Key takeaway
Acworth suits buyers who want lake access and I-75 at prices below the Cobb County level: Zillow's typical home value was $406,860 in August 2026, versus $421,599 for Cobb. The trade-offs are prices above the Georgia level, a 30.1-minute average commute and county lines that change taxes and schools by address.
At a glance
| Population (2020 Census) | 22,440 |
|---|---|
| Land area | About 9.1 sq mi |
| ZIP codes | 30101, 30102 |
| Median household income (ACS 2020-2024) | $83,539 |
| Average commute (ACS 2020-2024) | 30.1 minutes |
| Median year homes built (ACS 2020-2024) | 2000 (Cobb County: 1990) |
| Homes owner-occupied (ACS 2020-2024) | 59.8% (Cobb County: 67.0%) |
Acworth by the numbers
Zillow Home Value Index (all homes, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), August 2026. A typical value is a benchmark for the area, not a price for a particular home. Rent: Zillow Observed Rent Index. Rate: Freddie Mac.
Acworth in four numbers
Whether Acworth suits you depends on your budget, your commute and how much you value lake access. These four figures frame the decision:
- $406,860: Zillow's typical Acworth home value, August 2026, against $421,599 for Cobb County and $330,817 for Georgia.
- $83,539: median household income in the city, Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024.
- 30.1 minutes: average one-way travel time to work for Acworth residents, same survey.
- $56,371: MIT's estimated living wage for one adult with no children in Cobb County, before taxes (data updated February 2026).
The city had 22,440 residents at the 2020 Census on about 9.1 square miles of land. It was incorporated on December 1, 1860, and took its name in 1843 from Acworth, New Hampshire, the hometown of a Western & Atlantic Railroad engineer.
Pros of living in Acworth
Prices sit below the Cobb County level
Zillow's typical value in Acworth ($406,860) was about $14,700 below Cobb County's ($421,599) in August 2026. ZIP 30102, which Zillow files under Cherokee County, was lower again at $378,558. For a first-time buyer who wants a Cobb-area location, that gap can be the difference between qualifying and not.
Two lakes at the edge of town
The city sits on the southeastern banks of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona, on the Etowah River. Allatoona was formed by damming the Etowah, and residents petitioned for a second dam in the 1950s, which created Lake Acworth. A local agent's May 2026 guide notes a public beach and boat ramp on Lake Acworth. Check the city's parks pages for current hours and parking fees.
Newer homes than much of Cobb
The median home in Acworth was built in 2000, compared with 1990 for Cobb County, per the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. A younger housing stock can mean fewer original-system replacements in the first years, though every home still needs its own inspection.
Direct I-75 access
I-75 runs through the northern part of the city, with exits 277 and 278. U.S. 41 and Georgia State Route 92 also pass through Acworth, so most addresses are a short drive from a main road.
A historic downtown
Downtown Acworth is a historic district with local restaurants and shops, and the streets nearby include Victorian homes, craftsman bungalows and mid-century ranches, according to the same agent guide. The railroad reached the town in 1840, and that history still shapes the street grid around the tracks.
Two price points under one name
Because Acworth spans two ZIP codes and three counties, buyers can choose between price levels without leaving the area. The Acworth ZIP code guide compares 30101 and 30102 in detail.
Cons of living in Acworth
Prices are above the Georgia level
Acworth's typical value was $76,043 above Georgia's ($330,817) in August 2026. Rents are not a cheap fallback either: Zillow's typical Acworth rent was about $2,115 a month in August 2026, and the Census survey's median gross rent for 2020-2024 was $1,664.
Most trips need a car
Of 12,434 Acworth workers aged 16 and over, 72.0% drove alone to work, 9.5% carpooled and 1.0% used public transportation (2020-2024). If you cannot or do not want to drive, check current CobbLinc and Xpress bus service from Acworth with Cobb County and ATL Transit before you commit.
Values have slipped from the 2024 peak
Zillow's Acworth value peaked at about $427,660 in June 2024 and was 2.01% lower over the 12 months to August 2026. That is a small drop, but it matters if you might sell within a few years, since selling costs come out of any gain. The Acworth housing market report tracks the trend monthly.
County lines complicate taxes and schools
An Acworth mailing address can be in Cobb, Cherokee or Paulding County. Each has its own tax rates, homestead office and school district, and none of them guarantees a school assignment. Cobb County School District tells buyers, "Please do not make a future home purchasing decision based on this information." Check the Cobb locator, Cherokee boundary maps or Paulding locator for each address.
Lakefront homes are scarce
Living near the lakes is not the same as living on them. The agent guide describes lakefront inventory as limited, so expect competition and higher prices for homes with water access.
What it is like to live in Acworth
Lake days
Most outdoor life centers on Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona. Lake Acworth is the smaller, city-run lake with the beach; Allatoona is the large reservoir behind the Etowah dam. Fees, hours and event calendars change, so use the City of Acworth parks site for current details.
