Did you grow up as a Southern child in the U.S. or have you always wanted to have souther children? Well then, you’ve come to the right place, as HomeSnacks has the research to identify which places in Georgia are the best for raising a family in 2026.
If you grew up in Georgia, perhaps some of your favorite childhood memories were sparked while reading this. In Georgia, many people live outside of large towns, so childhood is filled with playing outdoors, with imaginary games, and with riding bikes with your friends. Obviously, you want to raise your children in the best of places. Georgia is a great state for families because it’s super affordable, there are a bunch of family activities available, and vacation options are plentiful and cheap.
From Atlanta to Savannah, you can find a suburb, city, or small town that’s bristling with family fun for all ages. Whether it be a simple trip to the local library or making a day to trip Neptune Park, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy in the Peach State.
So where are the best cities for families in Georgia? Luckily for you, we have figured out which cities are the best of the best and if you had to pick one, we would recommend Decatur.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Georgia For 2026
We analyzed 72 cities in Georgia and ranked them in terms of “family-friendliness,” which was based on factors you would find important when looking for a place for your family, like crime rates.
From this list came one clear winner. Can you guess which city ranks the best place for families in Georgia for 2026? You guessed it– Decatur, Georgia. Decatur is a suburb of Atlanta and is home to top university, Emory. You can find beautiful houses, well-manicured lawns, and amazing schools for your kids in this town.
Other top cities include Jefferson and Marietta. All of our best-ranked cities for families are located in the northern parts of Georgia, near Atlanta. So if you are interested in living near the big city, but have the ability to go home to a quaint and quiet home at night, this state is the place for you and your family.
Curious to see where your favorite cities in Georgia rank? Read on to learn more about our methodology and to see why our top ten are the best of the best for families in Georgia for 2026.
More reading about Georgia and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Georgia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Georgia For 2026
/10
Population: 24,518
Median Income: $139,397
Average Home Price: $279,470
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 72
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 34.2%
More on Decatur: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,990
Median Income: $109,828
Average Home Price: $416,352
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 46.4%
More on Jefferson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 81,988
Median Income: $160,093
Average Home Price: $703,497
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 41.2%
More on Johns Creek: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 41,546
Median Income: $171,295
Average Home Price: $941,273
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 39.5%
More on Milton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 62,263
Median Income: $72,725
Average Home Price: $471,587
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 71
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 28.2%
More on Marietta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,627
Median Income: $113,992
Average Home Price: $433,919
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 43.3%
More on Holly Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 35,741
Median Income: $80,091
Average Home Price: $514,411
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 37.1%
More on Canton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 27,392
Median Income: $54,379
Average Home Price: $285,668
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 66
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 33.9%
More on Carrollton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 92,621
Median Income: $128,654
Average Home Price: $658,156
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 32.6%
More on Roswell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 37,381
Median Income: $103,496
Average Home Price: $460,206
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 37
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 32.6%
More on Woodstock: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Georgia anyways?
To give you the places in Georgia that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Georgia, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Georgia, that meant a total of 72 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Georgia.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Georgia
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Georgia ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Georgia are Decatur, Jefferson, Johns Creek, Milton, Marietta, Holly Springs, Canton, Carrollton, Roswell, and Woodstock.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Georgia according to the data:
- Fort Oglethorpe
- Hinesville
- College Park
For more Georgia reading, check out:
Best Places For Families In Georgia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur, GA | 24,518 | $139,397 | $279,470 | 77 |
| 2 | Jefferson, GA | 14,990 | $109,828 | $416,352 | 42 |
| 3 | Johns Creek, GA | 81,988 | $160,093 | $703,497 | 49 |
| 4 | Milton, GA | 41,546 | $171,295 | $941,273 | 38 |
| 5 | Marietta, GA | 62,263 | $72,725 | $471,587 | 94 |
| 6 | Holly Springs, GA | 18,627 | $113,992 | $433,919 | 37 |
| 7 | Canton, GA | 35,741 | $80,091 | $514,411 | 71 |
| 8 | Carrollton, GA | 27,392 | $54,379 | $285,668 | 66 |
| 9 | Roswell, GA | 92,621 | $128,654 | $658,156 | 54 |
| 10 | Woodstock, GA | 37,381 | $103,496 | $460,206 | 34 |