Best small towns to live in Georgia

1. 1
   Alto, GA Score 78/100

   1,055 people · typical home $192k · household income $81k · 32 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of GA · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Baldwin, GA Score 77/100

   4,000 people · typical home $167k · household income $59k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Mount Airy, GA Score 76/100

   1,622 people · typical home $228k · household income $88k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of GA · 2.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Hoboken, GA Score 75/100

   1,016 people · typical home $135k · household income $64k · 115 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 28% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Union Point, GA Score 74/100

   1,704 people · typical home $89k · household income $62k · 134 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 42% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Epworth, GA Score 72/100

   1,994 people · typical home $140k · household income $67k · 124 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 43% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Clarkesville, GA Score 72/100

   1,959 people · typical home $255k · household income $74k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Bremen, GA Score 70/100

   7,488 people · typical home $290k · household income $94k · 91 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 2% of GA · 2.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Willacoochee, GA Score 70/100

   1,301 people · typical home $43k · household income $33k · 144 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of GA · 2.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Demorest, GA Score 69/100

    2,512 people · typical home $233k · household income $78k · 47 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of GA · 7.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Raoul, GA Score 69/100

    2,253 people · typical home $128k · household income $45k · 48 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of GA · 4.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Clayton, GA Score 68/100

    2,018 people · typical home $250k · household income $57k · 64 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Ocilla, GA Score 68/100

    3,100 people · typical home $96k · household income $41k · 195 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 35% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Sylvania, GA Score 67/100

    2,618 people · typical home $155k · household income $46k · 38 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 53% of GA · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Colquitt, GA Score 67/100

    1,898 people · typical home $90k · household income $39k · schools in the top 47% of GA · 4.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Mountain City, GA Score 67/100

    1,004 people · typical home $224k · household income $46k · 64 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of GA · 0.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    LaFayette, GA Score 66/100

    6,967 people · typical home $145k · household income $46k · 21 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 60% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Woodbine, GA Score 66/100

    1,399 people · typical home $149k · household income $60k · 250 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 6% of GA · 3.0% unemployment · 17 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Pearson, GA Score 65/100

    1,919 people · typical home $66k · household income $32k · 144 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of GA · 6.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Commerce, GA Score 65/100

    8,013 people · typical home $240k · household income $61k · 72 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 21% of GA · 1.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Resaca, GA Score 65/100

    1,126 people · typical home $183k · household income $58k · 73 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 40% of GA · 2.0% unemployment · 25 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Ellaville, GA Score 65/100

    1,668 people · typical home $161k · household income $52k · 54 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 13% of GA · 8.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Chester, GA Score 64/100

    1,808 people · typical home $100k · household income $56k · 365 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 22% of GA · 4.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Sylvester, GA Score 63/100

    5,489 people · typical home $116k · household income $58k · 152 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 50% of GA · 6.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Sparks, GA Score 63/100

    2,056 people · typical home $86k · household income $39k · 63 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 70% of GA · 3.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Georgia with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Georgia on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Georgia districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Georgia →