Best Places to Live in Marietta, GA

Marietta in North Atlanta is one of the most sought after residential areas in the Metro area. It is one of 6 municipalities located in Cobb County along with Kennesaw, Acworth, Smyrna, Austell and Powder Springs.

Although some areas may have zip codes that suggest they are within the City of Marietta, they may be unincorporated, and this will affect your tax rates and schooling options.

CITY OF MARIETTA

The City of Marietta is the county seat and largest city in the county. It has 6 historic districts, some of which are on the National Register (Northwest Marietta, Whitlock Avenue, Washington Avenue and Church-Cherokee Streets). The welcome center is located in the old train depot near the Square.

GLOVER SQUARE

The City boasts the vibrant and historic Glover Square with lots of dining and entertainment options: Restaurants on the Square.
New restaurants are opening all the time, including a new upscale food hall, the Marietta Square Market: Marietta Square Market.
The Strand offers theater performances throughout the year and there is a summer concert series in the Square that is always well attended.
There are 5 museums within walking distance, a regular farmer’s market and many other events and activities.
The official City of Marietta website lists all the entertainment options and has a Calendar of Events that shows everything happening at the Square.
The southern charm of the Square and surrounding area are often used in films and tv series due to the booming Georgia film industry. Occasionally streets may be closed for filming.
One mile from the square is Kennestone Hospital, which has adult and pediatric emergency and urgent care options. You can hold your place in line for both emergency and urgent care via the Kennestone hospital website.

RECREATION

Close by is Kennesaw Mountain which is part of a 3,000 acre National Park that was part of the Atlanta campaign during the Civil War. It has around 20 miles of trails including one up the mountain with spectacular views of the surrounding area.
Visit the Kennesaw Mountain website for information on the park and museum. A map of the trails is available here: Trail map.
There are numerous parks and recreation facilities listed at Marietta Recreation. Playgrounds, walking, jogging, tennis, bocce, basketball and volleyball are all available along with dog parks at Lewis Park and Wildwood Park.
Also near the Square is the Atlanta Braves new stadium in South Cobb which is in the middle of the Battery entertainment district, Six Flags White Water Park for your summer fun and Six Flags Over Georgia just down the road.

WHERE TO LIVE

The Square itself has apartments, townhouses, single family and historic homes within walking distance. Be warned though, there is a train line near the square that is in frequent use, so be sure to check if the noise will be a problem.

The area to the west of the City of Marietta has a slightly less urban feel than the Square itself. The cost of housing is also cheaper than in East Cobb and may be a better option for first time buyers looking for a location that is family friendly as houses often come with more land attached.

East Cobb is a slightly more urban, upscale and expensive area. There are a host of shopping and entertainment options and there are numerous options for outdoor recreation such as Sope Creek and the Chattahoochee River. The homes here historically have higher appreciation rates.

Click the links for lists of the highest appreciating neighborhoods in the county and homes for sale in Marietta.

EDUCATION

When moving to the area it is important to note that the City of Marietta has its own school system separate from the rest of Cobb County.

Marietta City Schools (MCS) is a charter system that runs 11 schools: seven K-5 elementary schools, one 6th grade academy, one middle school, one high school, and one grades 3-5 elementary magnet school (Marietta Center for Advanced Academics).
Marietta High School was the 2019 7A High School State Football Champions.

The Cobb County School System is the second largest in the State with 112 schools and 113,000 students.
Some of the best regarded High Schools in the area are Pope, Walton, Lassiter, Harrison and Hillgrove, all of which are consistently near the top of the rankings.

A full list of schools by rank can be found here: Schools by rank.

There are 7 colleges or universities located within the county with Kennesaw State University being the most notable. Within 25 miles are nationally renowned colleges such as Georgia Tech, Emory and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

TAX RATES

Taxation rates in Cobb are as follows:

6% Sales tax (4% Sales tax and 2×1% SPLOST tax);
Property is taxed at 40% of its fair market value.

When purchasing a house in Cobb County be sure to apply for a homestead exemption if it is your primary residence.

Seniors often find Cobb County an attractive option due to its School Tax Exemption for residents over 62. The school tax makes up the largest portion of the total property tax: Cobb Tax FAQ.

Unincorporated Cobb tax rates: Cobb tax rates.

Marietta City millage rates: Marietta tax rates.

It’s important to note that those residents in the City of Marietta will pay an extra income tax (currently 1.85%).