 metro Atlanta counties, making more than two million passenger trips annually. Xpress provides workers with reliable, stress-free commutes to and from major employment centers in Downtown, Midtown and Perimeter Center. Xpress has three stops in Cobb County: Powder Springs, Kennesaw, and Acworth.

  • Fortune 500 Companies

    Home Depot storeFortune 500 companies such as The Home Depot, Genuine Parts Company and HD Supply Holdings Inc. headquarter in Cobb County.

    Cobb is also home to GE Energy, the Atlanta Braves, Comcast, Atlanta United FC, Atlanta Blaze, Aaron's Rents, and RaceTrac.

  • Demographics

    people holding up paper signsPopulation: 760,513

    Age

    Average age: 36.8 years of age

    Employment and Income

    • Civilian employed population 16 years and over: 409,725
    • Median household income for Cobb County: $78,118
    • Per capita income for Cobb: $39,357

    Race

    • White: 56.1%
    • African American: 28.5%
    • Hispanic (of any race): 13.3%
    • Asian: 5.9%
    • Other: 5.6%
    • Two or more races: 3.4%

    Education

    • Total percentage of adults that are high school graduate or higher: 92.2%
    • High School Graduate :16.3%
    • GED/Alternative Credential: 2.4%
    • Some College, No Degree: 18.7%
    • Associate Degree: 7.5%
    • Bachelor's Degree: 30.4%
    • Graduate/Professional Degree: 16.9%
    • Less than 9th Grade: 3.6%
    • 9th - 12th Grade, No Diploma: 4.2%

Quality of Life

  • Family Fun

    girl on merry-go-roundCobb County hosts a number of attractions throughout the year perfect for family outings.

    North Georgia State Fair

    The North Georgia State Fair takes place every September-October at Jim Miller Park. Enjoy nightly concerts, petting zoos, carnival games, rides, and entertaining acts!

    Six Flags Over Georgia

    Six Flags Over Georgia is the Southeast’s favorite destination for thrilling family fun. Test your bravery on 10 heart-pounding roller coasters, including the 20-story Goliath hypercoaster. Have a blast with the kids in three interactive children’s areas: Bugs Bunny World, Carousel Hill and Whistlestop Park. Hurricane Harbor Water Park is a multi-million dollar expansion that includes full wave pools, slippery slides, interactive playgrounds, and a ticket to a cool tropical paradise. Spend a day—or a weekend.

    Six Flags White Water

    Six Flags White Water is another great way to beat the summer heat. Thrill rides like the Cliffhanger, one of the world’s tallest water freefalls, and Tornado, a six-story funnel slide, keep adrenaline junkies coming back for more. Those looking for a tamer good time can cool off in the Little Hooch lazy river or splash around in the Atlanta Ocean wave pool. Little ones will find plenty to do in three interactive kids' areas.

    Georgia Aquarium

    The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world featuring 8 million gallons of water and more aquatic life than found in any other aquarium. Georgia Aquarium is a nonprofit committed to inspiring awareness and preservation of our ocean and aquatic animals worldwide.

    The Battery Atlanta

    From bowling to bull-riding, karaoke to concerts at the revived Coca-Cola Roxy, The Battery Atlanta is a 360-degree experience where you can do everything within steps of Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.

  • Parks & Trails

    Lake AllatoonaCobb County provides plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities at a variety of county, municipal, and national parks. The Cobb County PARKS Department operates 44 facilities and maintains 1,350 acres of developed land, providing athletic, educational and therapeutic services. In addition to Cobb County’s outstanding parks system, the cities of Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs and Smyrna operate more than 100 municipal parks and recreation centers.

    The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area covers more than 9,000 acres and draws more than 3 million visitors a year. The mighty river attracts fishermen from all over the Southeast. Whether you enjoy kayaking and boating or picnicking along the river’s shore, the Chattahoochee provides the perfect setting for family fun.

