Living in a bustling city can be exciting, but sometimes, it can feel impossible to escape all of that noise. If you’re moving to the Atlanta area, you might be wondering whether it’s possible to get the best of both worlds– have easy access to the city while also being able to retreat to your own personal sanctuary.

Having a quiet home can seriously help you de-stress after a long day. Furthermore, it can help you sleep better, increase your creativity, and boost your self-awareness. At the same time, not everyone can simply move out to the country where they’re far from the sounds of honking horns, the antics of bar-goers, and the sound of air traffic overhead.

If you want to live in Atlanta but hope to find some peace and quiet at home, which neighborhoods should you look at? Beyond that, what other factors can you search for to help you identify the perfect, peaceful place for you to call home? Let’s take a look!

The Components of a Quiet Neighborhood

You’ll want to consider several different factors when searching for a quiet neighborhood in Atlanta to call home. For instance, it’s possible to have a peaceful and tranquil living space in the middle of the bustling city.

At the same time, it’s just as possible to find yourself constantly dealing with the sounds of loud trucks accelerating even though you live in a “quiet” suburb.

Here are some of the things you’ll want to look out for when you’re trying to identify the right neighborhood and home for you:

• Traffic: How much traffic there is on a street can tremendously impact how peaceful the area feels. Even if you’re far from the center of the city, living on a busy road is going to make it feel like you bought a place in Times Square. Consider looking for streets that have minimal through traffic, such as dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs.

• Commercial Activity: If there are many businesses or commercial establishments near your house, the neighborhood likely won’t feel very quiet, no matter how serene the well-landscaped streets appear. If quiet is a priority, look for areas with limited commercial activity. Neighborhoods with bars and nightclubs tend to be particularly noisy, whereas neighborhoods that are primarily residential or office buildings will be quieter.

• Landscaping: When mature trees are on your street, it can help buffer the noise of the neighborhood. Greenery can make it so sound doesn’t travel nearly as far, and it functions as a natural noise barrier.

• Crime Rates: Neighborhoods with low crime rates tend to feel much safer and more tranquil. When people aren’t on guard and worried about crime, there is typically a more relaxed, secure, and peaceful vibe.

• Design: Noise pollution can actually be reduced through thoughtful community planning as well. For example, well-placed parks, traffic-calming measures, and wider sidewalks can all come together to create a quieter atmosphere.

• Neighbors: Even if you live far from the city’s activity, having raucous neighbors will seriously impact your ability to enjoy peace and quiet at home. 

• Noise Ordinances: Some neighborhoods or HOAs will have local noise ordinances and regulations that limit noise levels and the hours businesses can operate. If you’re motivated to find the quietest possible place to live, researching local noise ordinances could be worth the trouble.

• Home Construction: Another important consideration is the construction of the actual home you purchase. The material a home is built with, whether it’s insulated, its layout, its setback, and other factors can impact how noisy it feels to live there.

• Green Spaces: Not only does having parks and green spaces nearby add to a sense of serenity in a neighborhood, but having mature trees growing near your home can help buffer noise.

• Distance From Highways and Airports: Neighborhoods that are further from the sounds of the interstate or busy roads will feel much more peaceful. Additionally, it’s useful to look at the national transportation noise pollution map, which can help you understand how the airport contributes to noise in particular parts of the city.

• Lot Size: Another factor to consider when looking for a quiet neighborhood is how big the average home lot is. If people are packed together in apartment complexes, it’s most likely going to feel noisier than if everyone has their own two-acre lot.

Finding a quiet neighborhood in Atlanta encompasses evaluating various elements, including traffic, commercial activity, landscaping, and local noise ordinances, among others. Ensure your chosen area aligns with your preferences for a tranquil environment, promoting not only peace and quiet but also enhancing your overall quality of life.

The Quietest Neighborhoods in Atlanta

Before we get too deep into our list of the quietest neighborhoods in the Atlanta area, it’s worth noting that “quiet” is a relative term. In general, if you’re in the bustling heart of the city, it’s going to be noisier than if you’re off in the far reaches of the suburbs.

At the same time, though, quieter residential pockets are sprinkled throughout the area. If you know where to look, peace and quiet aren’t far away!

Buckhead

Buckhead most certainly has its fair share of activity, but some parts of the neighborhood offer a quieter, more tranquil atmosphere that provides some retreat from the noise of the city.

Of course, having a tree-lined oasis right in the city comes at a cost– Buckhead has been known as a particularly affluent community since the mid-20th century.

Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs could be a good choice if you’re looking for a quieter suburban lifestyle rather than being right in the middle of all the action.

Just north of Atlanta, this is a great place to get the best of both worlds– access to plenty of amenities nearby while having a quiet retreat amidst plenty of green space.

Druid Hills

Druid Hills is another more urban option, a historic neighborhood with beautiful tree-lined streets and an endlessly fascinating mix of architectural styles.

Home to Emory University, you might find that this is the perfect place to find a quiet spot without being far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Chastain Park

In Chastain Park, you’ll find a lovely park and a number of impressively large estates.

