The 10 Best Small Towns In Georgia For 2026


The best small towns in Georgia are Isle of Hope and Berkeley Lake for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Georgia. Best sururbs in Georgia. Best counties in Georgia.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all 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 superb 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 want to know which places in Georgia ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

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

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Georgia For 2026

  1. Isle of Hope
  2. Berkeley Lake
  3. Avondale Estates
  4. Lookout Mountain
  5. Tybee Island
  6. Grayson
  7. Henderson
  8. Chickamauga
  9. Winterville
  10. Clarkesville
  11. Dutch Island
  12. Hahira
  13. Bogart
  14. Watkinsville
  15. Montgomery

Best Small Towns To Live In Georgia Map

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 2026

1. Isle Of Hope

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,053
Median Income: $105,478 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $588,452 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

2. Berkeley Lake

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,597
Median Income: $165,909 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $779,410 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

3. Avondale Estates

Avondale Estates, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Aprabhu | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,530
Median Income: $123,795 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $527,410 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

4. Lookout Mountain

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,721
Median Income: $158,000 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $454,864 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

5. Tybee Island

Tybee Island, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Timjarrett at English Wikipedia. Later version(s) were uploaded by Jbarta at English Wikipedia. | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,123
Median Income: $120,479 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $626,547 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

6. Grayson

Grayson, GA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,858
Median Income: $131,293 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $430,345 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

7. Henderson

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,952
Median Income: $104,385 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $373,995 (30th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%

8. Chickamauga

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,014
Median Income: $92,532 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $269,411 (81st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

9. Winterville

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,223
Median Income: $110,804 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $332,352 (42nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

10. Clarkesville

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,959
Median Income: $73,798 (48th Best)
Median Home Value: $385,020 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

11. Dutch Island

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,225
Median Income: $160,536 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $621,975 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

12. Hahira

Hahira, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Mjrmtg | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,451
Median Income: $70,966 (53rd Best)
Median Home Value: $299,581 (66th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%

13. Bogart

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,403
Median Income: $90,292 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $474,417 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

14. Watkinsville

Watkinsville, GA

Source: Wikipedia User John Trainor | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,350
Median Income: $92,147 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $513,848 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

15. Montgomery

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,976
Median Income: $90,843 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $390,130 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Georgia

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Georgia possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, 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 many – 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.

This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live 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, 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?

The best small towns in Georgia are Isle of Hope, Berkeley Lake, Avondale Estates, Lookout Mountain, Tybee Island, Grayson, Henderson, Chickamauga, Winterville, and Clarkesville.

