What it's like to live in Carrollton
Carrollton is a small city in Georgia with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Carrollton deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Carrollton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Carrollton
Based on Carrollton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,178
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,560 a year
- 56% of Carrollton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$62,220
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,110
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,089/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,089 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $311,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $311,100 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 33% below US
220 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1606/100k · Carrollton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 20% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
35% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 35% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (38 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Carrollton's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,089/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Carrollton
All Georgia guides →Moving to Villa Rica →
14 mi away · pop. 18,551
Rent $1,547/mo · Income $87,803
Compare with Carrollton →Moving to Douglasville →
24 mi away · pop. 37,536
Rent $1,582/mo · Income $79,107
Compare with Carrollton →Not sure Carrollton is the one?
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