The 10 Best Places To Live In Georgia For 2024


The best places to live in Georgia for 2024 are Johns Creek, Dunwoody, and Sandy Springs. Find out where your city or town ranks.

Are you thinking of moving to Georgia and trying to research where the best places to live in Georgia are located?

You’ve come to the right place.

We ranked every city in Georgia using Saturday Night Science to compare FBI, Zillow, and Census data on safety, cost of living, commute time, and even population density.

It turns out Atlanta and Savannah aren’t in the top ten places to live in the Peach State. These major metros offer a ton of things to do for the surrounding suburbs, but the suburbs of Atlanta are the true gems of Georgia.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary


What is the best place to live in Georgia? The best place to live in Georgia is Johns Creek.

Why didn’t Atlanta, Hilton Head, or Savannah rank first?

Grab some chicken and biscuits and hunker down as we go through the ten best places to live in Georgia for 2024.

For more reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In Georgia For 2024

Best Places To Live In Georgia Map

Johns Creek, GA

Source: Public domain
Stat Johns Creek Georgia
Population 82,230 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $658,732 $319,165
Median Income $153,882 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 3.7% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0051 0.0240

More on Johns Creek: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Georgia’s 1st Johns Creek should be called “Johns Golf Courses.” Home of six big league golf courses and home prices around $658,732, you can imagine the HOAs and security surrounding this place. You’ll be happy to know, everyone involved seems to be doing their job because the crime rate here is the 4th in the state and 75% below the national average.

If you made a pros and cons list of why you should live in Johns Creek, your “con” column would probably be empty and your “pros” column would be filled with the following: it’s one of the safest places in Georgia, it’s one of the best places to raise a family in the state, and there’s a bunch of cool stuff to do here. In fact, the perfect day in Johns Creek might be spent hitting the links during the day and spending the evening soaking up the night-life in one of the city’s world class restaurants.

Folks, Johns Creek really does check all of the boxes.

Dunwoody, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Mmann1988 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Dunwoody Georgia
Population 51,458 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $623,116 $319,165
Median Income $106,710 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 1.8% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0285 0.0240

More on Dunwoody: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Dunwoody is by far one of the best places in Georgia–the 2nd best place in this southern charm–and the numbers prove it. In fact, this suburb of Atlanta in DeKalb County scored a 9/10 on our SnackAbility scale with an emphasis on jobs, education, and amenities to name a few.

Dunwoody is a vibrant, exciting place, and its locally owned restaurants and boutiques make living here a one-of-a-kind experience and a year-round mecca of fun. It also doesn’t hurt that the famous Brook Run Park is inside the city’s limits or that you’re in close proximity to Georgia State Perimeter College. And, you’re going to want that education to “keep up with the ‘smart’ Jones” here: virtually every one of Dunwoody’s adults has a college degree. (If we had a “smartest places in the United States” list, Dunwoody would probably be number one.)

If living in Dunwoody is starting to sound like the dream, pay careful attention to this: the unemployment rate here is the 5th lowest in the state and 45% of Dunwoody’s working class earn a household income above $100,000/year.

Sandy Springs, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Maksim Sundukov | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Sandy Springs Georgia
Population 107,221 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $636,700 $319,165
Median Income $93,303 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 3.7% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0163 0.0240

More on Sandy Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

LIfe is pretty peachy keen in Georgia’s 3rd best place to live, Sandy Springs. Sandy Springs is one of the biggest cities in the state, the biggest city to make our top ten list, and a Georgia city with one of the biggest personalities. Besides Sandy Springs’ strong sense of community and well-defined neighborhoods, the 107,221 residents here can’t find enough reasons to get together every year. If you decide to buy your forever home in Sandy Springs you’ll be front and center to some super fun amenities like the annual Sandy Springs Artsapalooza and/or the Slingin’ Wings Festival every March.

Located just minutes from Atlanta, Sandy Springs has over 950 acres of nature–it’s “A Place Where You [Can] Put Your Phone Down & Enjoy Life Again.” And we suggest that you don’t take this motto lightly, you wouldn’t want to miss out on one of the most snack worthy cities in the state. More importantly, we wouldn’t want you to miss out on a city whose crime rate is 23% below the national average or a city that takes education seriously. Not only do 75% of the residents here have a college degree, the city itself holds one of the state’s 13 Blue Ribbon Schools (Heards Ferry Elementary School).

