The 9 Best Neighborhoods to Live in Atlanta

Sandy Springs, located to the north of Atlanta, is a nature-filled city with just the perfect city vibes for any young professional or family. It's an affluent part of the city, but if you can treat yourself to it, you won't be disappointed.

Sandy Springs has more Fortune500 companies per capita than any other city in the United States, with corporate headquarters of many larger companies, including Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines Inc. There will never be a drought in this job market.

For nature lovers, this is the place to be. With green spaces like the Chattahoochee Plantation, Steel Canyon Golf Club, Arlington Memorial Park, and simply a city filled with tree-lined streets all around and a charming river, you'll never feel like you're in a concrete jungle.

Chastain Park, which is on the south limit of Sandy Springs, has two amphitheaters that get packed every summer to witness some epic international cultural events. They're the perfect place to let loose and move your body to some weekend tunes.

Thanks to the many main highways that cross Sandy Springs, you'll have easy access to anywhere you need. Working in downtown Atlanta? A 30-minute drive, and you're there. Catching a flight at the Atlanta international airport? 35-minutes, and bam, you're there. Sandy Springs is a great area to connect with Atlanta and beyond.

Although Sandy Springs is a very safe area, it doesn't receive a great score in Walkability, only two out of five, because you'll definitely need a car. Public transport is fine, but there's nothing like going exactly where you want in the comfort of your own car–plus, with MARTA being MARTA, it isn't the most reliable public transportation there is.

Sandy Springs is a beautiful city within the greater Atlanta limits. In it, you'll find a thriving community that gives you a sense that working hard and relaxing to the max every day is not impossible.

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Sandy Springs scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking for a city that gives the perfect work-life balance.

Sandy Springs, located to the north of Atlanta, is a nature-filled city with just the perfect city vibes for any young professional or family. It's an affluent part of the city, but if you can treat yourself to it, you won't be disappointed.

Sandy Springs has more Fortune500 companies per capita than any other city in the United States, with corporate headquarters of many larger companies, including Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines Inc. There will never be a drought in this job market.

For nature lovers, this is the place to be. With green spaces like the Chattahoochee Plantation, Steel Canyon Golf Club, Arlington Memorial Park, and simply a city filled with tree-lined streets all around and a charming river, you'll never feel like you're in a concrete jungle.

Chastain Park, which is on the south limit of Sandy Springs, has two amphitheaters that get packed every summer to witness some epic international cultural events. They're the perfect place to let loose and move your body to some weekend tunes.

Thanks to the many main highways that cross Sandy Springs, you'll have easy access to anywhere you need. Working in downtown Atlanta? A 30-minute drive, and you're there. Catching a flight at the Atlanta international airport? 35-minutes, and bam, you're there. Sandy Springs is a great area to connect with Atlanta and beyond.

Although Sandy Springs is a very safe area, it doesn't receive a great score in Walkability, only two out of five, because you'll definitely need a car. Public transport is fine, but there's nothing like going exactly where you want in the comfort of your own car–plus, with MARTA being MARTA, it isn't the most reliable public transportation there is.

Sandy Springs is a beautiful city within the greater Atlanta limits. In it, you'll find a thriving community that gives you a sense that working hard and relaxing to the max every day is not impossible.

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Sandy Springs scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking for an artsy and quirky part of town.

Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown used to be where workers from the Fulton Cotton Mill lived. Now, they are some of Atlanta's most hip and artsy neighborhoods.

These neighborhoods are decorated by colorful 1800s mill cottages with double-height porches that make this a quaint and charming neighborhood to live in. It's ideal for young professionals who want a closer-knit community feel and enjoy the quirky, small shops and restaurants.

Striking street art covers the murals in Cabbagetown, making it a go-to place for those wanting to stroll the city with some colorful views. Plus, nothing screams 'I'm an artsy person' like a Tinder profile pic with some street art in the background.

In terms of history, Reynoldstown is oozing in it. As a community originally established by freed slaves after the American Civil War, Reynoldstown has a great legacy. One of the best things is the architecture from the turn of the century. Because of the smaller cars of the era, streets were narrower, and houses ended closer together; this created a very walkable neighborhood.

