The 10 Best Small Towns In Georgia For 2022


We used science and data to determine which small towns in Georgia are the best of the best.

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You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in Georgia, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them focus on major cities and towns in the Peach State and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that's all about to change as we put together a list of the best small towns in Georgia based on numbers--not opinions or hearsay.

We'll dive right into our methodology in the next section; but first, we thought you might just want to know which places in Georgia ranked the based--you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Georgia for 2022.

What's the best small town in Georgia? Isle of Hope is the best small town in Georgia based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Isle of Hope, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you--keep reading and we'll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Peach State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Georgia For 2022

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,194
Median Income: $100,197 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $366,400 (7th Best)
More on Isle Of Hope: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,629
Median Income: $122,222 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $372,000 (6th Best)
More on Lookout Mountain: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,224
Median Income: $95,993 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $397,600 (5th Best)
More on Talahi Island: Data | Homes For Sale

Avondale Estates, GA

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,142
Median Income: $112,050 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $424,800 (4th Best)
More on Avondale Estates: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,324
Median Income: $135,579 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $503,900 (2nd Best)
More on Berkeley Lake: Data | Homes For Sale

Grayson, GA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,303
Median Income: $107,685 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $334,200 (8th Best)
More on Grayson: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,141
Median Income: $79,750 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $269,500 (13th Best)
More on Madison: Data | Homes For Sale

Watkinsville, GA

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,932
Median Income: $73,500 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $228,200 (18th Best)
More on Watkinsville: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,055
Median Income: $127,917 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $280,300 (10th Best)
More on Mountain Park: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,731
Median Income: $86,563 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $194,900 (25th Best)
More on Winterville: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,338
Median Income: $129,500 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $493,300 (3rd Best)
More on Dutch Island: Data | Homes For Sale

Tybee Island, GA

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,094
Median Income: $94,722 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $559,300 (1st Best)
More on Tybee Island: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 2,638
Median Income: $61,429 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $238,500 (17th Best)
More on Thunderbolt: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,761
Median Income: $56,389 (46th Best)
Median Home Value: $99,800 (115th Best)
More on Lakeview: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,300
Median Income: $101,888 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $222,500 (20th Best)
More on Heron Bay: Data | Homes For Sale

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Georgia

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 203 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 203, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Georgia. Top of that list -- Isle of Hope. You can download the data here.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns in Georgia.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once and we'll say it again -- this list: it's just science. We did the research, we crunched the numbers, and it turns out, these 15 small towns in Georgia are the best, in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

If you're curious, here are the worst small towns in Georgia:

