Chatsworth, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Chatsworth · Murray County, Georgia
Population 4,857 (est. 2026: ~5,000)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 0.74% annual growth projection

Chatsworth, Georgia

Murray County, Georgia · Population 4,874

Chatsworth sits in the Ridge and Valley country of far northwest Georgia, tucked between the Blue Ridge foothills and the Great Valley floor about 25 miles south of Dalton and roughly 60 miles southeast of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It's the county seat of Murray County — a working town, not a resort, with deep roots in carpet and textile manufacturing that trace back through the region's industrial history. The Conasauga River runs nearby, the Cohutta Wilderness begins practically in the back yard, and the town's population skews young, with a substantial Hispanic community that reflects decades of growth in northwest Georgia's manufacturing economy.

People & Demographics

Chatsworth's population of 4,840 (ACS 2022) is notably young — a median age of 28.9 years, well below Georgia's statewide median. That youth shows up in household composition: 1,622 residents are under 18, spread across 1,442 households. Average household size is 3.17, meaningfully larger than typical Georgia averages, which reflects the prevalence of multigenerational and family households.

About 28.7% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino (1,387 people), a proportion that stands out even within Murray County's broader demographic mix. The county as a whole numbers nearly 40,000 people, making Chatsworth home to roughly 12% of county residents. African American residents number 65; no Asian residents were counted in the 2022 estimates.

Economy & Employment

The labor force numbers 2,022 workers, with 185 unemployed — an unemployment rate of approximately 9.1% based on the reported figures. That's a meaningful gap from state and national baselines worth watching for anyone relocating.

Median household income is $59,028, which sits in a reasonable range for a small Georgia county seat, though per capita income of $19,944 tells a more complicated story — household income is sustained partly by multiple earners under one roof rather than individual earning power. An estimated 684 residents live below the poverty line.

The surrounding economy runs on manufacturing, agriculture, and trade. The carpet industry anchors employment corridors between Chatsworth and Dalton (the self-described "carpet capital of the world"), and many Murray County residents commute north along US-411 for plant and logistics work.

Housing

With 1,614 total housing units and 172 vacant, Chatsworth has a vacancy rate of about 10.7%. The near-even split between owner-occupied (726 units) and renter-occupied (716 units) is unusual — most towns of this size skew more heavily toward ownership. Median home value sits at $171,300, and median rent is $778 per month. By Georgia standards, both figures represent genuine affordability, though they've been under upward pressure as northwest Georgia draws more regional attention.

Schools

All public schools serve Murray County School District. High school students attend either Murray County High School (1,102 students, grades 9–12) or North Murray High School (1,035 students, grades 9–12). Middle school is split between Gladden Middle School (548 students) and Bagley Middle School (527 students), both serving grades 7–8.

Elementary options are spread across the county: Chatsworth Elementary School (679 students), Coker Elementary School (641 students), Spring Place Elementary School (601 students), Northwest Elementary School (593 students), Woodlawn Elementary School (549 students), and Eton Elementary School (543 students), all serving pre-K through grade 6.

Getting Around

Chatsworth is car-dependent. Of 1,827 total workers, 1,537 drove alone to work and 212 carpooled. No workers reported using public transit or walking. Seventy-eight residents worked from home. Aggregate commute time across all workers totals 40,450 minutes — averaging roughly 22 minutes per commuter, consistent with regional trips toward Dalton, Calhoun, and Chattanooga. US-411 is the town's primary artery.

Healthcare

AdventHealth Murray serves the area, with a facility in Chatsworth. AdventHealth is a regional system with broader presence throughout northwest Georgia and southeast Tennessee. For a full list of licensed providers in Chatsworth, the NPI Registry returns active clinicians across specialties.

Library

The Chatsworth-Murray County Library serves both city and county residents and can be reached at (706) 695-4200. It is part of the Georgia Public Library Service network.

Parks & Recreation

The Cohutta Wilderness and Conasauga Ranger District (approximately 3.4 miles away) put Chatsworth at the doorstep of some of the most rugged backcountry in Georgia — river fishing, remote hiking, and dispersed camping accessible without long drives.

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, the country's oldest and largest military park, lies about 28 miles to the northwest. Its visitor center is 28.1 miles away; the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center is 34.3 miles out. These are significant NPS assets for history and recreation.

Natural Hazards

Murray County has a substantial FEMA declaration history — 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974. The range of hazards is broad:

The hurricane declarations are worth noting — northwest Georgia sits far from the coast but funneling storm tracks up through the Appalachian valleys can bring significant wind and flooding even at this inland distance. Hurricane Helene's 2024 declaration is a recent reminder.

Government & Municipal Code

Chatsworth's municipal code is published and maintained through Municode: https://library.municode.com/ga/chatsworth

No local building code is in effect — construction standards default to state-level requirements.

Weather

Current forecasts and alerts for Chatsworth are available directly from the National Weather Service:

The nearest official weather observation station is CHATSWORTH, approximately 1.0 mile from the town center.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)