Today, Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown are hip neighborhoods that attract young crowds and families. Its architectural charms and peaceful roads make it a delightful place to move to. With the many small and quaint shops and restaurants it offers, it won't be long until you get the 'Hi, there. The usual, right?' at your favorite place.

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Cabbagetown & Reynoldstown scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for those wanting to live in a history-rich area and a popular hub for foodies and shoppers.

Old Fourth Ward received its name for being one of the five wards that Atlanta was divided into after the city was burned during the civil war–a little historical context for you! This particular ward, the fourth ward, is mostly known as the birthplace of one of America's–and the world's–most influential people to this day: Martin Luther King, Jr.

Just between the I-85 and the Boulevard NE Street, you'll find Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, the King center, and the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr.–Atlanta's culture and history are truly embedded in this neighborhood.

Besides its great history, this neighborhood is now one of the trendy parts in Atlanta, attracting foodies of all ages and shop-until-you-droppers. It has many indie and hip eateries, plus amazing locations like the Ponce City Market, a converted historic Sears building that is now a food hall, shopping mall, and living space. Whether you need a place to relax with friends, dance with your future partner, or delight your tastebuds, this place has it all–getting a fab five in all entertainment categories.

However, not everything is peachy in the Old North Ward. Since it's so close to Downtown and there is great access to the main interstates in the area, this place tends to have crazy traffic. Get yourself an iced latte and find your favorite playlist because the commute will be a while.

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Old Fourth Ward scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for singles and young professionals wanting to live in the middle of the action.

Buckhead is the best of both worlds–which both worlds? Any you can think of. In the same area, you have amazing parks and green spaces, but you also have concrete jungles. You can find fast food and budget shopping or be at one of the most luxurious shopping centers in Atlanta. Like to relax with a nice Sunday stroll through the market? You've got it. Want to work like a bee in the financial district? Sure.

Buckhead is a singles-heaven. Since it has a lot of activities and social places, you'll be meeting new people left, right and center. Pick from social clubs, weekend events, and fancy bars to go and meet the love of your life. This hectic social activity and the option to enjoy the greener side of Georgia give this neighborhood a perfect score in all entertainment categories.

The streets of Buckhead ooze a sense of timelessness. They're a perfect midday treat for whenever the home office gets too much, and you need to unwind. It also has one of the best skylines in the south–one that you can fully enjoy while playing golf at the Bobby Jones Golf Course.

In Buckhead, you'll never be bored; with its countless shopping malls, parks, and the Atlanta History Center, you have a place to work, eat, play, and learn–all just 15-minutes in the car from Downtown Atlanta.

If you're single and ready to move to Atlanta, check out this 'Beverly Hills of the South.' Its charming and serene streets combined with its high-luxury lifestyle make this neighborhood a fantastic place to live–if you can pay the price tag.

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Buckhead scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for those willing to pay the price for one of the hottest and trendiest neighborhoods in Atlanta.

Inman Park is one of the hottest and most desirable neighborhoods in Atlanta. If you can afford it, you'll quickly fall in love with this slice of Atlanta, and you'll agree that its steep prices are worth every cent.

This neighborhood has everything you would expect from Atlanta, friendly Southern hospitality, delicious mouthwatering food, and a nightlife scene to burn off all those calories at the end of the day. Plus, it has something not all Atlanta neighborhoods have: a super walkable area, achieving a perfect score in Walkability.

Since it sits on the BeltLine–a former railway corridor repurposed to revitalize the city–you won't run out of places to bike or jog. The street art you can see here is worthy of an Instagram post, to say the least.

Inman Park is the ideal place for the foodies out there. You've got hip brunch spots, artisan coffee shops, wine bar clusters, and the Krog Street Market. The market, which boasts independent bakeries and eateries, sits in a refurbished factory–can you get any more trendy? All of this gives Inman Park a fabulous five in all the entertainment categories.