Downtown
The historic core is compact and walkable, which is unusual in a car-led suburb. Homes within walking distance tend to be older, so budget for inspections on wiring, plumbing and roofs.
A railroad town with Civil War history
Acworth grew up along the Western & Atlantic Railroad, completed through town in 1840. Union forces captured the town on June 6, 1864, and Sherman's army burned it on November 13, 1864, leaving only a handful of buildings, including 12 homes. If you are looking at a historic home, ask the seller for any renovation records and permits.
Getting around
With I-75, U.S. 41 and State Route 92 all in town, driving is the default. About 15.5% of Acworth workers worked from home in 2020-2024, which shows how many residents avoid the daily drive altogether.
The commute
The average one-way trip to work is 30.1 minutes, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 minutes. Test your own route at the times you would actually drive it before you make an offer, since I-75 traffic varies sharply by hour.
What salary you need to live in Acworth
Two ways to look at it: what MIT estimates it costs to cover basic needs in Cobb County, and what a mortgage on a typical Acworth home costs today.
MIT living wage for Cobb County
MIT's calculator (data updated February 15, 2026) puts the living wage at $27.10 an hour, or $56,371 a year before taxes, for one adult with no children. For two working adults with one child it is $23.83 an hour per adult, or $99,145 a year for the household, and for one adult with one child it is $42.13 an hour, or $87,641. MIT's housing cost assumptions are $19,936 a year for the single adult and $22,892 for the two-adult household. Georgia's minimum wage reference in the same tool is $7.25 an hour.
The mortgage math on a typical home
At Zillow's typical Acworth value of $406,860 and Freddie Mac's 30-year average of 7.28% (week of October 1, 2026):
- 5% down: $406,860 x 0.05 = $20,343, leaving a $386,517 loan.
- Principal and interest: about $2,644.60 a month, or $31,735 a year.
- To keep that under 30% of gross income, a common budgeting yardstick: $31,735 / 0.30 = about $105,784 a year.
In ZIP 30102 ($378,558), the same 5% down leaves a $359,630 loan, about $2,460.63 a month in principal and interest, which points to about $98,425 a year on the same yardstick. Property tax, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues come on top. Programs can lower the cash you need up front: compare them in the Georgia first-time buyer programs guide, and try your own numbers in the affordability calculator.
Safety: what the official crime data shows
The figures below come from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer for the Acworth Police Department (agency ORI GA0330500), which has reported through the National Incident-Based Reporting System since October 1, 2019. All 12 months were reported in each year shown.
| Year | Acworth PD violent offenses | Violent rate per 100,000 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 54.0 | 370.8 | 385.6 |
| 2024 | 6 | 26.8 | 328.1 | 363.4 |
| 2025 | 10 | 44.1 | 301.3 | 329.3 |
| Year | Acworth PD property offenses | Property rate per 100,000 | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 281 | 1,264.9 | 1,914.2 | 1,950.5 |
| 2024 | 272 | 1,216.2 | 1,708.6 | 1,766.8 |
| 2025 | 204 | 899.8 | 1,403.5 | 1,552.1 |
How these rates are calculated
Each rate is the number of offenses Acworth police reported to the FBI, divided by the FBI's population estimate for the department's jurisdiction (22,216 in 2023, 22,364 in 2024 and 22,673 in 2025), times 100,000. For 2025, that is 10 / 22,673 x 100,000 = 44.1 violent offenses per 100,000.
What the numbers do and do not cover
Violent offense counts are small, between 6 and 12 a year, so the rate swings a lot from year to year. The data covers only incidents handled by Acworth police inside the city limits. Many homes with an Acworth address, including Bentwater, Centennial Lakes and unincorporated Cobb areas, are policed by county agencies and are not in these numbers. Comparing Acworth with Georgia or the U.S. also has limits: a small city's rate rests on a few dozen incidents, while state and national rates average across very different places. Treat the trend across three years as more useful than any single year's figure. For those, look up Cobb County Police (ORI GA0330200), the Cherokee County Sheriff or the Paulding County Sheriff on the FBI Crime Data Explorer.
Renting versus owning in Acworth
About 59.8% of occupied homes in Acworth are owner-occupied and 40.2% are rented, compared with 67.0% owner-occupied across Cobb County (2020-2024). That large rental share means many first-time buyers here are comparing a mortgage against a lease in the same part of town.
The monthly gap
Zillow's typical Acworth rent was about $2,115 a month in August 2026. Principal and interest on a typical $406,860 home with 5% down at 7.28% come to about $2,644.60, so $2,644.60 - $2,115 = about $530 more a month before taxes, insurance and HOA dues. In ZIP 30102 the gap narrows: $2,460.63 - $2,115 = about $346. Rent figures are for the whole city, so compare against what you actually pay.
What owning adds and what it costs
A mortgage payment builds equity as the balance falls, and a fixed-rate payment does not rise with rents, though taxes and insurance can. Against that, you take on repairs, closing costs and the risk of a price dip, which is real here after the 2.01% fall over the 12 months to August 2026. Only 10.6% of Acworth residents moved in the past year, per the Census survey. The longer you stay, the more time those up-front costs have to even out. Use the Acworth starter homes guide to see what lower price bands buy.