Milton, GA

Source: Public domain
Stat Milton Georgia
Population 41,029 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $866,981 $319,165
Median Income $142,845 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 3.2% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0071 0.0240

More on Milton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Not only is Milton the 4th best place to live in The Empire State of the South, it was “named best quality of life in Georgia.” We were not surprised as Milton’s job market is strong and the city’s unemployment number (3.2%) is well below the national average. Milton’s household income is $142,845 making it the 2nd highest in the state. In fact, this Atlanta suburb is one of the richest places in the state.

But, don’t be afraid to look at rentals in Milton if dropping the median home price of $142,845 on a home right out of the gate is intimidating: rental property here is priced below the state’s average at $1,765/month. Whatever you decide, just know that Milton takes your safety very seriously. The crime rate here is 70% below the national average making it one of the safest places in the state.

So, if quality of life, value, and a commitment to “expectations, promises, and community’ are what you desire, then Milton is where you belong.

Alpharetta, GA

Source: Public domain
Stat Alpharetta Georgia
Population 65,884 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $671,145 $319,165
Median Income $141,402 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 4.8% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0160 0.0240

More on Alpharetta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

There aren’t many things as sweet as a Georgia peach, but Georgia’s 5th best place to live, Alpharetta is pretty close.

Alpharetta is for the people who want to live to live the Atlanta lifestyle without paying Atlanta prices. This city of 65,884 residents in Fulton County has focused on the important stuff like, keeping their crime rate well below the state and national level and making education a priority, so that you can focus your time on living the Alpharetta dream. And that Alpharetta dream list usually includes making time to bike and hike the Big Creek Greenway and/or taking your family to Tybee Island for an Atlantic Coast beach vacation.

But, you’re going to have to make $141,402/year to afford the cost of living in this sweet peach of a place. And, plan on paying upwards of $671,145 for a casa here as Alpharetta has the 3rd highest home price in the state.

Woodstock, GA

Source: Public domain
Stat Woodstock Georgia
Population 35,171 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $434,309 $319,165
Median Income $100,913 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 2.8% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0126 0.0240

More on Woodstock: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

How do you get your hands on one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia? Well, you could start in the 6th best place to live in the Peach State, Woodstock.

You won’t have to stop showering or live like a true hippie to be part of the “in crowd” in this Woodstock, but you will have get a job that pays at least $100,913/year if you want to settle into one of Woodstock’s humble abodes at the median home price of $434,309. And lucky for you, Woodstock has the job market cornered with the 18th lowest unemployment rate in the state.

Incidentally, if you do find yourself wanting to camp now and again like a 1960s hippie, some of the best places in Woodstock are the Victoria Campground and the Camp Allatoona Aquatics Base. More importantly, whether it’s camping or relaxing at home, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that Woodstock’s crime rate is the 17th lowest in the state making this city one of the safest places in Georgia.

Holly Springs, GA

Source: Public domain
Stat Holly Springs Georgia
Population 16,675 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 14
Median Home Value $411,079 $319,165
Median Income $108,332 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 3.1% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0040 0.0240

More on Holly Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Holy moly, Holly Springs is a great place to live.

Holly Springs is well-regarded in Georgia for its impressive 108,332 median income and $411,079 median home value. The town offers residents a secure environment with the lowest violent crime and #2 lowest total crime in the Peach State.

Located just south of Cherokee County’s center, Holly Springs is miles north of Atlanta, providing its 16,675 residents with a suburban lifestyle, but urban opportunities. Notably, the city is connected by Interstate 575, facilitating a convenient 35 minute commute and access to nearby Canton and Woodstock.

Tyrone, GA

Source: Public domain
Stat Tyrone Georgia
Population 7,710 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 8
Median Home Value $479,618 $319,165
Median Income $112,898 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 2.7% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0054 0.0240

More on Tyrone: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

An Atlanta suburb, Tyrone is the 8th best place to call home in Georgia. What’s great about Tyrone is that you don’t have to always turn to the big city for your entertainment needs. Tyrone has the Legacy Theater for those who crave live shows, and Shamrock Park is equally attractive for solo joggers as it is for families.

