Paulding County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Dallas and Hiram
Paulding County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Paulding County is home to Dallas and Hiram. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Local moratorium on data centers through January 1, 2027”. Construction employs 2,635, up 30.5% since 2019, and construction is 1.6 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 30,869 jobs in 2025, up 22.4% from 2019. 190,996 people live here, up 12.7% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Paulding County
Paulding County is home to Dallas and Hiram.
- Braswell also extends into Polk County.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Paulding County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 169,516 | 190,996 | ▲ 12.7% | 13th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 25,229 | 30,869 | ▲ 22.4% | 14th of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,996 | $51,568 | ▲ 35.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,019 | 2,635 | ▲ 30.5% | 52nd of 97 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 385 | 323 | ▼ 16.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 3.3% | ▲ 0.1pts | — |
Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Paulding County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.61¢ median for Georgia utilities. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 323, down 16.1% since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $64,256 a year.
Who powers Paulding County
Utilities with service territory in Paulding County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,452,488 | 15.49¢ | 39% |
| Cobb Electric Membership Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 200,601 | 11.41¢ | 30% |
| GreyStone Power Corporation | Cooperative | Bundled | 139,028 | 12.22¢ | 21% |
| Carroll Electric Member Corp - (GA) | Cooperative | Bundled | 53,299 | 13.38¢ | 12% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Paulding County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Paulding County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 30,869 | $51,568 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 2,635 | $66,872 | 1.61 |
| Electrical contractors | 323 | $64,256 | 1.45 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Paulding County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local moratorium on data centers through January 1, 2027 | In force | 2026-07 |
Paulding County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Paulding County, Cobb County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paulding County | 190,996 | ▲ 22.4% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Bartow County | 120,800 | ▲ 16.6% | 3,588 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Carroll County | 131,036 | ▲ 10.2% | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| Cobb County | 793,345 | ▲ 2.1% | 2,863 MW | 6 MW | 15 | 1 |
| Douglas County | 154,293 | ▲ 9.1% | 3 MW | — | 23 | 1 |
| Haralson County | 33,066 | ▲ 16.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Polk County | 45,514 | ▼ 2.0% | 580 MW | — | — | — |
More of Georgia
Paulding County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Paulding County, Georgia?
4 utilities have service territory in Paulding County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Cobb Electric Membership Corp, GreyStone Power Corporation, Carroll Electric Member Corp - (GA). The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Dallas, GA in?
Dallas is in Paulding County, Georgia. About 15,402 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Paulding County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Paulding County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Douglas County.
Is Paulding County adding jobs?
Employers counted 30,869 jobs in 2025 against 25,229 in 2019 (+22.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 2,019 to 2,635.
Does Paulding County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Paulding County, 1 in force.