You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Georgia. Best sururbs in Georgia. Best counties in Georgia.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Peach State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Georgia based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Georgia ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Georgia For 2024
- Isle of Hope
- Talahi Island
- Avondale Estates
- Berkeley Lake
- Grayson
- Lookout Mountain
- Chickamauga
- Watkinsville
- Dutch Island
- Tybee Island
- Madison
- Bogart
- Winterville
- Montgomery
- Oxford
What’s the best small town in Georgia? Isle of Hope is the best small town in Georgia based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Isle of Hope, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Peach State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Georgia For 2024
1. Isle Of Hope
/10
Population: 2,137
Median Income: $96,934 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $524,509 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
2. Talahi Island
/10
Population: 1,185
Median Income: $104,625 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $545,917 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
3. Avondale Estates
/10
Population: 3,507
Median Income: $136,250 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $536,016 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
4. Berkeley Lake
/10
Population: 2,527
Median Income: $152,908 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $728,718 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
5. Grayson
/10
Population: 4,572
Median Income: $121,421 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $423,969 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%
6. Lookout Mountain
/10
Population: 1,793
Median Income: $145,625 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $396,974 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
7. Chickamauga
/10
Population: 2,978
Median Income: $71,319 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $243,661 (78th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
8. Watkinsville
/10
Population: 2,998
Median Income: $78,750 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $457,328 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.2%
9. Dutch Island
/10
Population: 1,268
Median Income: $169,063 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $780,846 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
10. Tybee Island
/10
Population: 3,126
Median Income: $101,289 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $680,178 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
11. Madison
/10
Population: 4,574
Median Income: $73,965 (32nd Best)
Median Home Value: $390,917 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%
12. Bogart
/10
Population: 1,276
Median Income: $83,333 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $395,072 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
13. Winterville
/10
Population: 2,165
Median Income: $96,883 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $298,838 (44th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
14. Montgomery
/10
Population: 4,606
Median Income: $88,828 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $354,032 (29th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
15. Oxford
/10
Population: 2,033
Median Income: $51,995 (87th Best)
Median Home Value: $323,334 (36th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Georgia
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Georgia possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 204 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 204, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Georgia. Top of that list — Isle of Hope.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Georgia.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Georgia are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Georgia are Isle of Hope, Talahi Island, Avondale Estates, Berkeley Lake, Grayson, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Watkinsville, Dutch Island, and Tybee Island.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Georgia:
- Marshallville
- Webster County unified government
- Abbeville
For more Georgia reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Georgia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isle Of Hope, GA | 2,137 | $96,934 | 1.8% | |
| 2 | Talahi Island, GA | 1,185 | $104,625 | 0.0% | |
| 3 | Avondale Estates, GA | 3,507 | $136,250 | 0.0% | |
| 4 | Berkeley Lake, GA | 2,527 | $152,908 | 2.4% | |
| 5 | Grayson, GA | 4,572 | $121,421 | 1.6% | |
| 6 | Lookout Mountain, GA | 1,793 | $145,625 | 3.5% | |
