What are the best places to live around Atlanta if you don’t want to be in the city? This is my list of the five best Atlanta suburbs, as I saw it when I filmed this in early 2023. It’s for anyone relocating to Georgia, or already here, who wants to be near the city without living in it.
One of the biggest challenges people have is just crossing places off the list. Plenty of places will probably work for your situation, so don’t read this as the only five good suburbs around Atlanta. There are a ton of others I’m not covering here. If you’re still sorting out the whole map, start with my guide to Atlanta neighborhoods and suburbs.
5. Peachtree City: The Golf Cart Community
Peachtree City is about 45 minutes south of Atlanta, in Fayette County. It’s unique because it’s a golf cart community. Over 10,000 of its residents travel mostly within the community by golf cart, and there are more than 90 miles of golf cart paths. Most of Peachtree City can be reached that way, which means not having to get in your car. It’s convenient, and it’s pretty fun.
It’s also a very tight-knit community where everyone seems to know each other’s names. Crime is typically very low and the schools are very good. There are plenty of good restaurants, shops and things to do in town, and a day in the city of Atlanta is an easy day trip.
The downside I’d name: it’s slightly less diverse than some of the other places on this list, at 70% Caucasian. But this is not a place where, if you’re not white, you should feel uncomfortable. It’s not an extremely rural area. You’re only about 45 minutes from the city, so most people should feel comfortable living here.
Budget, as of 2023: you’ll probably want a budget in the high $300,000s at a minimum, and you’ll probably be more comfortable in the mid $400,000s. It’s not the cheapest area, but it’s a nice, safe, tight-knit community south of Atlanta.
4. Woodstock: Family-Friendly on a Lower Budget
Woodstock is about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta. It’s a fantastic option if you want a family-friendly area on a somewhat lower budget. It sits in Cherokee County, which almost across the board has really good public schools, and it’s generally a very safe area where you won’t have to worry much about crime.
Downtown Woodstock is one of the better downtown areas of all the suburbs around Atlanta. There are a ton of local restaurants that are actually really good, and local retail shops, so you have plenty to do in Woodstock itself. Lake Allatoona is close by, which is always a nice amenity. There’s also Red Top Mountain Park, Reformation Brewing and Dixie Speedway, and more. It’s a great mix of rural things to do, city things to do and nature-related things to do.
Budget, as of 2023: when I looked at the MLS (the multiple listing service, the database agents use to search homes for sale) on the morning I filmed this, you could still find a livable home in the high $200,000s. I even saw some new construction in the high $400,000s. If you want a big, beautiful house, it won’t break the bank like it would in Alpharetta, and if your budget is lower for whatever reason, it’s still a very affordable place for your family.
3. Alpharetta: The Most to Do, at a Price
Alpharetta is about 26 miles north of the city. It probably has more fun, popular amenities and things to do than any other suburb on this list. The only reason it’s not number one is that it’s kind of expensive to live here.
Geographically, it’s a sweet spot. You have an easy commute into the city if you work there, or if you just want to spend the day there. You also get a huge head start on North Georgia and everything it has to offer. In some spots you’re only 15 miles from Lake Lanier.
In Alpharetta itself there’s a really nice downtown, with people out and about with their kids or by themselves, plus restaurants, shops and events all year. There’s also Avalon, a huge newer mixed-use development with a movie theater, breweries and really good restaurants. That gives you two large, walkable, dense areas right in Alpharetta. The schools tend to be very good and crime is very low. For all those reasons it’s probably the most popular, most desirable suburb around Atlanta.
Budget, as of 2023: you’d need a starting budget in the low $400,000s. Anything below that is probably a bit of a rehab project. There are increasingly more attached options, meaning condos and townhomes, in the $300,000 range. But a detached house starts in the low $400,000s and can go way up into the millions.
I don’t highlight Alpharetta as much on my channel, because everyone talks about how great it is and I like to highlight lesser-known neighborhoods. It’s very well known for a good reason. If you’re comparing it with a neighbor, see my breakdown of Alpharetta vs Roswell.
2. Smyrna: Just Outside the City
Smyrna is in Cobb County, just outside the Perimeter (the I-285 loop around the city) to the northwest. You’re practically in the city but not really, which makes it a really good blend. If you commute into Atlanta, you can get away with a very short, easy commute, depending on where you are and, of course, traffic.
There’s a lot going on close by, too. The Atlanta Braves play at Truist Park in Cobb County, very near this area. Truist Park is part of the Battery, a larger development you can enjoy even when there’s no game on. Smyrna itself has restaurants, bars and retail shops, and it’s an increasingly popular place.
Smyrna is one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Georgia, and one of the more densely populated ones. It’s also home to a lot of big employers, so it can be a great option if you want to work and live in the same place. Because it’s so dense, there are a lot of great condo and townhome options.
If you’re a younger person with a corporate job, this is one of the first places I’d point you to. There’s a nice mix of young and old, some solid diversity, and an excellent location. Even Alpharetta and Avalon aren’t too far from you.
Budget, as of 2023: on the morning I filmed this I saw two-bed, two-bath, 1,100 square foot condos starting at $235,000. I think it’s a great place to own real estate, because very few locations around Atlanta are growing as fast as Smyrna is. If you want a closer look at where growth is heading, see my post on the fastest growing Atlanta suburbs.
1. Suwanee: The Most Family-Oriented Suburb
Suwanee is about 33 miles northeast of the city of Atlanta, and it’s probably one of the most family-oriented suburbs on my list. As they’ve developed this area, it seems like they’ve always had a family atmosphere and children in mind.
Town Center Park is a beautiful 10-acre park with an amphitheater, a huge interactive fountain and some great retail shops. There’s also Suwanee Creek Greenway, Suwanee Creek Park, Sims Lake Park and Playtown Suwanee, a huge playground. That’s a lot of fun for parents and kids alike, and a lot of outdoor activities. It’s very green, with lots of trails and parks. The schools tend to be very good and crime is very low.
In this part of town you’ve also got a great head start to Lake Lanier, a hugely popular amenity for Georgians. Alpharetta is pretty close by, so if you want to change it up you’ve got Avalon and downtown Alpharetta nearby. Even the city of Atlanta isn’t a bad trip.
Budget, as of 2023: you could still find a move-in ready home in the mid $300,000s. It has gotten more expensive over the years, but it’s a rapidly growing area that’s not going to stop growing, and a fantastic place to own real estate. If you have kids and want to be not too far from the city, but definitely not in it, with a lot of fun things to do where you are, this should be a place you check out.
How to Choose Between Them
Don’t get discouraged if none of these feels right. There are so many other great neighborhoods around Atlanta, and you have to go by what’s most important to you. That might be the quality of the schools. It might be proximity to your work, or to where you spend the most time. It might be the size and price of the house. Work backwards from your biggest priorities, and no matter what your situation, there’s almost definitely a great place for you to live around Atlanta.
If you’re relocating, my guide to moving to Atlanta is a good next step, and the process of buying or selling a home in Atlanta is worth understanding before you tour. For city-side options, my earlier post on the best neighborhoods in Atlanta covers five more.
I’m a realtor in the Atlanta area, and I love connecting with the people who watch my videos. If you’re buying or selling, you can work with me directly: book a call with me here, and we’ll talk through which of these suburbs fits your budget and priorities.