What are the schools like in Dalton, GA?

Dalton is served primarily by Whitfield County. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Dalton?

The median household income in Dalton, GA is $57,163 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Dalton, GA?

Dalton has an average high temperature of 51.1°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.5 inches.

Dalton, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dalton, GA affordable or expensive?

Dalton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dalton is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $182,500 and the median rent is $866 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dalton, GA?

Dalton has a violent crime rate of 243.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1902.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dalton, GA a Good Place to Live?

Dalton is a small city of 34,358 in Georgia, with a median household income of $57,163 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Dalton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dalton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dalton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Dalton's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dalton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dalton, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$182,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$866	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	53.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,163	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Dalton's violent crime rate is 243.2 per 100,000 residents — 36% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

243.2 /100k

Property Crime

1902.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dalton is served primarily by Whitfield County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dalton, GA	National Avg
School District	Whitfield County	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	70.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dalton sees average highs of 51.1°F in January and 89.3°F in July, with 49.5 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Dalton, GA
Average High — January	51.1°F
Average High — July	89.3°F
Annual Precipitation	49.5"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Dalton, GA	National Avg
Population	34,358	—
Median Age	34.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	63.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	22.2%	18.9%
Asian	2.7%	6.3%
Under 18	25.9%	22.2%
65 and over	12.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tunnel Hill, GA 7 mi Varnell, GA 9 mi Chatsworth, GA 11 mi Eton, GA 12 mi Cohutta, GA 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Dalton

Dalton, GA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

30720 30721 30740

Dalton vs Other Cities

Dalton, GA vs Tunnel Hill, GA Dalton, GA vs Varnell, GA Dalton, GA vs Chatsworth, GA Dalton, GA vs Eton, GA Dalton, GA vs Cohutta, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dalton, GA affordable or expensive?

Dalton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dalton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $182,500 and median rent is $866/month.

What is the crime rate in Dalton, GA?

Dalton's violent crime rate is 243.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1902.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dalton?

Public schools in Dalton are operated by Whitfield County. The district has 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dalton, GA a good place to live?

Dalton, GA has a population of 34,358, a median household income of $57,163, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dalton?

Dalton averages 51.1°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.5 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dalton?

Dalton, GA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 30720, 30721, 30740.

What is the population of Dalton?

The population of Dalton, Georgia is 34,358 with a median age of 34.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dalton?

Key numbers for living in Dalton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $182,500, median household income $57,163, crime index 75 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dalton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.