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

  1. Richland
  2. Enigma
  3. Webster County unified government

For more Georgia reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Georgia

RankCityPopulationMedian IncomeMedian Home ValueUnemployment Rate
1Isle Of Hope, GA2,053$105,4781.3%
2Berkeley Lake, GA2,597$165,9091.6%
3Avondale Estates, GA3,530$123,7950.9%
4Lookout Mountain, GA1,721$158,0001.6%
5Tybee Island, GA3,123$120,4791.2%
6Grayson, GA4,858$131,2931.3%
7Henderson, GA1,952$104,3851.9%
8Chickamauga, GA3,014$92,5321.7%
9Winterville, GA2,223$110,8040.9%
10Clarkesville, GA1,959$73,7980.7%
11Dutch Island, GA1,225$160,5360.0%
12Hahira, GA3,451$70,9664.8%
13Bogart, GA1,403$90,2921.3%
14Watkinsville, GA3,350$92,1474.5%
15Montgomery, GA4,976$90,8432.6%
16Madison, GA4,864$61,5101.9%
17Ball Ground, GA2,856$117,8291.8%
18Thunderbolt, GA2,533$75,2343.5%
19Oxford, GA1,770$56,5632.8%
20West Point, GA3,403$57,2140.5%
21Varnell, GA2,920$86,1002.1%
22Springfield, GA2,974$62,9572.4%
23Demorest, GA2,512$77,9417.4%
24Heron Bay, GA4,595$106,3388.2%
25Hartwell, GA4,562$49,2800.8%
26Clermont, GA1,243$135,5003.1%
27Pine Mountain, GA1,314$91,2501.2%
28Indian Springs, GA2,070$81,3465.5%
29Dawsonville, GA4,403$90,9292.5%
30Hoschton, GA4,534$97,0833.9%
31Nelson, GA1,166$89,3756.9%
32Cleveland, GA3,534$64,4501.1%
33Chattahoochee Hills, GA3,782$111,7923.8%
34Gray, GA3,512$73,1147.0%
35Forsyth, GA4,642$73,2503.7%
36Adairsville, GA4,999$103,4492.0%
37Reed Creek, GA3,151$76,9730.9%
38Statham, GA3,018$73,9032.7%
39Robins Afb, GA1,193$106,6679.9%
40Hogansville, GA3,246$62,6200.0%
41Shannon, GA2,012$80,7220.0%
42Leesburg, GA3,542$79,4602.1%
43Greensboro, GA3,609$39,5410.0%
44Clayton, GA2,018$57,0831.2%
45Pendergrass, GA3,435$90,3413.3%
46Chatsworth, GA4,893$69,0581.0%
47Rutledge, GA1,271$56,9441.0%
48Blue Ridge, GA1,323$44,7730.0%
49Walthourville, GA3,823$73,6471.7%
50Euharlee, GA4,230$99,5971.9%
51Franklin Springs, GA1,108$75,7297.2%
52Hoboken, GA1,016$63,8130.6%
53Brooklet, GA2,288$77,1251.4%
54Maysville, GA2,086$61,4950.5%
55Bloomingdale, GA3,007$60,2500.7%
56Palmetto, GA4,797$80,9821.2%
57Harlem, GA3,885$46,1972.3%
58Hannahs Mill, GA3,230$69,8503.1%
59Mount Airy, GA1,622$87,8681.5%
60Hamilton, GA2,043$92,0836.9%
61Lula, GA2,964$69,3972.3%
62Lakeview, GA4,723$61,4054.3%
63Baldwin, GA4,000$59,2420.7%
64Mccaysville, GA1,392$52,5930.3%
65Ringgold, GA3,435$42,5834.8%
66Homer, GA1,892$89,0833.5%
67Young Harris, GA1,252$31,3164.6%
68Kings Bay Base, GA2,210$78,00028.7%
69Luthersville, GA1,000$74,1670.7%
70Union Point, GA1,704$62,0110.6%
71Emerson, GA1,573$75,2508.4%
72Lumpkin, GA1,000$47,5000.0%
73Hawkinsville, GA4,731$39,6033.1%
74Hiawassee, GA1,293$45,0007.1%
75Walnut Grove, GA1,685$83,2083.2%
76Comer, GA2,029$52,8913.9%
77Cave Spring, GA1,080$50,8821.3%
78Midway, GA2,185$80,5804.2%
79Alto, GA1,055$81,2502.7%
80Trenton, GA2,123$39,4416.2%
81Guyton, GA2,740$86,25013.6%
82Lindale, GA4,289$43,5611.8%
83Washington, GA3,680$54,2191.1%
84Lake City, GA2,909$54,4641.9%
85Pembroke, GA2,693$72,7052.0%
86Epworth, GA1,994$67,1760.0%
87Bonanza, GA3,279$60,26011.2%
88Deenwood, GA2,360$57,04513.9%
89Reidsville, GA2,553$41,6672.5%
90Ocilla, GA3,100$41,2770.0%
91Sunnyside, GA1,031$44,2830.0%
92Lincolnton, GA1,768$43,9351.7%
93Vienna, GA2,881$57,7364.1%
94Grantville, GA3,251$69,2835.6%
95Jasper, GA4,630$52,4420.1%
96Tallapoosa, GA3,227$62,5991.0%
97Flemington, GA1,571$78,0884.6%
98Darien, GA1,452$57,0003.7%
99Bowdon, GA2,006$65,3372.7%
100Elberton, GA4,720$50,0593.9%
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.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings