City Comparison · Cobb County
Marietta and Kennesaw are close neighbors in northwest Cobb County, both on the I-75 corridor, both with a lower 6% sales tax — but they have different characters, school systems, and price points. Here's an honest, side-by-side comparison.
Quick answer
Marietta is the historic Cobb County seat — a walkable Square, an aerospace employment base, and its own independent school system, with median home values around $448,500. Kennesaw is the more affordable, college-town choice, home to Kennesaw State University, with median home values around $335,000. Both are in Cobb, both car-dependent with a 6% sales tax. Choose Marietta for history, the Square, and its city schools; Kennesaw for value and KSU.
| Measure | Marietta | Kennesaw |
|---|---|---|
| County | Cobb | Cobb |
| Median household income | ~$72,700 | ~$83,400 |
| Median home value | ~$448,500 | ~$335,000 |
| Combined sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Schools | Marietta City Schools (independent) | Cobb County School District |
| Main highway | I-75 | I-75 |
| MARTA rail | No | No |
| Known for | Historic Marietta Square, aerospace (Lockheed/Dobbins) | Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw Mountain |
Income and home-value figures reflect U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) data; market prices vary.
Interestingly, Marietta has a higher median home value but a lower median household income than Kennesaw — a reflection of its economic diversity, from high-end historic homes near the Square to more modest areas. Kennesaw offers some of the most attainable home prices among the major North metro suburbs. Both carry a lower 6% Cobb sales tax and Georgia's flat 4.99% income tax. See our cost of living in Marietta and cost of living in Kennesaw guides.
Here's a real difference: Marietta runs its own independent district, Marietta City Schools, centered on Marietta High School — the only Cobb district operated separately from the county. Kennesaw is served by the Cobb County School District (Kennesaw Mountain, North Cobb) and is home to Kennesaw State University. Confirm the attendance zone for any address, especially near the Marietta city limits.
Marietta centers on the historic Marietta Square — shops, theaters, restaurants — with an aerospace employment base at the adjacent Lockheed Martin plant and Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Kennesaw has a smaller historic downtown around Depot Park, the Southern Museum, and Kennesaw Mountain, plus a younger, college-town energy from KSU. Both sit on I-75 and are car-dependent, with CobbLinc bus service but no MARTA rail.
Planning a move? See our moving to Marietta and moving to Kennesaw guides.
LIOO Moving serves both and all of Cobb County — Licensed Georgia Household Goods Carrier, insured crews, transparent hourly pricing, 24/7 booking.
Your next step
When to bring in the pros: stairs and long carries, heavy or fragile pieces (pianos, safes, glass), a building that requires a COI, or a timeline that slipped. See how a LIOO crew runs it →