Atlanta, Georgia
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Atlanta.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Atlanta?
Atlanta planning snapshot: population 520,070, housing index 129 (above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $420,600, median rent $1,617, and income near $81,938. Expect 89°F summer highs, 35°F winter lows, and about 31-minute one-way commutes. Official citywide FBI crime rates are currently unavailable, so treat safety as a neighborhood-level check.
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 129U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $420,600U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,617U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $81,938U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.4%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 31 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- UnavailableFBI gap
- Summer high
- 89°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Atlanta compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 520,070City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $81,938Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 129ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year29% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $420,600City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year39% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,617City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year20% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 31 min24% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 487% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Property crime rate
- UnavailableFBI CDE gap
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates - Summer high
- 89°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 35°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (34°F)U.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 48.1 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals46% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 242As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Atlanta grew 21.1% from 429,410 in 2010 to 520,070 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Atlanta expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Atlanta runs 29 points higher on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 129 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $420,600 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,617 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Atlanta?
Budget first around $1,617/month rent or $420,600 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $420,600
- Median rent $1,617/month
- Median household income $81,938
What is the job market like in Atlanta?
Labor-market context for Atlanta: unemployment 3.4% and median income $81,938. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 3.4% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $81,938
How long is the typical commute in Atlanta?
Plan on roughly 31 minutes each way in Atlanta. Walk Score estimates around 48 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 31 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 48/100
Is Atlanta safer than similar U.S. cities?
Citywide FBI rates are marked unavailable here — do not infer safety from a placeholder index. Neighborhood due diligence is required.
- FBI citywide rates: data unavailable
What is the climate like year-round in Atlanta?
Atlanta's climate profile: 89°F summer peaks, 35°F winter mornings, 48.1" annual rainfall, and 242 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 89°F
- Winter low 35°F
- 48.1 in rain · 242 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Atlanta?
Midtown is the name relocators hear first; compare it with Buckhead and Old Fourth Ward once you know your job location.
- Midtown
- Buckhead
- Old Fourth Ward
What nearby city comparisons involve Atlanta?
These curated pair pages put Atlanta beside another high-intent destination with the same proprietary metrics table.
Piedmont heat and a sprawling logistics/job belt shape commute realities. Expect summer highs near 89°F and winter lows around 35°F. Average one-way commute time is about 31 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 48/100. Labor-market readings near 3.4% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Crime rates are marked unavailable for this municipality in our FBI CDE pull; do not rely on a citywide index.
About 520,070 people live in Atlanta, GA. With median income around $81,938 and a cost index of 129, the market reads above the national housing-cost baseline. Entry home prices around $420,600 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
If you only tour one corridor, make it Midtown; if you have a weekend, contrast it with Buckhead and the quieter edges near Old Fourth Ward. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Atlanta with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Midtown
- Buckhead
- Old Fourth Ward
- Virginia-Highland
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Atlanta city, 1600000US1304000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Fulton County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: data unavailable — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 CDE monthly rates
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003888 ATLANTA FULTON CO AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10