Cost of Living Guide · Marietta, GA
Marietta is the historic seat of Cobb County — a walkable town square, Civil War heritage, and a major aerospace employment base — and it's noticeably more affordable than metro Atlanta's North Fulton suburbs. Here's a verified look at what it costs to live here.
Quick answer
Marietta is moderately priced for metro Atlanta — more affordable than the North Fulton suburbs. The median household income is about $72,700 and the median home value is around $448,500 (U.S. Census/ACS). The combined sales tax is a relatively low 6% (Cobb County has no extra special-district penny), and Georgia's flat state income tax is 4.99% for 2026. Housing is the main cost, but it runs well below Alpharetta or Sandy Springs.
Not by metro-Atlanta standards. Marietta sits around or below the regional average on both income and home prices, which makes it one of the more attainable close-in suburbs. It pairs that value with real character: the historic Marietta Square, a walkable core of shops, theaters, and restaurants, and a large aerospace employment base at the adjacent Lockheed Martin plant and Dobbins Air Reserve Base. You get suburban Cobb County living without North Fulton price tags.
The Census-reported median home value is about $448,500 — close to the metro average and well below the North Fulton suburbs. Housing ranges from historic homes in the districts around the Square to mid-century ranches and newer subdivisions and townhomes farther out. Rentals are more affordable than in Fulton or DeKalb, another reason Marietta draws first-time buyers and renters who want to stay close to Atlanta.
Electricity is provided by Georgia Power (with Marietta's own Board of Lights and Water serving parts of the city); water and sewer through the City of Marietta / Cobb County; natural gas on the Atlanta Gas Light network via competing marketers. Summer air-conditioning is the biggest seasonal cost. Set utilities to start on your move-in date.
Marietta is car-dependent: Cobb County has no MARTA rail. Local buses run through CobbLinc (with a Marietta Transfer Center and express routes that connect to MARTA rail in Atlanta), but most residents drive. The main arteries are I-75, US-41 (Cobb Parkway), and the South/North Marietta Parkway loop (GA-120). I-75 is the primary route into Atlanta and is congested at peak, so commute time is a real factor when choosing a neighborhood.
Here's something that sets Marietta apart: the city runs its own independent district, Marietta City Schools — the only district in Cobb County operated separately from the county system. It centers on Marietta High School, a designated STEM school. Homes just outside the city limits are served by the Cobb County School District instead, so confirm which system an address falls in when you're comparing.
Historic homes around the Square can mean tight streets, on-street parking, and stairs, so plan truck staging and carry paths. Month-end is the busiest moving window. LIOO's Marietta moversBest neighborhoods in MariettaMoving to Marietta handle local moves across Cobb County, our residential movers cover single-family homes, and long-distance movers bring households in from out of state. Need a hold between homes? See moving & storage.
Weighing close-in Cobb suburbs? See our Marietta vs. Smyrna comparison.
| Measure | Marietta | Metro Atlanta | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | ~$72,700 | ≈ $85,000 | ≈ $78,000 |
| Median home value | ~$448,500 | ≈ $380,000 | ≈ $340,000 |
| Combined sales tax | 6% | 6–8.9% | varies |
| State income tax | Flat 4.99% (GA) | Flat 4.99% (GA) | Varies by state |
Income and home-value figures reflect U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) data; market prices vary. Metro and U.S. columns are rounded reference points.
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