Where to live in Acworth
Start with home type and price, then confirm the county. Older homes cluster near downtown and the lakes, golf and swim/tennis communities sit farther out, and townhome sections give a lower entry price. The Acworth neighborhoods guide compares nine areas, from the older homes near downtown to golf communities such as Brookstone in Cobb and Bentwater in Paulding, and the townhome section of Centennial Lakes in Cherokee. If a townhome is the realistic first step, see townhomes and condos in Acworth.
Should you buy in Acworth? A checklist
Work through these before you make an offer:
- Confirm the county on the tax assessor's site, then estimate taxes with that county's rates. For Cobb, see the Cobb County property tax guide.
- Compare the home's price with its ZIP's typical value: $432,126 in 30101 and $378,558 in 30102 (Zillow, August 2026).
- Drive the commute at rush hour on a weekday.
- Look up the school assignment in the district's own tool, not the listing.
- Ask for the HOA disclosure: dues, transfer fees, special assessments and any optional amenity fees.
- Plan to stay long enough that a small price dip and selling costs would not force a loss.
- Check the FBI data for the agency that actually polices the address.
If you want a second pair of eyes on any of these, I can go through the checklist with you for a specific address.
Common questions
Is Acworth, GA safe?+
Official data is the fairest way to judge. FBI Crime Data Explorer figures for the Acworth Police Department show 10 violent offenses in 2025, or 44.1 per 100,000 residents, against 301.3 for Georgia. Property offenses were 204, or 899.8 per 100,000, against 1,403.5 statewide. The data covers only the city police jurisdiction, not county-policed Acworth addresses.
What is the crime rate in Acworth, GA?+
In 2025, the Acworth Police Department reported 10 violent offenses (44.1 per 100,000) and 204 property offenses (899.8 per 100,000) to the FBI. The rate is offenses divided by the FBI's population estimate of 22,673, times 100,000. Violent counts were 12 in 2023 and 6 in 2024, so the yearly rate moves a lot.
Is Acworth a wealthy area?+
Home values are above the state level. Zillow's typical Acworth value was $406,860 in August 2026, against $330,817 for Georgia and $421,599 for Cobb County. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimate of median household income in the city is $83,539. Prices vary by ZIP code, from $378,558 in 30102 to $432,126 in 30101.
What salary do you need to live in Acworth?+
MIT's living wage for Cobb County (February 2026) is $56,371 a year before taxes for one adult with no children and $99,145 for two working adults with one child. To buy a typical $406,860 home with 5% down at 7.28%, principal and interest of about $2,644.60 a month point to roughly $105,784 a year if you keep it under 30% of gross income.
Is Acworth in Cobb County?+
Mostly, but not entirely. Wikipedia lists the City of Acworth in both Cobb and Cherokee counties, and Zillow files ZIP 30102 under Cherokee. Some homes with an Acworth mailing address, such as Bentwater, are in Paulding County. The county decides your tax rate and school district, so check it on the county tax assessor's site.
How long is the commute from Acworth?+
The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey puts the average one-way travel time to work at 30.1 minutes for Acworth residents. Most drive: 72.0% drove alone, 9.5% carpooled and 1.0% used public transportation, while 15.5% worked from home. I-75 runs through the north of the city with exits 277 and 278.
What is living in Acworth like?+
Acworth is a lake town of about 22,000 people within the Atlanta suburbs. It has a historic downtown, Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona at its edge, I-75 through the north of the city, and housing that is newer than much of Cobb County, with a median build year of 2000. Most residents drive to work.
Sources
- Zillow Research: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) and Observed Rent Index, August 2026
- Freddie Mac: Primary Mortgage Market Survey (week of October 1, 2026)
- Census Reporter (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year): Acworth, GA profile
- Census Reporter API (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year tables B01003, B25003, B25035, B08301, B25064)
- Wikipedia: Acworth, Georgia
- MIT Living Wage Calculator: Living Wage Calculation for Cobb County, Georgia
- FBI Crime Data Explorer API: summarized offenses, Acworth Police Department (ORI GA0330500): violent crime (2023-2025)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer API: summarized offenses, Acworth Police Department (ORI GA0330500): property crime (2023-2025)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer API: Georgia agency list
- FBI Crime Data Explorer
- Nicole France Real Estate (agent blog, May 20, 2026): Best Neighborhoods in Acworth GA: Top 7 Places to Live
- Cobb County School District: Attendance Zones
- Cherokee County School District: Maps (school boundary maps)
- Paulding County School District: Bus Stop and School Locator
Lawrence Jackson
I am a Realtor® with Atlanta Communities and part of Team Jackson Sells Atlanta. I specialize in Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta and Woodstock and serve all of Cobb County and metro Atlanta. You work directly with me at every step, from your first question to the closing table.
Realtor®, Atlanta Communities. General information, not legal, tax or lending advice.
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