Best counties to raise a family in Georgia
Best counties to raise a family in Georgia
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Georgia using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Jackson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 80,640
- Median household income: $85,012
- Median home value: $312,700
- Top places to live: Braselton (A), Jefferson (A-), Hoschton (B+)
#24. Douglas County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 146,141
- Median household income: $80,764
- Median home value: $262,200
- Top places to live: Douglasville (B), Lithia Springs (B)
#23. Catoosa County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 68,356
- Median household income: $72,425
- Median home value: $214,200
- Top places to live: Indian Springs (B+), Lakeview (B), Fort Oglethorpe (B)
#22. Habersham County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 46,948
- Median household income: $65,622
- Median home value: $212,000
- Top places to live: Clarkesville (A-), Demorest (A-), Mount Airy (A-)
#21. Paulding County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 174,292
- Median household income: $94,557
- Median home value: $289,000
- Top places to live: Hiram (B+), Dallas (B+), Braswell (B+)
#20. Whitfield County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 103,118
- Median household income: $64,262
- Median home value: $198,900
- Top places to live: Dalton (B+), Cohutta (B+), Varnell (B+)
#19. Floyd County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 98,985
- Median household income: $62,540
- Median home value: $194,100
- Top places to live: Rome (B+), Lindale (B-), Shannon (B+)
#18. Glynn County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 84,987
- Median household income: $68,546
- Median home value: $268,300
- Top places to live: St. Simons (A), Country Club Estates (B+), Dock Junction (B+)
#17. Harris County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 35,509
- Median household income: $89,184
- Median home value: $278,700
- Top places to live: Shiloh (A-), Pine Mountain (A-), Hamilton (A-)
#16. Morgan County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 20,614
- Median household income: $85,692
- Median home value: $323,100
- Top places to live: Madison (A), Buckhead (B), Bostwick (B)
#15. Lowndes County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 119,055
- Median household income: $55,887
- Median home value: $197,900
- Top places to live: Hahira (A-), Valdosta (B), Dasher (B+)
#14. Carroll County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 122,187
- Median household income: $72,327
- Median home value: $227,500
- Top places to live: Carrollton (A-), Villa Rica (A-), Temple (B+)
#13. Bryan County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 46,681
- Median household income: $94,234
- Median home value: $317,100
- Top places to live: Richmond Hill (A-), Pembroke (B)
#12. Lee County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 33,337
- Median household income: $88,024
- Median home value: $226,900
- Top places to live: Leesburg (A-), Smithville (B-)
#11. Coweta County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 150,071
- Median household income: $94,142
- Median home value: $321,900
- Top places to live: Senoia (A+), Newnan (A-), Grantville (B-)
#10. Monroe County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (A-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 28,919
- Median household income: $82,863
- Median home value: $243,200
- Top places to live: Forsyth (A), Culloden (A-)
#9. Fulton County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 1,068,507
- Median household income: $91,490
- Median home value: $431,200
- Top places to live: Atlantic Station (A+), Midtown (A+), Johns Creek (A+)
#8. Cherokee County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 274,539
- Median household income: $105,442
- Median home value: $389,800
- Top places to live: Woodstock (A+), Ball Ground (A), Holly Springs (A-)
#7. Houston County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 166,902
- Median household income: $80,743
- Median home value: $205,600
- Top places to live: Perry (A), Warner Robins (A-), Centerville (A-)
#6. Columbia County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 159,638
- Median household income: $96,122
- Median home value: $287,400
- Top places to live: Evans (A+), Martinez (A+), Grovetown (A-)
#5. Gwinnett County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 966,972
- Median household income: $84,823
- Median home value: $345,700
- Top places to live: Suwanee (A+), Duluth (A+), Mountain Park (A+)
#4. Cobb County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 769,152
- Median household income: $98,712
- Median home value: $373,700
- Top places to live: Smyrna (A+), Vinings (A+), Kennesaw (A)
#3. Fayette County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 120,689
- Median household income: $108,986
- Median home value: $405,600
- Top places to live: Tyrone (A+), Peachtree City (A+), Fayetteville (A-)
#2. Oconee County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 42,788
- Median household income: $115,925
- Median home value: $425,100
- Top places to live: Watkinsville (A+), Bogart (A), Bishop (A+)
#1. Forsyth County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 260,062
- Median household income: $138,000
- Median home value: $493,800
- Top places to live: Cumming (A)
