Moving Guide: What Are The Most Affordable Atlanta Suburbs?
Even though many popular Sun Belt cities like Phoenix, Austin, and Miami have been experiencing a slowdown in the real estate world, Atlanta continues to perform above and beyond in a number of key economic indicators that predict a healthy and strong housing market.
While this is great news in many respects, it can be a bit discouraging for people that are looking to purchase an affordable home in a nice suburb.
Despite Atlanta's recent growth, it remains a highly affordable place to live. Whether you're looking for a smaller town a bit further from the city or a big suburb that will keep your commute short and sweet, you've got a lot of options.
We chose seventeen of the most affordable suburbs in the city to feature in this article, offering a wide range of options in terms of population, budget, distance to the city, and more.
Forest Park, GA
Median home sale price: $178,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,162
Population: 19,798
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 11.6 miles
Forest Park tops our list as one of the cheapest suburbs to live in Atlanta, with the lowest median home sale price out of all of the suburbs featured. Only about twenty miles from downtown Atlanta, Forest Park is home to nearly seventy acres of walking trails and a number of playgrounds.
Of course, when it comes to the most affordable housing in a desirable metro area, you're going to find that there are some reasons that the houses don't fetch the highest prices. It has a higher crime rate than some of the other suburbs on our list, and the public schools don't receive the same stellar reviews as other Atlanta metro areas.
Morrow, GA
Median home sale price: $225,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,485
Population: 6,553
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 15.3 miles
If you're looking for a small town that is not too far from the city that is affordable, turn your attention toward Morrow. Only about a twenty-minute commute to the City Center and home to a nature preserve, you might find that this is one of the best places to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city as well as the beauty of green space without too much of a drive in between.
Similar to Forest Park, Morrow doesn't get the best ratings for public schools or crime and safety.
Redan, GA
Median home sale price: $262,888
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,248
Population: 34,870
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 17.4 miles
A medium-sized suburb of Atlanta, Redan is known for its friendly community and low cost of living. While the crime rate is still higher than the national average, it's significantly lower than the rates for Forest Park and Morrow. With centrally located shops that contribute to its small-town feel and Redan Park, where you can enjoy the great outdoors, residents also enjoy the nearby proximity of beautiful Stone Mountain Park.
Are you planning on selling your home in the Atlanta area before you move to a new suburb? If so, you can use our free market analysis tool to discover how much your home is worth.
Stone Mountain, GA
Median home sale price: $275,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,447
Population: 6,614
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 20.5 miles
Another low-population suburb not terribly far from the city, Stone Mountain is a place where you can find a number of median-income neighborhoods. As with many of the towns and neighborhoods in the Atlanta area, you can feel like you are in a completely different world if you hop in the car and drive for five minutes in any direction.
One of the nicest features of the Stone Mountain housing market is that there are a number of old colonial homes that have been turned into townhomes here, as well as some incredible southern homes that feature incredible porches that wrap around the structure.
Conyers, GA
Median home sale price: $287,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,509
Population: 17,508
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 25 miles
Home to the International Horse Park, The Lewis Vaughn Botanical Garden, and the Old Jail Museum, Conyers might just be one of the best-known Atlanta suburbs. Another feature of this suburb is that crowds from around the Atlanta area and the south flock to the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival every year.
Thanks to great playgrounds, parks, daycare centers, and highly rated preschools, Conyers is a popular choice for young families looking for an affordable place to raise their kids.
Cartersville, GA
Median home sale price: $307,500
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,545
Population: 23,222
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 42.3 miles
About 42 miles from downtown, Cartersville is way out on the northwest edge of the metro area.
This could be a great choice for families that want to be relatively close to the city but don't need to feel like they're in the middle of it all. Known for being good for families and having great public schools, you can get a bit more space to breathe out here because you're further from the city.
College Park, GA
Median home sale price: $323,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,125
Population: 13,889
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 10.9 miles
Only a little over a mile from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and under twenty minutes from Downtown Atlanta, College Park is an area that will keep you connected to the rest of the city and the world. Of course, you'll need to be ok with the sound of planes taking off and landing with some frequency.
College Park does have a higher crime rate than some of the other suburbs on our list, but it's worth noting that there are a number of neighborhoods within College Park that are much safer than others. In general, you will want to focus your search on the southeastern neighborhoods to stay away from higher crime areas.
Newnan, GA
Median home sale price: $331,250
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,720
Population: 43,298
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 39.1 miles
Located in Coweta County, Newnan is a charming town located about forty miles southwest of the city. The area has a rich history that includes serving as a hospital city in the Civil War. Because of this status, the town was uniquely untouched during the war, and there is still quite a bit of antebellum architecture to enjoy and explore.