    Lake Allatoona, covering more than 12,000 acres, attracts outdoorsmen from far and wide to its beaches, campsites and top-notch fishing spots.

    Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park preserves the remnants of one of the most heated battles of the Civil War and offers over 17 miles of hiking trails dotted with historic earthworks, cannon emplacements, and monuments.

    The scenic Silver Comet Trail offers more than 61 miles (94.5 miles total) for bikers, joggers and skaters alike. Once the route of the Silver Comet passenger train, the trail meanders past breathtaking fields, streams and valleys, stretching all the way to Anniston, Alabama.

  • Sports Teams

    Braves player sliding into homeCobb is recognized for its winning combination of facilities and customer service and for being a sports power alley, with three major league teams calling Cobb County home – Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United, Major League Lacrosse’s Atlanta Blaze, and Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves.

    Cobb is not only a power alley for major league sports, but also for international and national sporting events for youth and adults. Perfect Game, Triple Crown Sports, the Korean Paralympic Team training, and Offense-Defense Bowl are only a few of the many sporting events that have taken place in Cobb.

  • Arts & Theater

    Sewell Mill Library galleryCobb is a melting pot for the arts, showcasing works from cultures across the globe. Enjoy theatrical performances, poetry readings, gallery exhibits and musical delights.

    Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

    A world-class entertainment venue, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre at Cobb Galleria draws audiences from throughout the metro area for unforgettable performances. The Centre is a premier venue for Broadway shows, ballet, opera, concerts, family performances and educational programming, as well as corporate meetings and events.

    Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art

    The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, one of Marietta’s most beloved cultural treasures, occupies the city’s century-old former post office. The impressive Classical Revival building houses a wonderful collection of American art, including paintings, sculptures and decorative art objects. The museum also welcomes special exhibitions and offers tours, classes and lectures.

    Mable House Complex

    The Mable House Complex, administered by the Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department, is comprised of the Mable House Arts Center, the historic Mable House property and the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre. Through a partnership with the South Cobb Arts Alliance, the complex brings a variety of programming to the community, including classes for children and adults at the arts center, tours and field trips of the historic property, and concerts at the amphitheater.

    Earl Smith Strand Theatre

    The historic art deco-style Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square has entertained audiences for 78 years, originally serving as the city’s movie house from 1935 to 1976. Today it continues to present classic films, as well as gallery openings and community-theater performances.

    Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center

    The Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center is a state-of-the-art 28,000-square-foot facility that isn’t your typical library. The facility features an art gallery, children and teen spaces, vinyl music collections, conference rooms, an outdoor amphitheater, a black box theatre, jewelry making equipment and video-conference rooms.

  • Local History

    Marietta Square in the 1940sCobb County’s museums and historical landmarks share stories of times past. From military and locomotive history to architecture and local culture, visitors experience the region’s rich heritage through vast collections of artifacts and memorabilia.

    Marietta Museum of History

    Learn about the history of Marietta and its surrounding areas at the Marietta Museum of History, located inside one of Cobb’s oldest buildings, the historic Kennesaw House. Open since 1996, the museum houses four galleries featuring collections spotlighting local history, home life and the military.

    Cobb County Youth Museum

    Let your children’s imaginations run wild as they act out history in period ensembles at the Cobb County Youth Museum. Carefully researched settings, props and authentic details engage and excite young minds.

    Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum

    No visit to the South is complete without a tour of the Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum. With an extensive collection of memorabilia, it’s no wonder fans of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 classic flock here from far and wide. Tour the museum and view authentic keepsakes like the Bengaline gown worn by Vivian Leigh in her famous movie portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara.

    Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History

    As a prestigious Smithsonian Affiliations member, the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History is an inclusive and committed history center dedicated to educating, inspiring, and enriching people of all ages and backgrounds through knowledge-sharing and open dialogue, and providing a quality experience that fosters learning and conversation about the strategic and economic use of railroads during and after the Civil War.