At $1,451/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,451 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Dalton changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 115 Georgia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($63,577) is $1,589 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,440); a 4-bedroom is $1,675.
Fort Oglethorpe, 21 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,287/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Dalton. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Dalton, GA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 24.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Dalton, GA has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $49,656 in 2021 to $63,577 more recently. The renter share has eased from 50.9% to 47.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 20.6% to 24.3% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Dalton on your salary?
At $1,451/mo, how Dalton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Dalton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Dalton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Dalton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Dalton is $1,451/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $760/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,105/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,440/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($63,577/yr), Dalton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Dalton?
At $1,451/mo, rent takes ~27% of Dalton's median household income ($63,577/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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