Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Atlanta, GA

    Is Atlanta a good place to live?

    Watch Atlanta

    Atlanta ranks #26 of 48 Georgia cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (49/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.9% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $420,600
    +6.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,617
    per month
    Household income
    $81,938
    median
    Unemployment
    5.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Atlanta

    The median home value in Atlanta is $420,600 and median rent is $1,617 a month, against a median household income of $81,938. Homes cost about 5.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Atlanta crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Georgia the 2025 rate was 301 violent and 1,404 property crimes per 100,000 people — #29 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Atlanta, GA

    Atlanta has about 499,287 residents, 5.9% unemployment and 33% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Atlanta with

    Atlanta vs ColumbusAtlanta vs AugustaAtlanta vs Macon-Bibb CountyAtlanta vs SavannahAtlanta vs AthensAtlanta vs South FultonAtlanta vs Sandy SpringsAtlanta vs Roswell

    More: Where to move in Georgia · Best counties in Georgia

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report