58% of adults in Tyrone are highly educated, so brush up on your trivia before going to a pub quiz night here. Smart people don’t usually go around committing crimes, and that’s reflected in Tyrone’s crime numbers — the town has the 5th lowest violent crime rate in all of Georgia.

Besides intelligent neighbors and safe streets, Tyrone stands out for its rock-solid economy. Tyrone has the 3rd lowest poverty rate and 17th lowest unemployment rate statewide. And folks aren’t just scraping by here, either. Tyrone’s residents enjoy the 8th highest median household income in Georgia at $112,898. Homes in Tyrone sell for a median price of $479,618.

Roswell, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Carrie Qualters | CC BY-SA 2.0
Stat Roswell Georgia
Population 92,770 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 10
Median Home Value $610,721 $319,165
Median Income $122,924 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 4.3% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0139 0.0240

More on Roswell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

If you can’t get “Georgia [off your] mind,” it’s probably because you just recently visited the state’s 9th best place to live, the historic Roswell. While there, you probably noticed that Roswell has everything: it’s a shopaholics paradise, an outdoor enthusiasts dream, and the historic district here will keep a true history buff entertained indefinitely.

But, we know those are not the only deciding factors when choosing where to live, so the following information should be quite valuable. One, Roswell has the 46th lowest unemployment rate in the state (4.3%). Two, plan for a job that makes the city’s median household income, $122,924/year, so that you can afford the $610,721 median home price here. And three, after you get the first two locked in, be prepared to live like an Atlanta Housewife because you’ll be living in one of the richest places in Georgia.

Decatur, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Goingstuckey | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Decatur Georgia
Population 24,421 10,722,325
Rank Last Year 11
Median Home Value $309,943 $319,165
Median Income $129,992 $71,355
Unemployment Rate 3.8% 5.2%
Crime Per Capita 0.0283 0.0240

More on Decatur: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

“Everything truly is greater in Decatur,” and that is why this city is Georgia’s 10th best place to live. But, a city’s motto is just a motto if it doesn’t have the numbers to back it. And, well, Decatur has the numbers.

This suburb of Atlanta has some of the highest home values in the state, and the median home price of $309,943 here is not slowing down the process. In fact, once a well priced home hits Decatur’s hot real estate market, they are pending within days. This is because everyone wants a piece of Decatur’s peach pie in the sky. Incidentally, this pie is attracting the largest numbers of youngsters (the median age in Decatur is 38) making it one of the best places for singles in the state.

A word to the wise in “[The] City of Homes, Schools, and Places of Worship,” you’re going to need a job that pays at least $129,992/year to offset Decatur’s cost of living; and if you don’t already have one, be prepared to battle Decatur’s above average unemployment rate of 3.8%.

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Georgia

Best Places To Live In Georgia Size Requirement

Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Georgia, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Atlanta, with a population of 494,838, against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 5,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This filter left 126 cities, 198 towns, and 226 small towns.

We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Georgia have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Georgia

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in Georgia across a number of criteria from one to 126, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Georgia.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking Georgia’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Georgia. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Johns Creek at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places In Georgia

If you’re looking at areas in Georgia with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The best places to live in Georgia are Johns Creek, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Milton, Alpharetta, Woodstock, Holly Springs, Tyrone, Roswell, and Decatur.

Johns Creek made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Georgia for 2024.

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in Georgia according to the data:

  1. Moultrie (Pop. 14,533)
  2. Brunswick (Pop. 15,243)
  3. Cordele (Pop. 10,210)

For more Georgia reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In Georgia Table