Newnan has become a popular place for young professionals and families to live in recent years, as the housing remains fairly affordable, and the town has maintained its strong sense of community and small-town charm despite its growth.
Locust Grove, GA
Median home sale price: $344,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,771
Population: 9,750
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 36.8 miles
A bit further out than some of the other suburbs on our list, it's about an hour's drive to get to the downtown area from Locust Grove.
This could be a great choice if you want to be relatively close to the city while enjoying a small-town lifestyle.
Decatur, GA
Median home sale price: $345,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,552
Population: 24,569
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 6.5 miles
Decatur is a great place to live if you want to be close to the city as well as in a cultural hub. Known for its many festivals, Decatur is also known for having a very walkable downtown with lots of interesting bars and restaurants, shopping centers, parks, and more.
It's also worth noting that this is one of the safest suburbs in Atlanta and is known for its highly-rated schools.
Norcross, GA
Median home sale price: $362,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,583
Population: 17,642
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 19.2 miles
This northern Atlanta suburb is home to many restaurants, parks, and other things to do, and it's known for having good public schools and low crime.
Home to many young professionals and families, this is a good choice for people who want to be close to the city but also prioritize school quality.
Senoia, GA
Median home sale price: $378,500
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,850
Population: 5,245
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 39.9 miles
Located south of Atlanta in Coweta County, Senoia is a small town that, interestingly, receives quite a bit of tourism because it was the filming location of the TV show The Walking Dead.
With an overall grade of "A" on Niche.com, Senoia is a particularly strong candidate for people looking for a town with good public schools, a family-friendly atmosphere, and low crime. If you don't mind being a bit further from the city and would appreciate a more small-town vibe, take a look at Senoia.
Tucker, GA
Median home sale price: $400,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,960
Population: 36,855
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 22.2 miles
Diverse and family-oriented, Tucker is known for having good quality public schools, relatively affordable homes, and a welcoming small-town feel.
Home to the Tucker Nature Preserve, the Tucker Farmers Market, and lots of lovely small businesses, this safe suburb is also one of the most popular in the area.
Dawsonville, GA
Median home sale price: $415,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,450
Population: 4,172
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 59.5 miles
If you're interested in living in a smaller town that isn't too close to the hustle and bustle of the city, check out Dawsonville, home of the beautiful Amicalola Falls State Park and the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
In addition to excellent opportunities for exploring nature, Dawsonville is also home to the North Georgia Premium Outlets, an outdoor mall that offers more than 140 name-brand and designer outlet stores. Even if you don't move to Dawsonville, you'll likely find yourself making the trip up here at some point to check out deals at stores like Burberry, Coach, Nike, Ralph Lauren, and more.
Marietta, GA
Median home sale price: $427,450
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,764
Population: 61,497
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 19.6 miles
One of the largest suburbs in Atlanta, Marietta's median home sale price has increased quite a bit as people have flocked to the metro area.
It's a desirable place to live for a reason– just 30 minutes from downtown but known for being a great place to raise a family. The area is known for having high-quality housing options and a relatively low cost of living.
Woodstock, GA
Median home sale price: $430,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,900
Population: 36,198
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 29.7 miles
A historic city about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Woodstock was founded in 1897.
With a thriving downtown area and a vibrant community, this Atlanta suburb is known for having abundant recreational opportunities and great schools.
Peachtree City, GA
Median home sale price: $550,000
Median rent- two-bedroom apartment: $1,799
Population: 38,818
Distance to Downtown Atlanta: 31.8
A planned community south of Atlanta, Peachtree City has the most expensive median home sale price of all of the suburbs on our list. The price is still pretty good for what you get, though– this golf cart community is viewed by many residents as a quiet retreat from the big city.
Peachtree City has an A+ rating on Niche.com and is known for having great public schools, low crime, abundant opportunities to enjoy the beauty of nature and a peaceful suburban vibe.
Are You Beginning Your Search?
Shopping for a home has always been thrilling and nerve-wracking, but little can compare to the intensity of the housing market in recent years. Looking for the perfect place to call home can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. If you're ready to find the right house in the suburb that supports your lifestyle, we're here to help.
When you work with the Justin Landis Group, you're not just another name on your real estate agent's list. Not only will you have a dedicated point of contact as a realtor working to help your real estate dreams come true, but you'll also have access to our world-class team of experts.
If it's time for you to find the home of your dreams, you've come to the right place. Contact us today to get started!