Explore Some of the Best Places to Live in Georgia
Select a region below to explore specific communities. Explore some of the best places to live in Gerorgia and find your new community.
Home to Georgia’s highest peak, Blairsville is known for its small-town charm, breath-taking waterfalls, and mountain vistas. It’s the perfect spot for nature lovers looking to escape the hustle and bustle without forgoing the perks of city life.
Blue Ridge is a beautiful city located in Fannin County and is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city is home to around 1,290 people and is the county seat of Fannin.
Cleveland, located 90 miles northeast of Atlanta, is located in White County and has a population of around 3,410. Truett McConnell, a private Christian liberal arts college, is located in the city of Cleveland.
Located between the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers in Gilmer County, Ellijay is known for its annual apple festival, premiere golf courses and breathtaking landscape. Just an hour away from Atlanta, the residents and visitors can enjoy a slower pace of life without forgoing the benefits of living near a major city.
Helen is a charming town in White County of 510. The town is a replica of a Bavarian alpine town, with all buildings being required to match the design style. The town is located in the Appalachian Mountains.
Located in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, Acworth is a city with an estimated population of 28,502. Acworth is in Cobb County and is nicknamed The Lake City.
Alpharetta is known for its prestigious schools, beautiful residential neighborhoods, and vibrant shopping and entertainment scene. It’s the 12th most populous city in Georgia and is frequently referred to as the Technology City of the South.
Located in the Cumberland area, The Battery Atlanta is a mixed-use development boasting unique shops and restaurants, as well as luxury living accommodations. The Battery’s main attraction is SunTrust Park, the new homes to the Atlanta Braves, making it one of the South’s premier lifestyle and entertainment destinations.
The city of Brookhaven is located in the northeastern suburbs of Atlanta. With a population of 49,000, Brookhaven is one of the state's most sought-after areas to live. Stretching 12 miles, it's the largest city in Dekalb county and one of the newest cities in Georgia.
On the southern shores of Lake Lanier, the city of Buford is about 25 miles north of Atlanta and located in Gwinnett County. Buford is not only home to the Buford Dam, which is a major source of power for the state, but it also operates its own school district.
Located in Cherokee County, Canton is about 40 miles north of downtown Atlanta. The population is close to 25,000 people and residents love the small town feel. Close to both the city and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Canton offers scenic views and a progressive lifestyle. There is something for everyone in Canton.
At the heart of Forsyth County and northeast of downtown Atlanta, you’ll find a quaint community known as Cumming. A growing community for people commuting into Atlanta for work and school, Cumming is also the birthplace of Zac Brown of country music’s Zac Brown Band.
Duluth, a suburb of Atlanta, features an estimated population of 29,193 and made Forbes 2009 list of America’s Best Places to Move in the 26th position. The city is located in Gwinnett County and is home to the popular Gwinnett Place Mall.
Gainesville, often referred to as the Poultry Capital of the World, is a city of 33,804 located halfway between downtown Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains. Gainesville is the county seat for Hall County and was founded in 1818 as Mule Camp Springs.
Hamilton Mill is known for its 27 luxury neighborhoods and over 2,000 custom built homes. The community is ideal for young professionals with children thanks to its various amenities and great schools.
Located in Paulding County, one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, Hiram is truly where old meets new. The city of just under 4,000, boasts a historic downtown filled with quaint dining and shopping as well as a nearby commercial district complete with a variety of modern conveniences. Over the last decade, Hiram has seen an increase of more than 160 percent. Needless to say, residents of this once rural city will surely be apart of something big!
Johns Creek has received national recognition for being one of the best cities to live in–and it’s no surprise why. With 82,000 residents, John’s Creek is the safest large city in Georgia and home to some of the best schools in the state.
Kennesaw, located in Cobb County, is a city of around 30,000 people and has a rich history. With nearby Kennesaw State University, the city is popular amongst millennials, with 33.2 percent of the population aged from 18-24 and a median age of 32.
The second oldest city in metro Atlanta, Lawrenceville has consistently been a popular destination for residents. The seat of Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville is located 30 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.
You’ll find the city of Marietta, and its population of approximately 60,000, right in the heart of Cobb County to the northwest of metro Atlanta. The city, which is the fourth largest of the principal cities of metro Atlanta, has been home to country singer Travis Tritt, the Atlanta Braves 2015 no. 1 draft pick Dansby Swanson, U.S. women’s national soccer team player Emily Sonnett and dozens of more notable people.
Norcross is located approximately 20 miles outside of Atlanta in Gwinnett County. The city hosts around 15,000 residents is famous for its small-town American vibe.
Roswell, the seventh largest city in Georgia, boasts an estimated population of 94,089 and is located in north Fulton County. Roswell is the birthplace of comedian Jeff Foxworthy, NFL legend Jerome Bettis and current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price.
Sandy Springs is a city of around 101,000 just outside of the perimeter in Atlanta to the north. The city is in Fulton County and was incorporated in 2005.
Located just 10 miles outside of Atlanta, Smyrna is the fastest growing city in the state. With plenty of diverse residential developments and equally unique retail shops and restaurants, the city attracts a younger demographic and was even ranked #4 as the best city for young adults in Georgia!
