INSIDE Georgia’s #1 Fastest Growing County (Dawson)
Intro:
Hey everyone, this is Tim Trevathan with Tim Trevathan Homes, helping people from all over the country make a move and find their dream home. Atlanta, as you know, has been growing continuously and where people choose to call home around town has been shifting, but one area we have not yet explored is the fastest growing county in all of Georgia: Dawson County.
Only an hour or so north of Atlanta, Dawson County is the perfect blend of scenic appeal along with new homes that give you a higher standard of living at a much more affordable price. And Dawson County, Georgia puts you in one of the most desirable parts of the state, with an easy drive all over the southeast: an hour to Atlanta, a couple hours to Chattanooga or Greenville and just a few hours to Asheville or even Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. Yes, people are flocking to Dawson – not just for the stunning mountain views, natural recreation areas of lakes, streams and state parks and convenient location – but for good schools and newly-built homes with lower property tax rates, giving you much more value for your money than almost anywhere in metro Atlanta.
Dawson County itself has local restaurants, retail, premium outlet shopping…and even auto racing instruction! Whether you stop by any of the nearby towns’ wineries, pan for gold in neighboring Dahlonega, go hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or just meet up with friends anywhere in the Atlanta area, you’ll see why Dawson County, Georgia is one of the most desirable places to live in North Atlanta…and I believe one of the best-kept secrets in the entire country. Let me show you the unique lifestyle that could be yours in Dawson, Georgia’s fastest growing county…right now. [Theme music, graphics]
Dawson County, just north of neighboring Forsyth County, is best accessed out of Atlanta driving up US 19 (Georgia 400 or just “400” to the locals). Dawsonville is the county seat, located 57 miles (about two hours) from Downtown Atlanta, but only an hour from Buckhead. To give you a sense of it, Dawsonville is just 30 minutes from Cumming in Forsyth County. Dawson County has, at last count, 33,748 residents, while Dawsonville itself has only 5,187 and the county population is expected to increase by nearly 50 percent by 2050. Dawson County’s racial make up is 93 percent White, almost 8 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Black, and 2 percent Asian. The county’s median age is 43.9 and a whopping 78 percent of the county’s residents are not renters – they’re homeowners. And that’s good news in terms of property value!
So let’s talk about housing and upcoming housing developments in Dawson…
First, Dawson County is not as rural as you might imagine. It has an abundance of housing – both existing and under development with an eye to the future. The median home price of current offerings is $459,000 – much less than in the overcrowded Atlanta, Cumming, or Alpharetta areas. Here in Dawson County, you get so much more for your money than in nearby Forsyth or North Fulton. Let’s take a look at some of those homes currently for sale in the county…
Right in Dawsonville and just off Georgia 400, is the Piedmont Residential community called Castleberry Pointe with prices from the high-$300s. This conveniently-located community will feature beach and park access, camping, boating, swimming and fishing. Some of these beautiful homes are ready today, with completion through Summer 2025. We also have Villas at Gold Creek, a new Fischer Homes development. And while selling robustly, there are still several homes available in the mid-300,000 dollar range. There’s also East Harbor II at Chestatee, by Ashton Woods, with several water-front lots on Lake Lanier in this golf community, with homes listing between $553,000 and $689,900. You also have Addison Grove, a Pulte Homes development, with houses going still going up, along with a luxury community swimming facility and homes ranging from $594,134 – $690,871. Communities like these have popped up all over Dawson County, and especially in Dawsonville.
But what’s on the horizon?
Well, The Kolter Group has planned a massive development with an eye for Atlanta’s aging population in the coming years. Cresswind at Dawson Springs is being built on 500 acres near Highway 53 and Bruce and Perimeter roads. The 785 homes, reserved for residents 55 and older, should be fully ready to occupy by 2032.
I could go on about the kinds of communities existing and being built for your home life, but let’s talk about your work life. After all, you need an easy, daily commute to your dream home. And with Dawson County’s location just outside of Atlanta, you can truly enjoy your laidback, comfortable lifestyle while driving to a more urban work locale.
Dawson County sits along what is known as Georgia’s Technology Corridor of Georgia 400. What that means is easy access to the strategic expansion of business and industry, a current labor pool of half a million. Top employers up and down Georgia 400 and just North of the perimeter include Northside Hospital, Verizon Wireless, ADP, UPS, Fiserv, State Farm Insurance, Kimberly Clark, Oracle, AT&T…and the list goes on. Just think about the easy 30-minute or so commute from, say, Alpharetta to your lovely home. Then again, you may actually work at home!
And of course, if you are an entrepreneur, industry experts have ranked Georgia Number One for being a business-friendly state several consecutive years in a row, as well as Number One for Cooperative and Responsive State Government. Reasonable statutes, sound economic development policy and strong business development support are often mentioned in decisions to move companies (or start them) in Georgia. With resources like the Dawson Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Georgia Mountain Regional Commission at your service, starting and owning a business in Dawson County, Georgia has never been easier.
Then, after work?
Obviously, the biggest draw to Dawson County is the beautiful outdoors – Mother Nature. Sitting at the foothills of Blue Ridge Mountain region, Dawson County shares Lake Lanier (and its built-in recreation) with four other counties – think: swimming, boating, sailing, fishing and golfing.
