What are the schools like in Atlanta, GA?

Atlanta is served primarily by Atlanta Public Schools. The district operates 55 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, and 15 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Atlanta?

The median household income in Atlanta, GA is $77,655 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Atlanta, GA?

Atlanta has an average high temperature of 53.7°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.5 inches.

Atlanta, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Atlanta, GA affordable or expensive?

Atlanta's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Atlanta is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $395,600 and the median rent is $1,512 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Atlanta, GA?

Atlanta has a violent crime rate of 840.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3748.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Atlanta, GA a Good Place to Live?

Atlanta is a large city of 494,838 in Georgia, with a median household income of $77,655 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Atlanta stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Atlanta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Atlanta city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Atlanta's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Atlanta costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Atlanta, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$395,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,512	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	45.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,655	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Atlanta's violent crime rate is 840.6 per 100,000 residents — 121% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

840.6 /100k

Property Crime

3748.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Atlanta is served primarily by Atlanta Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Atlanta, GA	National Avg
School District	Atlanta Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	55	—
Middle Schools	15	—
High Schools	15	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	57.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Atlanta sees average highs of 53.7°F in January and 90.0°F in July, with 51.8 inches of annual precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Atlanta, GA
Average High — January	53.7°F
Average High — July	90.0°F
Annual Precipitation	51.8"
Annual Snowfall	0.5"

Demographics

Metric	Atlanta, GA	National Avg
Population	494,838	—
Median Age	33.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	40.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	47.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.6%	18.9%
Asian	4.9%	6.3%
Under 18	17.2%	22.2%
65 and over	12.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Druid Hills, GA 6 mi North Druid Hills, GA 7 mi East Point, GA 7 mi Hapeville, GA 7 mi Vinings, GA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Atlanta

Atlanta, GA is covered by 23 ZIP codes:

30318 30311 30315 30327 30310 30354 30305 30314 30324 30316 30306 30312 30309 30317 30307 30308 30313 30303 30326 30322 30363 30332 30334

Atlanta vs Other Cities

Atlanta, GA vs Druid Hills, GA Atlanta, GA vs North Druid Hills, GA Atlanta, GA vs East Point, GA Atlanta, GA vs Hapeville, GA Atlanta, GA vs Vinings, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Atlanta, GA affordable or expensive?

Atlanta's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Atlanta roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $395,600 and median rent is $1,512/month.

What is the crime rate in Atlanta, GA?

Atlanta's violent crime rate is 840.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3748.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Atlanta?

Public schools in Atlanta are operated by Atlanta Public Schools. The district has 55 elementary, 15 middle, and 15 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 57.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Atlanta, GA a good place to live?

Atlanta, GA has a population of 494,838, a median household income of $77,655, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Atlanta?

Atlanta averages 53.7°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.8 inches with about 0.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Atlanta?

Atlanta, GA is covered by 23 ZIP codes: 30318, 30311, 30315, 30327, 30310, 30354, 30305, 30314, 30324, 30316, 30306, 30312, 30309, 30317, 30307, 30308, 30313, 30303, 30326, 30322, 30363, 30332, 30334.

What is the population of Atlanta?

The population of Atlanta, Georgia is 494,838 with a median age of 33.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Atlanta?

Key numbers for living in Atlanta: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $395,600, median household income $77,655, crime index 204 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Atlanta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.