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Johns Creek 82,230 3.7% $658,732 $153,882 $1,944 0.0051
2 Dunwoody 51,458 1.8% $623,116 $106,710 $1,721 0.0285
3 Sandy Springs 107,221 3.7% $636,700 $93,303 $1,670 0.0163
4 Milton 41,029 3.2% $866,981 $142,845 $1,765 0.0071
5 Alpharetta 65,884 4.8% $671,145 $141,402 $1,767 0.0160
6 Woodstock 35,171 2.8% $434,309 $100,913 $1,656 0.0126
7 Holly Springs 16,675 3.1% $411,079 $108,332 $1,692 0.0040
8 Tyrone 7,710 2.7% $479,618 $112,898 $1,094 0.0054
9 Roswell 92,770 4.3% $610,721 $122,924 $1,619 0.0139
10 Decatur 24,421 3.8% $309,943 $129,992 $1,611 0.0283
11 Senoia 5,115 3.6% $470,119 $114,423 $1,230 0.0045
12 Flowery Branch 9,700 1.9% $413,457 $93,684 $1,448 0.0138
13 Duluth 31,742 4.2% $418,705 $88,915 $1,675 0.0135
14 Braselton 13,804 2.1% $436,475 $111,080 $1,527 0.0109
15 Smyrna 55,863 4.2% $448,692 $92,258 $1,553 0.0201
16 Suwanee 21,238 5.0% $578,726 $100,780 $1,826 0.0194
17 Brookhaven 56,848 3.0% $677,272 $114,570 $1,711 0.0266
18 Kennesaw 33,360 5.4% $401,282 $81,467 $1,673 0.0118
19 Jefferson 13,496 2.1% $376,132 $95,850 $1,059 0.0091
20 Grovetown 16,049 0.9% $287,518 $67,222 $1,301 0.0088
21 Acworth 22,318 4.2% $400,640 $74,643 $1,419 0.0135
22 Richmond Hill 16,703 5.0% $394,939 $83,519 $1,570 0.0131
23 Bremen 7,209 0.9% $263,114 $88,545 $808 0.0272
24 Snellville 20,895 4.1% $350,856 $88,586 $1,840 0.0243
25 Fayetteville 19,010 6.0% $410,964 $79,865 $1,418 0.0261
26 Hampton 8,244 3.6% $330,762 $67,808 $1,243 0.0084
27 Centerville 8,220 2.0% $209,922 $74,250 $1,182 0.0145
28 Byron 5,687 3.4% $247,988 $83,996 $814 0.0248
29 Powder Springs 16,930 4.5% $358,104 $88,311 $1,673 0.0294
30 Loganville 14,287 4.2% $382,369 $77,750 $1,448 0.0185
31 Barnesville 6,200 2.4% $189,049 $46,116 $896 0.0060
32 Pooler 26,264 5.4% $340,383 $89,812 $1,550 0.0277
33 Newnan 42,689 3.1% $356,203 $74,606 $1,304 0.0335
34 Peachtree Corners 42,147 3.3% $521,450 $74,716 $1,471 0.0402
35 Kingsland 18,563 3.7% $277,021 $73,839 $1,125 0.0164
36 Oakwood 5,132 4.0% $300,859 $60,696 $1,230 0.0144
37 McDonough 29,134 6.2% $347,529 $77,804 $1,441 0.0291
38 Temple 5,395 0.0% $278,708 $71,917 $1,214 0.0219
39 Canton 33,499 7.0% $478,892 $75,414 $1,460 0.0093
40 Villa Rica 17,354 4.4% $312,462 $82,373 $1,296 0.0267
41 Sugar Hill 24,947 3.7% $443,468 $94,520 $1,497 0.0402
42 St. Marys 18,507 6.1% $288,009 $68,199 $1,178 0.0164
43 Perry 21,279 3.7% $242,812 $68,507 $1,009 0.0269
44 Marietta 61,387 3.4% $452,424 $67,589 $1,372 0.0294
45 Cartersville 23,103 2.8% $304,822 $75,407 $1,096 0.0284
46 Stockbridge 28,858 5.0% $298,450 $72,175 $1,356 0.0491
47 Atlanta 494,838 5.8% $379,030 $77,655 $1,512 0.0460
48 Dallas 14,126 5.1% $346,508 $60,032 $1,245 0.0122
49 Chamblee 29,980 1.9% $457,676 $76,682 $1,693 0.0277
50 Eatonton 6,369 4.9% $384,922 $53,870 $821 0.0221