But did you know that Dawson County also has…Kangaroos? It’s true – Dawsonville has a one-of-a-kind Kangaroo Conservation Center in operation since 1987 with a surprising range of kangaroo sizes and 60 different species! You can consider Dawson County your Aussie Outpost.
Nearby in Ball Ground, Georgia (just 30 minutes west of Dawsonville) is one of the most gorgeous 376 acres of artistically-landscaped gardens in the Southeast. I’m talking about Gibbs Gardens, a privately-owned – but open to the public – world-class destination garden where you can walk through paths of ponds, steams, waterfalls and bridge crossings, including a bridge that is a replica of the famous one at Claude Monet’s home in Giverny, France. Showcasing seasonal flower gardens and foliages, like Japanese maples, Gibbs Gardens is open early Spring until late Fall and is a must for nature lovers.
Now, you won’t want to be out in nature all the time…
Because North Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountain region is the birthplace of NASCAR, Dawsonville has not only the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Museum, but also a car racing track for racetrack instruction at Atlanta Motorsports Park. This is the nation’s premier race track training venue for motorsports enthusiasts, with a two-mile F1 designed road course and the fastest outdoor kart track in the region. This type of activity, some say, helps you be your best.
And you can always look your best by shopping at the North Georgia Premium Outlets right in Dawsonville, off Georgia 400. Cartier, Coach, Givenchy, Gucci, HUGO BOSS, Nautica, OshKosh B’gosh – along with Tommy Bahama, Lee, Levi’s, Merrill – these are just a few of the stores at the mall. And with Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma and Zwilling J.A. Henckels outlet stores in the mall, you can complete your new home’s decor and kitchen provisions without ever having to drive to Atlanta.
These are just a few of the many facets of the fastest-growing county in Georgia – Dawson County – a mere hour away from Atlanta – and dare I say, possibly the most-desirable county in all of Georgia! I’m Tim Trevathan, your real estate expert in Atlanta. I help people from all over the country make a move and find their dream home. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. I would love to hear from you! And if you haven’t already, just click the Subscribe button so you can learn all the latest happenings on Atlanta and Atlanta real estate. Take care everyone. So-long.
SOURCES:
https://www.theblueridgehighlander.com/dawson_county_georgia/index.php
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dawsoncountygeorgia/PST045224
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/dawson-county-ga
http://www.worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/georgia/dawson-county
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/dawson-county-ga#housing
https://www.dawsoncountyga.gov/191/Development-Authority
https://www.dawsoncountyga.gov/200/Doing-Business
https://georgia.org/competitive-advantages/pro-business-environment
https://www.gnfcc.com/business-development/workforce/top-employers
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Dawson-County_GA/overview
https://www.destinationdawsonville.com/directory/georgia-racing-hall-of-fame-and-museum
https://www.northgeorgiazoo.com/kangaroo-conservation.html
https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/north-georgia
🏡 Overview
- Tim Trevathan introduces Dawson County as Georgia’s fastest-growing county, located just an hour north of Atlanta.
- Offers beautiful mountain scenery, affordable new homes, and lower property taxes than surrounding metro areas.
- Central location gives easy access to Atlanta, Chattanooga, Greenville, Asheville, and Dollywood.
🌄 Lifestyle & Location
- Dawson County blends nature, recreation, and accessibility.
- Popular for lakes, streams, and state parks, as well as family-friendly communities.
- Dawsonville is the county seat, 57 miles from downtown Atlanta, population about 33,748 (expected to grow 50% by 2050).
- Homeownership rate is 78%, showing strong property value stability.
🏘️ Housing & New Developments
- Median home price: around $459,000, lower than Alpharetta or Cumming.
- Castleberry Pointe (Piedmont Residential): high-$300Ks, near lake access and parks.
- Villas at Gold Creek (Fischer Homes): mid-$300Ks.
- East Harbor II at Chestatee (Ashton Woods): waterfront homes $553K–$689K.
- Addison Grove (Pulte Homes): $594K–$690K, includes a luxury pool facility.
- Cresswind at Dawson Springs (Kolter Group): 55+ community with 785 homes on 500 acres, ready by 2032.
💼 Jobs & Economy
- Located on Georgia’s Technology Corridor (GA 400), near major employers like Northside Hospital, Verizon, ADP, UPS, Fiserv, State Farm, and Oracle.
- Commute-friendly: about 30 minutes from Alpharetta.
- Business-friendly environment: Georgia ranked #1 for pro-business climate and cooperative government.
- Local business support from Dawson Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Department of Economic Development.
🌳 Recreation & Attractions
- Outdoor paradise at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Lake Lanier for swimming, boating, and fishing.
- Kangaroo Conservation Center—unique wildlife attraction since 1987.
- Gibbs Gardens in nearby Ball Ground: 376 acres of world-class landscaped gardens with seasonal floral displays.
🏎️ Entertainment & Shopping
- Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Atlanta Motorsports Park for car enthusiasts.
- North Georgia Premium Outlets: luxury and designer brands (Gucci, Coach, Levi’s, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, etc.), offering city-quality shopping close to home.
📈 Final Message
- Dawson County offers a high standard of living, affordable housing, and strong community growth.
- Tim invites viewers to subscribe and contact him for Atlanta-area real estate help.
