Best counties to live in Georgia

Written by:
June 17, 2021
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Best counties to live in Georgia

What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Georgia using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

#25. Chatham County

- Population: 288,496
- Median home value: $194,500 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,085 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $56,842
- Top public schools: Savannah Arts Academy (A+), The STEM Academy (A), Esther F. Garrison School of Visual & Performing Arts (B+)
- Top private schools: The Savannah Country Day School (A+), St. Andrew's School (A+), Benedictine Military School (A)
- Top places to live: Dutch Island (A), Isle of Hope (A), Whitemarsh Island (A)

#24. Habersham County

- Population: 44,626
- Median home value: $150,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $772 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $50,563
- Top public schools: Demorest Elementary School (A), Hazel Grove Elementary School (A), North Habersham Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Tallulah Falls School (A), The Torch Christian Academy (unavailable), Trinity Classical School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Clarkesville (A), Mount Airy (B+), Demorest (B+)

#23. Hall County

- Population: 198,667
- Median home value: $201,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $963 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $62,984
- Top public schools: Flowery Branch High School (A), North Hall High School (B+), Spout Springs Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Lakeview Academy (A+), Riverside Military Academy (A), Lanier Christian Academy (B+)
- Top places to live: Flowery Branch (A), Lula (B), Gainesville (B)

#22. Henry County

- Population: 225,356
- Median home value: $175,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,181 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $71,288
- Top public schools: Union Grove High School (A), Ola High School (A), Union Grove Middle School (B+)
- Top private schools: Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (A), Strong Rock Christian School (A), Community Christian School (A)
- Top places to live: Heron Bay (A), Stockbridge (B+), McDonough (B+)

#21. Bulloch County

- Population: 76,120
- Median home value: $140,700 (54% own)
- Median rent: $805 (46% rent)
- Median household income: $45,550
- Top public schools: Southeast Bulloch Middle School (B+), Portal Elementary School (B+), Brooklet Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian School (B)
- Top places to live: Statesboro (B), Brooklet (B+), Portal (B)

#20. Lee County

- Population: 29,502
- Median home value: $152,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $881 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $69,280
- Top public schools: Twin Oaks Elementary School (A), Lee County Elementary School (A), Lee County Middle School East (A)
- Top private schools: Montessori Preparatory Academy of Lee (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Leesburg (B+)

#19. Monroe County

- Population: 27,171
- Median home value: $166,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $704 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $54,754
- Top public schools: Katherine B. Sutton Elementary School (A), T.G. Scott Elementary School (A), Monroe County Middle School - Banks Stephens Campus (A)
- Top private schools: Wynfield Christian Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Forsyth (B)

#18. Camden County

- Population: 53,231
- Median home value: $165,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $945 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $56,951
- Top public schools: Mary Lee Clark Elementary School (A), Sugarmill Elementary School (A), Saint Marys Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: New Hope Christian Academy (unavailable), Advance Learning Center (unavailable), Childtime of Kingsland (unavailable)
- Top places to live: St. Marys (A), Kingsland (B+), Woodbine (B)

#17. Carroll County

- Population: 117,183
- Median home value: $137,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $877 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $53,737
- Top public schools: Whitesburg Elementary School (A), Carrollton Junior High School (A), Sand Hill Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Oak Mountain Academy (A), Holy Ground Baptist Academy (C+), Oak Grove Montessori School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Carrollton (A), Villa Rica (A), Temple (B+)

#16. Lowndes County

- Population: 115,364
- Median home value: $140,600 (52% own)
- Median rent: $802 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $42,441
- Top public schools: Pine Grove Middle School (A), Westside Elementary School (A), Pine Grove Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Valwood School (A), Highland Christian Academy (B+), Georgia Christian School (B)
- Top places to live: Hahira (B+), Valdosta (B), Dasher (B+)

#15. Douglas County

- Population: 143,316
- Median home value: $161,600 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,087 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $63,835
- Top public schools: Holly Springs Elementary School (A), Mason Creek Elementary School (A), Mirror Lake Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Harvester Christian Academy (A), King's Way Christian School (A), Heirway Christian Academy (B)
- Top places to live: Douglasville (B+)

#14. Harris County

- Population: 34,105
- Median home value: $217,000 (88% own)
- Median rent: $863 (12% rent)
- Median household income: $76,319
- Top public schools: New Mountain Hill Elementary School (A), Harris County Carver Middle School (A), Creekside School (B+)
- Top private schools: Waverly Hall Christian Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Hamilton (A), Shiloh (A), Pine Mountain (A)

