Places › Georgia › McDonough

Living in McDonough, GA

Small city in Georgia

McDonough is a small city in Georgia, home to about 30,000 people, with 1.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is McDonough a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low natural disaster risk: 3 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Easy flying: ATL is 21 mi away
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $280k and rents for $2,180 a month
  • Low taxes: about $1,500 state income tax per resident, 0.98% property tax

👎 Cons

  • Weaker public schools: test results well below the US average
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Fewer graduates: 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how McDonough ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
30,000
1.5 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
57°F / 91°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$280k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,180/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
100
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,500
State income tax per resident · 0.98% property tax
Safety
0.7× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
3 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
2
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Poor
Tests well below US average · 10 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
27%
4 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
ATL
21 mi away

Living in McDonough: common questions

What is the cost of living in McDonough?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $280k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,180 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 100, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in McDonough?

Georgia collects about $1,500 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.98% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is McDonough safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.7× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in McDonough?

Public schools in McDonough test well below the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 10 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in McDonough?

McDonough has mild winters: winter days average around 57°F and summer days around 91°F.

Does McDonough get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and tornadoes: 3 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.32 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to McDonough?

The nearest major airport is ATL, about 21 mi away.

How McDonough scores

Each bar compares McDonough with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeSmall city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietUrban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundMostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureCulture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateMild winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAffordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceModerate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityPrivate AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingExcellent
💸Low taxesGood
💼Job marketBelow average
🏥HealthcareAverage
🏫SchoolsPoor
🎓EducationBelow average
🧸Kids & familyGood
🐕Dog-friendlyGood
⛰️OutdoorsPoor
🎭CulturePoor
👮SafetySafe
🌪️Few natural disastersExcellent
☀️SunnyAverage
🌤️Mild summersAverage
✈️AirportExcellent

Places like McDonough

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Stockbridge, GASuburb57 $257k$2,180/moNo crime data Gastonia, NCSuburb54 $275k$2,080/moNo crime data Lawrenceville, GASuburb64 $337k$2,180/moNo crime data Stonecrest, GASuburb57 $259k$2,180/moNo crime data Newnan, GASmall city56 $318k$2,180/moModerate crime Kernersville, NCSuburb61 $302k$1,610/moSafe

Nearby

Stockbridge, GASuburb · 8 mi away57 $257k$2,180/moNo crime data Stonecrest, GASuburb · 17 mi away57 $259k$2,180/moNo crime data Redan, GASuburb · 21 mi away61 $230k$2,180/moNo crime data Decatur, GASuburb · 24 mi away72 $254k$2,180/moNo crime data East Point, GASuburb · 24 mi away59 $223k$2,180/moNo crime data Peachtree City, GASmall city · 24 mi away67 $421k$2,180/moNo crime data

See all the best places to live in Georgia.

Is McDonough right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.