What it's like to live in Dallas
Dallas is a small city in Georgia with home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Dallas deals with long average commutes, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, above-average rainfall, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Long commutes
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Dallas compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Dallas
Based on Dallas's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,984
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,680 a year
- 51% of Dallas renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$50,360
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,180
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,492/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,492 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $251,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $251,800 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Paulding County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Paulding County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 52% below US
157 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 471/100k · Dallas Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 58% above US
41 min average commute
Commutes run long, averaging 41.1 minutes, and that's just the average, meaning a lot of people are doing significantly more. This isn't a city where living far from the office is a comfortable bet. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°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
Education & workforce▼ 35% below US
23% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 23%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (15 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Dallas's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are long average commutes and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,492/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low) and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Dallas
All Georgia guides →Moving to Powder Springs →
10 mi away · pop. 18,009
Rent $1,583/mo · Income $105,070
Compare with Dallas →Moving to Lithia Springs →
13 mi away · pop. 16,875
Rent $1,402/mo · Income $62,417
Compare with Dallas →Not sure Dallas is the one?
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