This article, the tenth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Georgia based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, “places” are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.
Among the twenty best places to live in Georgia, eighteen are suburbs of Atlanta, one is a suburb of Athens, and one is a suburb of Savannah. By county, five of the best places to live in Georgia are located in Gwinnett County, three in DeKalb County, three in Fulton County, two in Cherokee County, two in Cobb County, two in Fayette County, one each in Coweta and Chatham Counties, and one partially in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, and Jackson Counties.
After reading “Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012),” return to this link to read “Largest Cities in Georgia (2012).” A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
For the culmination of the 50-state series, read “Best Places to Live in America (2012).”
This article may be updated as new data becomes available.
1. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Berkeley Lake, GA (Gwinnett County)
Population: 2,144
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $139,877
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 66.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.87
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 25 miles SW
Athens, GA: 54 miles E
Columbus, GA: 132 SSW
Macon, GA: 105 SSE
2. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Dunwoody, GA (DeKalb County)
Population: 40,619
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $82,399
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 69.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.42
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 17 miles SSW
Athens, GA: 65 miles E
Columbus, GA: 123 SSW
Macon, GA: 101 SSE
3. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Alpharetta, GA (Fulton County)
Population: 50,296
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,617
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.95
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 28 miles SSW
Athens, GA: 64 miles ESE
Columbus, GA: 134 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 112 miles SSE
4. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Peachtree City, GA (Fayette County)
Population: 34,597
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $94,437
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.7
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 32 miles NNE
Athens, GA: 95 miles NE
Columbus, GA: 80 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 81 miles SE
5. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Avondale Estates, GA (DeKalb County)
Population: 2,815
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $92,460
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 59.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 9.11
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 8 miles WSW
Athens, GA: 61 miles ENE
Columbus, GA: 117 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 87 miles SSE
6. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Suwanee, GA (Gwinnett County)
Population: 15,373
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,833
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.81
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 32 miles SW
Athens, GA: 48 miles ESE
Columbus, GA: 140 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 113 miles SSE
7. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Roswell, GA (Fulton County)
Population: 87,724
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $83,831
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 49.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 8.0
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 22 miles S
Athens, GA: 73 miles E
Columbus, GA: 129 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 107 miles SSE
8. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Decatur, GA (DeKalb County)
Population: 19,029
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $70,090
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 12.74
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 7 miles NE
Athens, GA: 62 miles ENE
Columbus, GA: 114 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 86 miles SSE
9. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Tybee Island, GA (Chatham County)
Population: 3,787
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $66,504
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.81
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 267 miles NW
Augusta, GA: 147 miles NNW
Savannah, GA: 18 miles WNW
Charleston, SC: 133 miles NNE
10. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Kennesaw, GA (Cobb County)
Population: 32,466
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $66,115
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 43.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.23
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 26 miles SSE
Athens, GA: 85 miles E
Columbus, GA: 129 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 111 miles SSE
11. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Sandy Springs, GA (Fulton County)
Population: 85,619
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $74,633
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 59.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 13.47
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 15 miles S
Athens, GA: 67 miles E
Columbus, GA: 121 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 100 miles SSE
12. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Woodstock, GA (Cherokee County)
Population: 23,375
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $67,442
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 39.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.22
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 30 miles SSE
Athens, GA: 87 miles ESE
Columbus, GA: 133 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 115 miles SSE
13. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Tyrone, GA (Fayette County)
Population: 6,228
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $80,517
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 34.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.38
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 26 miles NNE
Athens, GA: 95 miles NE
Columbus, GA: 87 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 86 miles SE
14. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Senoia, GA (Coweta County)
Population: 3,251
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $83,446
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 27.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.64
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 35 miles NNE
Athens, GA: 99 miles NE
Columbus, GA: 73 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 71 miles SE
15. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Duluth, GA (Gwinnett County)
Population: 26,234
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $57,605
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 47.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.93
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 27 miles SW
Athens, GA: 51 miles E
Columbus, GA: 133 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 106 miles SSE
16. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Braselton, GA (Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, and Jackson Counties)
Population: 7,096
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $78,562
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 41.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 9.74
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 50 miles SW
Athens, GA: 30 miles SE
Columbus, GA: 156 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 111 miles S
17. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Holly Springs, GA (Cherokee County)
Population: 7,447
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $69,521
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 30.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.79
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 38 miles SSE
Athens, GA: 90 miles ESE
Columbus, GA: 140 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 122 miles SSE
18. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Sugar Hill, GA (Gwinnett County)
Population: 16,607
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $78,410
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 31.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.12
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 39 miles SW
Athens, GA: 43 miles ESE
Columbus, GA: 146 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 119 miles SSE
19. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Snellville, GA (Gwinnett County)
Population: 20,273
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $68,412
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 30.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.4
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 25 miles WSW
Athens, GA: 42 miles ENE
Columbus, GA: 134 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 93 miles SSE
20. Best Places to Live in Georgia (2012) – Smyrna, GA (Cobb County)
Population: 50,129
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $62,929
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 49.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 14.26
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Atlanta, GA: 16 miles SSE
Athens, GA: 74 miles E
Columbus, GA: 115 miles SSW
Macon, GA: 100 miles SSE
*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from county or contiguous municipality data.
Source(s):
“All Cities in Georgia,” City-Data.com
” American Community Survey ,” U.S. Census Bureau
” American Fact Finder ,” U.S. Census Bureau
“Crime Reports,” Dunwoody Police Department
Uniform Crime Reports – Georgia,” Federal Bureau of Investigation