This is known for being an affluent area in Atlanta, but many find it’s worth paying a bit more to live in this peaceful environment.

Decatur

Decatur has an incredibly strong sense of community– the downtown is vibrant, and there’s always something going on.

At the same time, there are plenty of quiet, residential streets that you might just want to call home.

Peachtree Heights East

Located near Peachtree Road in Buckhead, Peachtree Heights East is another lovely area where you can find upscale homes and serene, peaceful streets. Peachtree Heights East is one of the quieter places to live within Buckhead - it's a very safe neighborhood that’s great for families.

Wondering what you and your kids can get up to in the city? Check out our list of the top 25 family-friendly attractions in Atlanta.

Morningside-Lenox Park

This in-town Atlanta neighborhood was founded a century ago in 1923, and is situated west of Druid Hills, east of Ansley Park, and north of Virginia-Highland.

With truly outstanding parks and tranquil residential streets, this is a popular place to live for families and people looking for a more suburban, less noisy atmosphere.

Suwanee

There are lots of family-oriented neighborhoods in Suwanee.

With easy access to plenty of amenities, green space, and community events, this suburb lets you get away from it all without having to live out in the boonies.

Marietta

You’ll find both urban and suburban housing options in Marietta.

In general, neighborhoods located more toward the outskirts of Marietta will be quieter and have a more suburban feel.

Alpharetta

Hoping to move to a quiet neighborhood without giving up access to a charming downtown? Look no further than Alpharetta, which is known for its top-rated schools and peaceful residential streets. 

If living in a quiet place is your highest priority, you might consider a gated community. Check out our list of the top gated communities in Atlanta to help you as you search for your perfect neighborhood.

Tips For Finding a Quiet Apartment in the City

What if you want to live in the city but don’t want to feel like your home is at the back of a rowdy bar? There are a number of things you can look for when shopping for a new spot in the city to help ensure your actual living space is as quiet as possible.

Look For an Older Building

In general, older buildings tend to be constructed in a way that helps keep noise from outside getting in. Doors were made of heavier, more substantial materials, such as solid wood, and walls were constructed with thick masonry, laster and plath, and other naturally soundproofing materials.

On the other hand, modern construction tends to transfer much more noise between walls and from the outside in. There can be a tremendous difference in noise level between a historic apartment and a newly constructed unit, so those who want to prioritize peace and quiet might find an older building is the right choice.

Consider External Noise

When you’re shopping for a home, you’ll want to think about the noise you can anticipate coming from the surrounding street. One big question is whether construction or road work is happening or if there are plans for this type of thing in the future.

Of course, you can’t ever entirely avoid a road crew occasionally filling in potholes on your street, but you can make sure you’re not buying a house right across the street from a multi-year commercial development project.

Go High

If you’re living on a busy street and just looking for some peace and quiet when you get home, consider getting an apartment on a higher floor.

Your new home will be substantially quieter the further you are from the noise of the street.

Learn About the Noise Policy in the Building

If you’re planning on renting or purchasing a unit in a building, you’ll want to research the noise policy before making anything final.

This will give you a sense of when you can expect there to be relative quiet in the building or if there are even any parameters in place to help control noise.

Check the Place Out at Different Times of Day

The same area at different times of day can have radically varying noise levels. A street might seem quiet in the middle of the day but actually becomes loud and raucous once people start heading to the local bar.

Similarly, some roads might experience a great deal of rush hour traffic but otherwise be relatively serene.

Talk to Current Tenants or Neighbors

Perhaps one of the best ways to figure out the best, quiet place to live is to talk to neighbors or current tenants in an area that you’re interested in.

They’ll be able to give you the low down on what you can expect noise-wise. This is a great way to get an honest perspective on what it’s really like to live there.

Tips For Creating a Quieter Living Environment

It can be hard to anticipate what type of noise levels you’ll be dealing with when moving to a new home. Even if the street seems quiet, one noisy neighbor with a drumset can spoil your sense of peace and quiet.

Luckily, there are many things you can do to help make your living environment quieter, no matter what is happening elsewhere in the building or outside on the streets. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your home is the rejuvenating sanctuary you want it to be:

• Invest in thicker curtains: Heavy-duty curtains can help to buffer the sound from the street, keeping your home quieter.

• Seal windows and doors: If there are any gaps around your windows and doors, these can be sealed to both reduce draught, reduce heating and cooling bills, and keep noise out.

• Use a noise canceling machine: A white noise machine can be a game-changer when you want to reduce the experience of noise from outside your home.

• Check for cracks, holes, or gaps in baseboards and walls: Sound can even get in through your baseboards and walls. Sealing these up can help keep noise out.

Finding Your Peaceful Retreat in Atlanta

If you’re moving to Atlanta and you’re searching for the perfect peaceful space to call home, we’re here to help. At the Justin Landis Group, it’s our mission to help people achieve their real estate goals. When you work with us, you’ll have an entire team of world-class experts working to make your dreams a reality.

Are you ready to get started? If so, reach out and contact us today!