For the history folk, you have the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. In it, you'll find documents of the 39th president of the US and a replica of the Oval Office–honestly, Atlanta is full of Instagrammable places!

As one of Atlanta's first planned suburbs, you'll be able to delight your eyes on the daily with charming Victorian homes and wide and sunny tree-lined streets.

Inman Park is simply amazing. If you're planning on moving to Atlanta, you need to check out this popular neighborhood. With a jaw-dropping and filling restaurant scene, and some of the best nightlife Atlanta has to offer, it should be high on your hitlist.

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Inman Park scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for singles and young professionals that love picnics, art, and living in the most diverse community in Atlanta.

Third place for the best neighborhood in Atlanta is Midtown, located north of downtown Atlanta. It wasn't always the booming hub that it is today. Back in the 70s and 80s, it started to crumble. Luckily, the local government picked up on it and started fixing the problem. The result? One of the sweetest slices of authentic life in the Big Peach.

Midtown offers everything you can imagine, from vibrant city life to the peace and quiet at leafy Piedmont Park. There are museums and tons of galleries for you to experience the arts' epicenter that Midtown is. All these entertainment options give it a five out of five in Nightlife and Entertainment.

As if there weren't enough peach references in Atlanta, your main hub in Midtown will be Peachtree Street. In it, you'll find comedy bars, big-name shops, and an array of eating options for you to find your next favorite dish–getting a well-deserved perfect score in Shopping and Restaurants.

This area is ideal for art lovers; you'll have the High Museum of Art, where you'll be in for a treat, knowing that not the art on display is just as epic as the striking modern building it's in. Psst, are you a 'Gone with the Wind' fan? The Margaret Mitchell House offers tours of the former home of the novelist!

It's worth noting that not everything is perfect in Midtown. The traffic can be a nightmare–with all that this area has to offer, this part of town is bound to get busy. Just relax, get your favorite audiobook, and leave on time!

Midtown is definitely a place for those who enjoy city life, with its hustle and bustle, but with the greatness that Atlanta has to offer–trees, street art, and chill city vibes.

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Midtown scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for those wanting a walkable area, delicious restaurants and to be close to Downtown without the traffic.

Decatur is second from the shared top spot on our list of places to live in Atlanta. It's just six miles away from Atlanta's Downtown. One of the best things it has to offer is its Walkability–a four out of five–and its great location.

Since Decatur is on the MARTA line, you can get anywhere the MARTA system can take you without needing to take a bus. Additionally, if you work near Downtown Decatur, you'll experience a truly walkable city and won't even need a car–think of all the gas and time spent in traffic you can save!

However, if you do own a car or simply like to show off your latest four-wheel acquisition, Decatur has good news too. If you work in other nearby areas, you can commute without experiencing the worst of Atlanta's traffic, thanks to Decatur's prime location.

Looking for drinks and a bite of food with friends visiting for the weekend? Decatur is the place for you. There are hundreds of delicious restaurants, and if you're a beer enthusiast, check out Brick Store Pub! It was actually voted the second-best beer bar in the whole country! Not bad, Decatur. Not bad.

Decatur offers great entertainment options, filled with museums, galleries, and other arts and culture centers. Additionally, there are some outstanding and very renowned events like the books festival or the arts festival–both are not to be missed!

If you have kids or are planning to, Decatur has some of the best schools in the state–getting a perfect score in the Schools category.

In Decatur, you'll find a city with everything you need, shops, eateries, a great walkable center, access to public transportation and highways, and best of all, it's a safe, family-friendly area filled with young people.

Decatur is one of the best areas to live in Atlanta, and for a good reason, its location is spot on, and the community will make you feel welcome at hello, truly a neighborhood to consider!

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Decatur scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for singles and young professionals that want city living with community charm.

We've reached the top of our list with a joint first place; let's go! Virginia-Highland is just north of Little Five Points. It's a friendly, trendy neighborhood that combines city living with community charm–almost like a small town, but with the perks of a big city.

The neighborhood of Virginia-Highland is syrupy eye candy thanks to the numerous houses and buildings built from 1909 to 1926. In fact, Fire Station 19 was built in 1924 and is the oldest one in Atlanta, sporting the beautiful bungalow style prevalent in this part of the city.

