Best places to live in Georgia (2026)

All 9 ranked places in Georgia, by all-round score. 16 other places without FBI crime data are on the places list.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Marietta, GASuburb · 3-bed $382k · moderate crime74
2. 2Sandy Springs, GASuburb · 3-bed $556k · very safe69
3. 3Milton, GASuburb · 3-bed $480k · very safe69
4. 4Dunwoody, GASuburb · 3-bed $577k · very safe67
5. 5Alpharetta, GASuburb · 3-bed $534k · very safe66
6. 6Brookhaven, GASuburb · 3-bed $648k · safe65
7. 7Newnan, GASmall city · 3-bed $318k · moderate crime57
8. 8Warner Robins, GASmall city · 3-bed $203k · moderate crime48
9. 9Albany, GASmall city · 3-bed $129k · higher crime38

Cheapest places to live in Georgia

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Albany, GASmall city · rent $1,530/mo · cost of living 88$129k
2. 2Columbus, GAMid-size city · rent $1,450/mo · cost of living 89$163k
3. 3Augusta-Richmond County, GAMid-size city · rent $1,630/mo · cost of living 96$186k
4. 4Macon-Bibb County, GAMid-size city · rent $1,570/mo · cost of living 94$189k
5. 5Warner Robins, GASmall city · rent $1,820/mo · cost of living 94$203k

Safest places to live in Georgia

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Milton, GASuburb · violent crime 0.10× the US rate37 per 100k
2. 2Alpharetta, GASuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate111 per 100k
3. 3Dunwoody, GASuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate128 per 100k
4. 4Sandy Springs, GASuburb · violent crime 0.3× the US rate129 per 100k
5. 5Brookhaven, GASuburb · violent crime 1.0× the US rate387 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Georgia

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Columbus, GA3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding93
2. 2Peachtree Corners, GA3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes93
3. 3Dunwoody, GA5 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes91
4. 4Macon-Bibb County, GA3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes91
5. 5Athens, GA2 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, tornadoes90

Best places to live for families in Georgia

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Milton, GASuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $480k83
2. 2Alpharetta, GASuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $534k80
3. 3Marietta, GASuburb · kids good · safety good · 3-bed $382k72
4. 4Dunwoody, GASuburb · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $577k71
5. 5Sandy Springs, GASuburb · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $556k71

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.