Atlanta, mostly called ATL or the A-Town is one of the most popular cities in the United States. It is the capital of Georgia and the most populated city in the state with over 500,000 people. In the southeast, it’s the 8th most populated and the 38th most populated city in America. It’s located located among the foothill of the Appalachian Mountains and it’s features lush greenery, rolling hills, etc.
There are several neighborhoods in Atlanta, and some of the neighborhoods were developed as the city’s first suburbs connected by streetcars and several others are currently being developed. In Atlanta, there are so much to discover at every turn and transportation in Atlanta is good but needs improvement. To explore all the city has to offer is fun and one of the ways to experience this is through the Atlanta City pass.
In this article, we have put together the best neighborhoods in Atlanta, whether you are a young professional looking for a nice place to live or you have a family and you need a safe neighborhood to live then your search is over. Home prices and rent are affordable, the cost of living in Atlanta is not high. Here are some of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta both for families and young professionals;
Best Neighborhoods in Atlanta
- Buckhead
- Inman Park
- East Atlanta Village
- Little Five Points
- Midtown
- Virginia-Highland
- Decatur
- Sandy Spring
- Old Fourth Ward
- Cabbagetown
1. Buckhead
This is one of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta for families and young professionals, there are over 79,000 people living in Buckhead. There are over 40 distinct subdivision in Buckhead. This part of the city is adorned with green spaces, parks, restaurants, etc. You can get some of the best foods in Atlanta right in this neighborhood. This stylish part of Atlanta is known for its upscale malls and the independent art galleries and majority of the people living in Buckhead are white, Black is 10% and Latino is 5%. Here, you’d find one of the most luxurious shopping centers in the city but there are also budget shopping.
In Buckhead, there are a mix of old and new townhouse communities and several new condo buildings at different point.
Whether you are single or you have a large family, this is a nice place to live, it’s safe and there are lots of activities you can engage in and social places to visit from social clubs, fancy bars and restaurants, weekend events for families and singles, etc.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Buckhead is about $1,800, the average home value is $500,000 but this vary depending on the area. And compared with the rest of city of Atlanta, homes in Buckhead costs over 200% on average.
2. Inman Park
Inman Park was established in 1912 and it is Atlanta’s first planned garden surburb and it can be clearly seen from the design of the parks and care for the trees which are some of the fascinating features of the neighborhood.
This neighborhood was for years occupied by several famous Atlanta families who built Victoria homes on it’s picturesque landscaped streets in the late 19th century. Once residents in the neighborhood include the founder of Coca-cola company, Asa G Candler, his brother Warren Candler and several other prominent people.
This neighborhood is home to Atlanta most anticipated Inman Park Annual Festival which is usually held in April.
This festival showcases the neighborhood’s personality with costumed performers parading, local matching bands and several fascinating performing arts. The vibe and spirit of this festival is clearly seen and felt around many community, bars, restaurants, coffee shops and houses.
In this neighborhood, there several restaurants,.parks, bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc. It’s a nice family-friendly place to live in Atlanta but most of its residents are young professionals. The transportation services are good, it’s easy to access the airport from this neighborhood as well as other areas in Atlanta.
In Inman Park, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,200. Housing in this neighborhood is very competitive. The average sales price for a home ranges from $370,000 to $425,000 depending in the area.
3. East Atlanta Village
This is a hip and trendy neighborhood located east of the city of Atlanta, it was founded in 1820. It is one of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta because of its energetic vivve and ambience. Gentrification has really hit hard on this neighborhood so there are still several unmodified houses unlike Buckhead.
This neighborhood is a thriving modern business district and it’s has a very rich history and charming green spaces. East Atlanta Village is part of Dekalb county. To the north, it borders Edgewood and Kirkwood avenue, to the west, Ormewood Park and Moreland avenue and Woodland Hill neighborhoods.
East Atlanta Village is considered suburban by it’s population density and real estate is more expensive in this neighborhood compared to several other neighborhoods in the state. The neighborhood has a reputation for welcoming people of all backgrounds and lifestyles so it’s considered as an ideal place for young singles and families with children.
The average value for a home in this neighborhood is $230,800 and most homes in this neighborhood are stand-alone, single-family homes built within the 40s and the 70s. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,560 and this depends on the area as well as several other factors.
4. Little Five Points
This neighborhood is Atlanta’s center of culture and expression, it’s also known as a hippie hub. It’s lined with fancy restaurants, local shops, bars and shopping. It’s regarded as one of the most exciting neighborhoods in ATL.
The name of the neighborhood, Little Five Points, refers to the intersection in the middle of the neighborhood, the points are made up by Euclid Avenue (northeast/southwest) and Moreland Avenue (north/south). The original fifth point was the old Seminole Avenue but there are others who consider McLendon Avenue to be the new fifth point.
If you are looking for fun things to do in Atlanta, a visit to this neighborhood should be top on your bucket list. The neighborhood Halloween festival and parade attracts over 30,000 people every year.
In Little Five Points, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,549. The average listing home price is about $320,000. There are several subdivision in the neighborhood so the price varies depending on the particular subdivision.
5. Midtown
This residential neighborhood is an about 360-acre historic neighborhood of early to mid 20th century single-family residences. The neighborhood is bounded by 10th Street, Ponce de Leon Avenue, Piedmont Avenue and Lakeview Avenue.
This is one of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta, it showcases the city urban living at it’s best. With over 7,000 residential unit, all residences within the Midtown core are within easy access to MARTA rail stops and local bus connections, bike lanes and excellent interstate accessibility.