The access to the BeltLine, Piedmont Park–Atlanta's most happening park–and John Howell Park–which has beach volley courts–give this neighborhood a flashy five in Beauty and Parks.

Besides the lovely craftsman bungalows and nature-filled parks, you've also got plenty of trendy boutiques, cozy restaurants, and the Plaza Theater–and indie movies fan fantasy– that give this neighborhood even more bang for your buck.

If you're planning to grow your family soon, this is an excellent neighborhood for kids in Atlanta. Not many have outstanding schools, but the school districts serving Virginia-Highland do a great job–getting a four out of five in Schools.

Overall, Virginia-Highland is a great place to consider when planning your move to Atlanta–and best of all, it isn't as expensive as some other trendy areas. You can have your peach, and eat it too!

Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Virginia-Highland scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Number one for place to live in Atlanta. Perfect for those wanting to live the Atlanta dream: beauty, good vibes, and a round or two of golf.

Little Five Points and Candler Park are some of the hippest neighborhoods in Atlanta. Little Five Points has more bohemian vibes than L5P, as its residents call it, but together they make some of the best areas for young professionals to live.

These neighborhoods are happening areas of Atlanta where some of the best festivals, concerts, and parties are held. If you're big into Halloween, L5P is the neighborhood to be since it's nicknamed the "Costume Central" of Atlanta. Whatever Halloween costume you dream of–or rather, have nightmares about–you'll find in this neighborhood. You're guaranteed to have a spook-tacular Halloween!

Little Five Points lives up to its hipster fame thanks to the vegan eateries, tattoo parlors, thrift shops–check out Junkman's Daughter for some amazing clothes–and even crystal shops. In fact, there is a store that you'll need to visit because no one knows what its deal is; it's called '?' and the opening schedule is 'closed unless we're open'–good luck, and let us know if you get in! This gives the area a funky-fresh five in the Shopping and Restaurants categories.

Want to find a spiritual connection with nature? Head over to Freedom Park, a green space with over 200 acres of leafy fantasy, including amazing bike trails, sculptures, and a butterfly garden–plus, a Saturday's farmer's market.

However, if you're a hipster during the week, but an upper-class citizen on the weekends, check out Candler Park for some swing-style dance sessions.

Little Five Points and Candler Park give such unique vibes that you'll be mad not considering these neighborhoods when moving to Atlanta. Best of all, the area will be greet you with open arms, no matter who you are. Within a few weeks, you'll never want to leave. Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Little Five Points & Candler Park scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍📍📍📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability:🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️

Time to look at the numbers of our top neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia. Let’s look at the lower numbers first. Affordability does a pretty average 3.3 out of five. Atlanta’s best neighborhoods can be a bit pricey. However, in most cases you can find something for all budgets—if you know where to look.

Schools are also not the highlight of Atlanta. It definitely has some outstanding schools, but not all neighborhoods get such benefits. Last, but not least, Public Transit also gets a 3.8 average out of five. Why? Although there are tons of public transportation options, two things make it less than great: rush hour and how unreliable the MARTA system can be–just make sure to leave early if you have an important appointment.

Now, let’s look at the highlights. Shopping and Restaurants and Nightlife and Entertainment categories get a stellar 4.9 and 4.8 out of five. You’ll never say ‘I’m bored’ in Atlanta. That’s a fact. Atlanta is a city that oozes entertainment in whatever shape you like: shopping, dining, music, theater, outdoor activities, you name it.

Atlanta averaged at 41.4/50 on our best neighborhoods to live in the USA ranking.

Atlanta has had a bad reputation for crime. However, you can ask any of its residents, and they will tell you that it isn’t that bad. The culture and history of this place, plus the small-town feel, make this city one of the greatest cities in America to consider.

If you’ve ever wanted to live in the ‘Empire of the South’ and one of the most up-and-coming cities in the US, that like a phoenix, it rose from the ashes, Atlanta might be what you’re looking for.