| 7 | Chickamauga, GA | 2,978 | $71,319 | 0.0% | |
| 8 | Watkinsville, GA | 2,998 | $78,750 | 5.2% | |
| 9 | Dutch Island, GA | 1,268 | $169,063 | 0.0% | |
| 10 | Tybee Island, GA | 3,126 | $101,289 | 3.6% | |
| 11 | Madison, GA | 4,574 | $73,965 | 0.8% | |
| 12 | Bogart, GA | 1,276 | $83,333 | 1.2% | |
| 13 | Winterville, GA | 2,165 | $96,883 | 2.4% | |
| 14 | Montgomery, GA | 4,606 | $88,828 | 1.9% | |
| 15 | Oxford, GA | 2,033 | $51,995 | 4.6% | |
| 16 | Indian Springs, GA | 1,983 | $82,784 | 2.6% | |
| 17 | Hartwell, GA | 4,481 | $46,875 | 0.3% | |
| 18 | Thunderbolt, GA | 2,552 | $63,148 | 3.6% | |
| 19 | Hahira, GA | 3,361 | $67,143 | 5.0% | |
| 20 | Heron Bay, GA | 3,899 | $123,750 | 5.2% | |
| 21 | Clarkesville, GA | 1,885 | $64,848 | 2.7% | |
| 22 | Franklin Springs, GA | 1,040 | $60,417 | 1.3% | |
| 23 | Demorest, GA | 2,293 | $59,500 | 6.9% | |
| 24 | Hoschton, GA | 3,099 | $87,021 | 1.0% | |
| 25 | Lake City, GA | 2,916 | $62,941 | 1.8% | |
| 26 | Henderson, GA | 3,005 | $69,646 | 6.4% | |
| 27 | Ball Ground, GA | 2,527 | $103,429 | 3.6% | |
| 28 | Springfield, GA | 2,753 | $46,936 | 1.0% | |
| 29 | Adairsville, GA | 4,911 | $90,062 | 0.4% | |
| 30 | Brooklet, GA | 1,528 | $63,462 | 0.3% | |
| 31 | Chattahoochee Hills, GA | 3,273 | $84,605 | 1.8% | |
| 32 | Gray, GA | 3,415 | $61,136 | 3.3% | |
| 33 | Hiram, GA | 4,911 | $81,055 | 1.7% | |
| 34 | Statham, GA | 2,829 | $62,441 | 4.2% | |
| 35 | Ringgold, GA | 3,418 | $56,684 | 4.1% | |
| 36 | Clermont, GA | 1,092 | $96,875 | 1.9% | |
| 37 | Varnell, GA | 2,410 | $62,552 | 4.7% | |
| 38 | Euharlee, GA | 4,258 | $92,766 | 4.2% | |
| 39 | Robins Afb, GA | 1,316 | $84,910 | 7.4% | |
| 40 | Hiawassee, GA | 1,140 | $40,917 | 0.0% | |
| 41 | Harlem, GA | 3,682 | $51,855 | 3.7% | |
| 42 | Dawsonville, GA | 3,871 | $79,479 | 4.4% | |
| 43 | Bonanza, GA | 3,638 | $68,257 | 8.8% | |
| 44 | Hannahs Mill, GA | 3,632 | $52,069 | 0.5% | |
| 45 | Forsyth, GA | 4,549 | $63,396 | 6.7% | |
| 46 | Clayton, GA | 2,277 | $56,369 | 5.7% | |
| 47 | Lakeview, GA | 4,664 | $54,792 | 3.4% | |
| 48 | Flemington, GA | 1,202 | $99,063 | 4.4% | |
| 49 | Bloomingdale, GA | 2,933 | $62,250 | 2.7% | |
| 50 | Hamilton, GA | 1,946 | $86,607 | 7.7% | |
| 51 | Cleveland, GA | 3,512 | $46,994 | 2.4% | |
| 52 | Pine Mountain, GA | 1,474 | $59,471 | 4.6% | |
| 53 | Blackshear, GA | 3,521 | $34,963 | 3.4% | |
| 54 | Hawkinsville, GA | 4,007 | $36,042 | 2.5% | |
| 55 | Pendergrass, GA | 1,705 | $73,947 | 2.9% | |
| 56 | Lula, GA | 2,880 | $60,174 | 2.2% | |
| 57 | Reed Creek, GA | 2,803 | $68,765 | 5.3% | |
| 58 | Shannon, GA | 1,673 | $61,938 | 1.2% | |
| 59 | Mount Airy, GA | 1,373 | $72,981 | 0.3% | |
| 60 | Baldwin, GA | 3,817 | $48,234 | 0.2% | |
| 61 | Walnut Grove, GA | 1,620 | $78,750 | 3.2% | |
| 62 | Emerson, GA | 1,594 | $74,432 | 6.5% | |
| 63 | Mount Zion, GA | 2,346 | $50,786 | 3.9% | |
| 64 | Chatsworth, GA | 4,840 | $59,028 | 9.1% | |
| 65 | Eton, GA | 1,574 | $85,313 | 2.7% | |
| 66 | Monticello, GA | 2,593 | $41,779 | 5.8% | |
| 67 | Blue Ridge, GA | 1,366 | $34,659 | 0.9% | |
| 68 | Resaca, GA | 1,363 | $56,154 | 0.7% | |
| 69 | Trenton, GA | 2,188 | $43,882 | 3.7% | |
| 70 | Kings Bay Base, GA | 2,449 | $70,625 | 10.8% | |
| 71 | Maysville, GA | 1,665 | $57,788 | 1.5% | |
| 72 | Midway, GA | 2,453 | $69,750 | 6.1% | |
| 73 | Grantville, GA | 3,175 | $81,815 | 3.2% | |
| 74 | Darien, GA | 1,253 | $53,325 | 3.3% | |
| 75 | Dasher, GA | 1,063 | $58,750 | 1.2% | |
| 76 | Guyton, GA | 2,405 | $75,625 | 16.3% | |
| 77 | Tunnel Hill, GA | 1,168 | $57,188 | 3.8% | |
| 78 | Comer, GA | 1,810 | $34,880 | 4.0% | |
| 79 | Deenwood, GA | 2,146 | $49,417 | 3.3% | |
| 80 | West Point, GA | 3,508 | $52,995 | 7.6% | |
| 81 | Tallapoosa, GA | 3,232 | $58,008 | 0.1% | |
| 82 | Arcade, GA | 1,829 | $65,202 | 5.6% | |
| 83 | Alto, GA | 1,328 | $59,375 | 4.4% | |
| 84 | Washington, GA | 3,742 | $48,235 | 2.2% | |
| 85 | Walthourville, GA | 3,719 | $60,446 | 7.8% | |
| 86 | Cornelia, GA | 4,648 | $46,211 | 1.2% | |
| 87 | Reidsville, GA | 2,538 | $42,576 | 2.6% | |
| 88 | Claxton, GA | 2,573 | $40,870 | 3.2% | |
| 89 | Palmetto, GA | 4,650 | $52,444 | 6.9% | |
| 90 | Dexter, GA | 1,042 | $34,350 | 5.1% | |
| 91 | Young Harris, GA | 1,066 | $27,500 | 8.2% | |
| 92 | Jasper, GA | 4,177 | $43,192 | 1.1% | |
| 93 | Mccaysville, GA | 1,639 | $43,553 | 0.4% | |
| 94 | Greensboro, GA | 3,573 | $42,534 | 10.1% | |
| 95 | Bowdon, GA | 2,590 | $40,938 | 3.7% | |
| 96 | Rossville, GA | 3,982 | $42,845 | 5.3% | |
| 97 | Ray City, GA | 1,043 | $46,875 | 10.4% | |
| 98 | Rutledge, GA | 1,069 | $46,452 | 5.9% | |
| 99 | Ellaville, GA | 1,492 | $50,000 | 5.6% | |
| 100 | Gumlog, GA | 2,212 | $63,735 | 5.0% |