#13. Coweta County

- Population: 143,260
- Median home value: $211,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,096 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $75,913
- Top public schools: Brooks Elementary School (A), Coweta Charter Academy (A), Madras Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: The Heritage School (A), Trinity Christian School (A), Central Christian School (B+)
- Top places to live: Senoia (A), Newnan (A), Grantville (B)

#12. Glynn County

- Population: 84,470
- Median home value: $179,000 (63% own)
- Median rent: $890 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $52,977
- Top public schools: Oglethorpe Point Elementary School (A), St. Simons Elementary School (A), Glynn Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Frederica Academy (A+), Heritage Christian Academy (B), Brunswick Christian Academy (A)
- Top places to live: St. Simons (A), Dock Junction (B+), Country Club Estates (B+)

#11. DeKalb County

- Population: 749,323
- Median home value: $215,600 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,169 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $62,399
- Top public schools: Chamblee Charter High School (A+), Decatur High School (A+), DeKalb School of the Arts (A)
- Top private schools: The Paideia School (A+), Marist School (A+), Ben Franklin Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: Decatur (A+), North Decatur (A+), Druid Hills (A+)

#10. Clarke County

- Population: 126,176
- Median home value: $170,700 (39% own)
- Median rent: $856 (61% rent)
- Median household income: $38,623
- Top public schools: Chase Street Elementary School (A), Clarke Central High School (B+), Timothy Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School (A), Athens Christian School (B+), Athens Montessori School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Winterville (A)

#9. Houston County

- Population: 153,507
- Median home value: $142,600 (64% own)
- Median rent: $920 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $61,723
- Top public schools: C. B. Watson Primary School (A), Kings Chapel Elementary School (A), Quail Run Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: The Westfield School (A), Westside Baptist Academy (A), Christ United Methodist School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Warner Robins (A), Perry (A), Centerville (B+)

#8. Cherokee County

- Population: 247,515
- Median home value: $253,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,241 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $82,740
- Top public schools: Etowah High School (A), Bascomb Elementary School (A), Woodstock High School (A)
- Top private schools: Cherokee Christian Schools (A), The King's Academy (B+), Compass Prep Academy (B)
- Top places to live: Woodstock (A+), Holly Springs (A), Ball Ground (A)

#7. Columbia County

- Population: 150,705
- Median home value: $203,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,149 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $82,339
- Top public schools: River Ridge Elementary School (A), Lakeside High School (A), Stevens Creek Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Augusta Preparatory Day School (A+), Augusta Christian Schools (A), Evans Christian Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Evans (A+), Martinez (A+), Grovetown (A)

#6. Fulton County

- Population: 1,036,200
- Median home value: $313,300 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,205 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $69,673
- Top public schools: Northview High School (A+), Alpharetta High School (A+), Chattahoochee High School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Westminster Schools (A+), Pace Academy (A+), Atlanta International School (A+)
- Top places to live: Alpharetta (A+), Collier Hills North (A+), Johns Creek (A+)

#5. Gwinnett County

- Population: 915,046
- Median home value: $217,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,272 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $71,026
- Top public schools: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology (A+), North Gwinnett High School (A+), Buford High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Wesleyan School (A+), Greater Atlanta Christian School (A+), Notre Dame Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: Berkeley Lake (A+), Suwanee (A+), Grayson (A+)

#4. Cobb County

- Population: 751,218
- Median home value: $253,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,202 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $77,932
- Top public schools: Walton High School (A+), Lassiter High School (A+), Kennesaw Mountain High School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Walker School (A+), Mount Paran Christian School (A+), Whitefield Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: Vinings (A+), Smyrna (A+), Kennesaw (A)

#3. Fayette County

- Population: 112,303
- Median home value: $281,400 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,326 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $90,145
- Top public schools: McIntosh High School (A+), Starrs Mill High School (A+), Kedron Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School (A), Grace Christian Academy (B+), The Campus Schools (B+)
- Top places to live: Tyrone (A+), Peachtree City (A+), Fayetteville (A)

#2. Forsyth County

- Population: 228,383
- Median home value: $339,700 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,380 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $107,218
- Top public schools: Lambert High School (A+), South Forsyth High School (A+), Big Creek Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Pinecrest Academy (A+), Friendship Christian School (A), Horizon Christian Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Cumming (A)

#1. Oconee County

- Population: 38,132
- Median home value: $286,600 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,001 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $90,751
- Top public schools: North Oconee High School (A+), Oconee County Elementary School (A+), Malcom Bridge Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Athens Academy (A+), Prince Avenue Christian School (A), Westminster Christian Academy (A)
- Top places to live: Watkinsville (A+), Bogart (A), Bishop (A+)

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