51 Dahlonega 7,083 4.4% $344,023 $57,941 $1,181 0.0292
52 Commerce 7,391 0.2% $296,250 $58,763 $1,107 0.0268
53 Fairburn 16,469 5.2% $331,795 $67,245 $1,428 0.0166
54 Fort Oglethorpe 10,203 5.9% $226,881 $49,789 $884 0.0347
55 Auburn 7,794 5.1% $334,190 $77,896 $1,056 0.0209
56 Hapeville 6,566 6.2% $273,382 $62,117 $1,293 0.0166
57 Savannah 147,583 7.2% $296,777 $54,748 $1,216 0.0282
58 Warner Robins 80,374 6.5% $194,094 $63,678 $1,094 0.0449
59 Douglas 11,694 2.8% $152,646 $39,716 $717 0.0030
60 Cumming 7,371 4.8% $574,758 $71,855 $1,192 0.0292
61 Douglasville 35,252 5.5% $307,358 $72,753 $1,344 0.0588
62 East Point 38,113 7.1% $262,257 $59,602 $1,241 0.0166
63 Norcross 17,530 1.8% $314,441 $74,921 $1,580 0.0402
64 Buford 17,222 3.0% $468,970 $68,165 $1,147 0.0402
65 Winder 18,414 5.8% $326,583 $57,365 $1,072 0.0209
66 Dacula 6,906 5.1% $445,387 $81,322 $1,285 0.0402
67 Hinesville 34,732 8.6% $217,324 $54,447 $1,147 0.0334
68 Dalton 34,358 3.9% $220,313 $57,163 $866 0.0283
69 Stone Mountain 6,638 5.6% $281,949 $44,950 $1,356 0.0250
70 Riverdale 14,933 3.0% $236,180 $61,622 $1,154 0.0946
71 Lilburn 14,741 4.6% $385,612 $61,347 $1,464 0.0257
72 Lawrenceville 30,465 6.3% $374,957 $55,608 $1,341 0.0234
73 Statesboro 33,185 11.3% $241,680 $38,845 $895 0.0252
74 Thomasville 18,744 4.5% $203,661 $45,789 $1,008 0.0437
75 Sylvester 5,622 8.0% $138,016 $48,599 $819 0.0153
76 Sandersville 5,727 7.9% $125,457 $45,502 $635 0.0063
77 Calhoun 17,184 2.4% $252,141 $54,927 $746 0.0301
78 Carrollton 26,622 5.8% $269,476 $46,722 $972 0.0316
79 Thomson 6,839 6.7% $168,618 $42,793 $903 0.0292
80 Port Wentworth 11,103 7.6% $269,354 $61,409 $1,465 0.0224
81 Glennville 5,204 8.4% $175,954 $47,227 $574 0.0183
82 Gainesville 42,780 4.3% $349,432 $64,163 $1,167 0.0346
83 Tifton 17,059 2.5% $183,657 $42,200 $765 0.0292
84 Valdosta 55,266 5.7% $182,356 $41,365 $932 0.0266
85 Austell 8,109 5.6% $295,883 $64,071 $1,443 0.0294
86 Doraville 10,691 2.0% $352,077 $59,636 $1,528 0.0531
87 Social Circle 5,011 6.6% $341,806 $68,333 $1,081 0.0204
88 Columbus 204,572 7.3% $151,024 $54,561 $1,038 0.0299
89 Conyers 17,415 10.5% $303,333 $53,500 $1,163 0.0292
90 Lovejoy 10,429 6.6% $287,995 $59,184 $1,522 0.0946
91 Albany 68,926 10.3% $120,704 $43,724 $889 0.0109
92 Jackson 5,497 6.3% $279,727 $43,824 $826 0.0198
93 Thomaston 9,720 5.1% $160,205 $30,298 $773 0.0314
94 Jesup 9,820 6.2% $176,163 $53,096 $762 0.0292
95 Waynesboro 5,720 4.8% $149,567 $41,932 $724 0.0346
96 Locust Grove 9,367 8.5% $329,824 $67,143 $1,252 0.0491
97 Rockmart 5,113 7.7% $243,156 $49,438 $835 0.0395
98 Rome 37,621 4.5% $208,496 $48,512 $851 0.0478
99 LaFayette 6,929 5.3% $157,051 $30,284 $751 0.0349
100 Griffin 23,485 5.5% $236,940 $42,047 $1,026 0.0501

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.