  1. Nahunta
  2. Morgan
  3. Folkston

For more Georgia reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Georgia

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 Isle Of Hope, GA 2,194 $100,197.0 $366,400.0
2 Lookout Mountain, GA 1,629 $122,222.0 $372,000.0
3 Talahi Island, GA 1,224 $95,993.0 $397,600.0
4 Avondale Estates, GA 3,142 $112,050.0 $424,800.0
5 Berkeley Lake, GA 2,324 $135,579.0 $503,900.0
6 Grayson, GA 4,303 $107,685.0 $334,200.0
7 Madison, GA 4,141 $79,750.0 $269,500.0
8 Watkinsville, GA 2,932 $73,500.0 $228,200.0
9 Mountain Park, GA 1,055 $127,917.0 $280,300.0
10 Winterville, GA 1,731 $86,563.0 $194,900.0
11 Dutch Island, GA 1,338 $129,500.0 $493,300.0
12 Tybee Island, GA 3,094 $94,722.0 $559,300.0
13 Thunderbolt, GA 2,638 $61,429.0 $238,500.0
14 Lakeview, GA 4,761 $56,389.0 $99,800.0
15 Heron Bay, GA 3,300 $101,888.0 $222,500.0
16 Chickamauga, GA 3,245 $60,074.0 $177,500.0
17 Gray, GA 3,223 $55,735.0 $142,300.0
18 Bogart, GA 1,542 $60,240.0 $187,900.0
19 Chatsworth, GA 4,247 $47,250.0 $162,000.0
20 Clarkesville, GA 1,748 $53,333.0 $156,700.0
21 Hiawassee, GA 1,104 $53,859.0 $313,700.0
22 Hamilton, GA 1,805 $91,250.0 $221,400.0
23 Demorest, GA 2,247 $45,547.0 $114,300.0
24 Hiram, GA 4,021 $76,051.0 $157,200.0
25 Henderson, GA 2,694 $55,820.0 $257,000.0
26 Springfield, GA 4,026 $51,923.0 $131,600.0
27 Indian Springs, GA 2,172 $72,000.0 $150,500.0
28 Hahira, GA 2,989 $57,677.0 $115,400.0
29 Ball Ground, GA 2,230 $81,900.0 $228,100.0
30 Hagan, GA 1,391 $60,651.0 $129,800.0
31 Brooklet, GA 1,470 $52,656.0 $180,800.0
32 Bonanza, GA 3,877 $58,455.0 $128,000.0
33 Hoschton, GA 2,039 $75,029.0 $270,700.0
34 Cleveland, GA 3,983 $51,679.0 $192,000.0
35 Nelson, GA 1,302 $66,111.0 $175,200.0
36 Adairsville, GA 4,926 $61,764.0 $156,000.0
37 Euharlee, GA 4,348 $76,709.0 $160,500.0
38 Statham, GA 2,692 $54,705.0 $153,000.0
39 Senoia, GA 4,386 $93,994.0 $274,700.0
40 Ringgold, GA 3,454 $46,237.0 $138,200.0
41 Temple, GA 4,709 $67,628.0 $123,800.0
42 Lake City, GA 2,794 $51,042.0 $103,600.0
43 Tunnel Hill, GA 1,158 $50,859.0 $143,400.0
44 Varnell, GA 2,371 $63,693.0 $139,300.0
45 Forsyth, GA 4,239 $43,973.0 $150,500.0
46 Hannahs Mill, GA 3,571 $41,632.0 $89,600.0
47 Monticello, GA 2,687 $42,038.0 $128,600.0
48 Oakwood, GA 4,191 $44,154.0 $143,900.0
49 Reed Creek, GA 2,751 $46,688.0 $268,000.0
50 Deenwood, GA 2,263 $34,789.0 $111,000.0
51 Baldwin, GA 3,593 $48,241.0 $113,200.0
52 Pine Mountain, GA 1,739 $48,143.0 $150,000.0
53 Harlem, GA 3,267 $45,212.0 $155,300.0
54 Dasher, GA 1,071 $56,040.0 $139,700.0
55 Eton, GA 1,188 $66,042.0 $144,900.0
56 Maysville, GA 1,796 $58,125.0 $140,000.0
57 Emerson, GA 1,921 $64,375.0 $159,400.0
58 Mount Zion, GA 2,167 $46,417.0 $136,700.0
59 Lula, GA 3,061 $49,567.0 $142,000.0
60 Trenton, GA 2,303 $30,613.0 $132,500.0
61 Mount Airy, GA 1,545 $57,125.0 $133,900.0
62 Bethlehem, GA 1,042 $53,281.0 $123,400.0
63 Resaca, GA 1,583 $49,153.0 $105,500.0
64 Shannon, GA 2,056 $47,431.0 $132,800.0
65 Walthourville, GA 4,090 $52,714.0 $113,600.0
66 Rutledge, GA 1,193 $46,406.0 $192,200.0
67 Tallapoosa, GA 3,180 $55,086.0 $96,300.0
68 Dawsonville, GA 3,065 $63,598.0 $209,900.0
69 Ludowici, GA 2,223 $45,238.0 $143,800.0
70 Gumlog, GA 2,336 $60,905.0 $190,300.0
71 Oxford, GA 2,093 $43,750.0 $96,100.0
72 Ray City, GA 1,090 $51,528.0 $109,600.0
73 Midway, GA 2,075 $68,313.0 $161,100.0
74 Homer, GA 1,595 $66,923.0 $199,500.0
75 Bloomingdale, GA 2,801 $44,769.0 $135,200.0
76 Rockmart, GA 4,359 $47,429.0 $116,700.0
77 Guyton, GA 2,463 $64,500.0 $154,500.0
78 Chattahoochee Hills, GA 2,780 $57,313.0 $211,700.0
79 Palmetto, GA 4,802 $50,417.0 $123,200.0
80 Leesburg, GA 3,035 $60,110.0 $124,000.0
81 Comer, GA 1,825 $32,111.0 $143,500.0
82 Social Circle, GA 4,514 $65,655.0 $143,500.0
83 Cochran, GA 4,945 $26,940.0 $102,500.0
84 Walnut Grove, GA 1,739 $70,682.0 $168,000.0
85 Boston, GA 1,122 $33,824.0 $89,000.0
86 Cornelia, GA 4,510 $46,771.0 $141,800.0
87 Clayton, GA 1,837 $39,306.0 $115,100.0
88 West Point, GA 3,871 $34,867.0 $154,400.0
89 Hartwell, GA 4,382 $25,625.0 $96,200.0
90 Buena Vista, GA 2,214 $26,528.0 $150,700.0
91 Nashville, GA 4,820 $38,309.0 $78,100.0
92 Washington, GA 3,946 $31,902.0 $76,400.0
93 Arcade, GA 1,954 $57,214.0 $126,900.0
94 Montezuma, GA 3,039 $43,106.0 $86,500.0
95 Sunnyside, GA 1,239 $37,083.0 $68,500.0
96 Darien, GA 1,956 $38,239.0 $103,000.0
97 Unadilla, GA 3,557 $38,700.0 $65,800.0
98 Claxton, GA 2,641 $36,593.0 $98,100.0
99 Blue Ridge, GA 1,168 $31,190.0 $175,000.0
100 Hazlehurst, GA 4,069 $35,410.0 $87,900.0

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in Georgia.

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.