In Midtown, there are variety of housing options as well as excellent selections of local Atlanta food joints, and mom-and-pop shops, grocery stores and other amenities. The types of homes in the neighborhood changes as you move through the area.
On the east side, there you’ll find more single-family homes nestled along tree-lined streets, and on the west side, you will find more condominiums and townhomes. There are close by grocery stores and food markets located on the east end of Midtown.
This neighborhood is also close to Piedmont Park which is the city’s premier green space. The park features a vast array of sports facilities, playgrounds, picnic areas, etc.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Midtown, Atlanta is $1,920. The average price for a home in this neighborhood is about $398,000.
6. Virginia-Highland
This neighborhood is located in Fulton County, northeast Downtown of Atlanta and few miles from Midtown with a population of over 8,900. It is an original street car suburb with tree-lined streets and bungalow houses built since the 20s. Living in this neighborhood offer residents and urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. Southern Living Magazine, recently vote Virginia-Highland as one of the best neighborhoods in the south.
In this neighborhood, there are several fancy restaurants, legacy bars, trendy shops and world class fitness and we’ll centers. Annually, they host events such as Winterfest and Porchfest. Residents of this neighborhood look forward to the annual events because it’s always fun. And many professionals living in this neighborhood tend to be liberals.
This neighborhood is good for families and singles. It’s one of the most sought after neighborhoods in the state with homes that features nice views of downtown and midtown Atlanta.
The average monthly rent in Virginia-Highland for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,500, while the median price for a home is about $560,000 and homes in this neighborhood is usually higher than neighborhoods nearby.
7. Decatur
This is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Atlanta, with a population of over 24,000 people, it’s a suburb and is in DeKalb County. It’s one of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta. It’s also one of the most sought after suburb in Atlanta for many professionals, young families and couples and it’s in close proximity to Downtown Atlanta.
The neighborhood was established in 1822 and was renamed after a naval hero, Stephen Decatur from Barbary Wars and that of 1812. Due to the downtown development effort, this neighborhood is experiencing tremendous transformation by the day and there is a great sense of community as seen through several activities held in the neighborhood from year to year. Such activities include annual beach parties, outdoor concerts, a Blue and Bluegrass festival, etc.
In Decatur, there are several signature places to eat, drink and have fun. Being outside the city,this neighborhood is relatively quiet and features lots of green spaces so good for walks and hikes.
In Decatur, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1,250, a two-bedroom apartment is within $1,700 per month. This is one of the best places to live in Atlanta, it’s peaceful and safe and you can commute to the city and other within the state with ease without the bustles and chaos associated with metropolitan Atlanta scene.
8. Sandy Spring
Over the years, this neighborhood has grown into a thriving city attracting diverse population residents and powerhouse corporations. It’s located in the northern part of Fulton County, and borders the Chattahoochee River, Rose well Dunwoody and Buckhead, it’s few miles away from Atlanta’s city center, it’s in close proximity to downtown Atlanta and Buckhead so if you work in any of these places you can still live in Sandy springs.
This neighborhood has a good mix of types of housing from single-family homes to apartment building. It’s a place of more urban lifestyle as the majority of the residents rent their homes other than owning it. The population of this neighborhood is predominantly White, followed by Black and Hispanic
In Sandy Springs, there are a number of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, mom-and-pop shops, etc. And there are plenty of entertainment with outdoor concerts, performing arts centers, playgrounds, etc. The neighborhood is part of the Fulton County School System with several elementary schools, middle school and high schools.
You can get a one-bedroom apartment in average for $1,700 per month and a two-bedroom for $2,200 per month.
Residents of this neighborhood have easy access to public transportation via bus or rail as well as all major highways to downtown Atlanta or nearby Buckhead community
9. Old Fourth Ward
This is one of the most desirable neighborhood in Atlanta and remains one if the oldest in the city with some of its building being constructed around the time of the civil war but after the Great Fire of Atlanta in 1917, several mansions were replaced with apartment building which eventually became public housing.
Over the years, this neighborhood has transformed significant from an haven of crime to an oasis of serenity and tranquility with iconic attractions like the Old Fourth Ward skatepark, Ponce City Market and lots of others.
This neighborhood is located east of downtown Atlanta and it’s the place of Martin Luther King Jr home. The neighborhood has rich history and It’s one of the largest and most historic neighborhoods in Atlanta. There are several restaurants, bars, green places, etc.
The average monthly rent in Old Fourth Ward is about $2,,000 for a one-bedroom apartment while the median price for a home in this neighborhood is about $240,000.
10. Cabbagetown
This neighborhood is located a mile east downtown Atlanta, it’s a small and artsy historic. The while neighborhood is around only four square blocks but it’s a hub of art and culture and it’s considered as one of the most exciting neighborhoods in the entire Atlanta. In recent years millennials have flocked to this neighborhood and young stars working in the Atlanta film and entertainment industry.
A huge amount of effort is put to ensure this neighborhood retains it’s authentic look so all you will see are homes that look and match the feel of this neighborhood making it look like it did back in the 19th century.
One of the admirable features of this neighborhood is it’s resilience despite several setbacks such as the fire and tornado, the community has also been able to bounce back.
There are several things to do in this neighborhood, it’s a home to a lot of nice restaurant and bars, and several other entertainment centers. Whether you are a young professionals or a starting a family, this neighborhood is a nice place to live and a home of diverse population.
In Cabbagetown, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,900 while the average price for a home is about $360,000.