Snellville, where everybody is proud to be somebody, is located in Gwinnett County and is east of Atlanta. The city has 18,242 residents and is near Stone Mountain.
The only Georgia city named to Money Magazine’s Top 50 Best Places to Live in 2015, Woodstock is a city of around 30,000 located northwest of downtown Atlanta. The city is the current or former home of many celebrities, including professional wrestler Buff Bagwell, professional golfer Chris Kirk, Braves player Nick Markakis, The Walking Dead’s Chandler Riggs and former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk.
Carrollton, the county seat of Carroll County, is a city of 24,388 people and is home of the University of West Georgia. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Carrollton is also home to Southwire, one of the world’s largest manufactures of wire and cable.
Dallas is the county seat of Paulding County and is hope to around 12,629 people. Located west of downtown Atlanta, Dallas is the home of popular country music star Patty Loveless.
Douglasville, the county seat of Douglas County, has a population of around 31,000 and is located about 20 miles west of downtown Atlanta. Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things was filmed in the city of Douglasville, as well as two movies in The Hunger Games series.
Villa Rica, a city located in both Carroll and Douglas counties, is a lovely city with a population of around 14,000, while maintaining that small town feeling. Thomas A. Dorsey, considered the father of gospel songs, was born in Villa Rica.
Atlantic Station is an urban community located in Atlanta’s Westside. The community is separated between three areas: The District, the Commons, and the Village. The District and the Commons are comprised of office and retail spaces while the Commons houses the community’s residential areas.
Buckhead, a district of Atlanta located in Fulton County, is a major hub of the city. It’s the third-largest business district in the city and is populated by high rise buildings and surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
Decatur, a suburb of Atlanta, is a very popular community in Georgia. With around 20,000 residents, Decatur is best described as having that small town feeling while still remaining in metro Atlanta.
Inman Park is located on the east side of Atlanta. With a mixture of new and old homes and commercial spaces, Inman Park is a true testament to the city’s historic and cultural diversity!
Little Five Points is located just north of East Atlanta. The neighborhood is known for its distinctive street art, vintage clothing boutiques and culinary options. The neighborhood’s name was derived from the intersection situated at the heart of the so-called Bohemian center of the South.
Midtown is home to many of Atlanta’s cultural attractions, universities, Fortune 500 businesses and prominent architecture. The neighborhood is Atlanta’s first ecodistrict, making it one of the most functional and sustainable districts in the nation.
Ponce City Market (PCM) is located in one Atlanta’s trendiest and most historic neighborhoods, Old Fourth Ward (OFW). The 16-acre mixed-use development houses various national and local retail shops, restaurants, office spaces and residential units.
As a member of Cobb County’s “Platinum Triangle,” Vinings is known for its rich culinary scene, beautiful homes and top-tier school systems. The community is located between Buckhead and Smyrna and is home to many major commercial developments, including The Home Depot headquarters.
West Midtown is known for its contemporary art scene, live music venues, boutique shopping, and artisanal restaurants. Over the last several years, the community has grown exponentially and become a hotspot for millennial professionals and creatives.
Located just 25 miles east of Atlanta, Conyers is the only city in Rockdale County and home to over 15,000 residents.
Covington is located 35 miles east of Atlanta and is the county seat of Newton County. The city has been the location for filming scenes in dozens of popular movies and television shows, such as The Vampire Diaries, Selma, several Tyler Perry movies, The Walking Dead and The Dukes of Hazzard.
Lilburn is home to a diverse collection of unique attractions, such as Georgia’s beloved Stone Mountain Park and even the largest Hindu temple nationwide! The city is situated just 20 miles from downtown Atlanta whose motto, “Small town, Big difference,” speaks for itself!
Lithonia gets its name from a combination of the Greek words lithos (stone) and onia (place). The city is surrounded by granite, as well as the nearby Stone Mountain, so the name is fitting. Located just outside the perimeter of metro Atlanta, Lithonia is a small community with around 2,000 residents.
Conveniently located between Atlanta and Athens, Monroe offers plenty of attractions. From shopping and dining to festivals and parades, this Georgia city is not to be missed!
Fayetteville, located 22 miles south of downtown Atlanta, is a city of around 16,000 people in Fayette County. The city is the birthplace of former two term Georgia governor Hugh M. Dorsey. Fayetteville is home to Pinewood Atlanta Studios, the largest film studio in the United States not located in California.
As the setting of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind,” Jonesboro attracts a steady flow of visitors looking to experience the city’s quintessential charm.
One of three of the primary filming locations for the wildly popular Burt Reynolds film Smokey and the Bandit, McDonough is located to the southeast of downtown Atlanta. McDonough has roughly 22,000 residents and is in Henry County.
The birth place of country music artist Alan Jackson and NFL superstar Calvin Johnson, among others, Newnan is the county seat of Coweta County and is located about 40 miles southwest of metro Atlanta. With roughly 41,000 people, this community has become a large shopping hub for the area.
Peachtree City, the largest city in Fayette County, is in the southern portion of metro Atlanta. The city has been the filming location for several episodes of The Walking Dead, as well as scenes from the film Joyful Noise. The city has been named to multiple “Best Places to Live” lists as well.
Senoia is known for its bustling historic downtown area and up-and-coming film industry.
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