The Town FilesAtlanta, Georgia
City in Fulton County · population 498,715 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $439,600
- Household income
- $85,652
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 34.2
Atlanta is a city of 498,715 people in Fulton County, Georgia. The median home is worth $439,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Georgia towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 98% of Georgia towns.
How Atlanta ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Atlanta is worth $439,600, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $85,652, which is more affordable than 11% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,711 a month. 46.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atlanta | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $439,600 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,711 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $85,652 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 46.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Atlanta
| People | Atlanta | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.2% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.0% | — |
| Work from home | 29.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 88.0% |
Weather in Atlanta
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 33.5°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlanta since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 24, 1975 about 4.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 493 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 93 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 6, 1999.
Severe weather in Fulton County since 1996
Fulton County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Fulton County
Fulton County had 948,157 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $100,817 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Atlanta itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Atlanta
137 public schools with 82,860 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Atlanta High School | 9-12 | 2,332 | 15.4 |
| Lakeside High School | 9-12 | 2,186 | 17.2 |
| Westlake High School | 9-12 | 2,156 | 19.3 |
| Riverwood International Charter School | 9-12 | 1,716 | 16.2 |
| Sequoyah Middle School | 6-8 | 1,710 | 15.7 |
| Midtown High School | 9-12 | 1,658 | 15.6 |
| Willis A. Sutton Middle School | 6-8 | 1,555 | 15.2 |
| Maynard Jackson High School | 9-12 | 1,551 | 13.5 |
| Druid Hills High School | 9-12 | 1,430 | 15.5 |
| Benjamin E. Mays High School | 9-12 | 1,363 | 12.2 |
| North Springs High School | 9-12 | 1,304 | 15.2 |
| Peachtree Middle School | 6-8 | 1,208 | 14.6 |
Towns near Atlanta
- Druid Hills, GA5.6 mi · 9,429 people · home $793,200
- North Druid Hills, GA6.8 mi · 20,385 people · home $515,900
- East Point, GA7.0 mi · 38,358 people · home $281,600
- Hapeville, GA7.1 mi · 6,553 people · home $312,100
- Vinings, GA7.1 mi · 12,581 people · home $604,600
- Decatur, GA7.3 mi · 24,928 people · home $701,400
- Gresham Park, GA7.4 mi · 7,700 people · home $297,800
- North Decatur, GA8.3 mi · 18,511 people · home $474,600
Atlanta questions
Is Atlanta, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atlanta scores better for retirees than 20% of Georgia towns and quieter than 8%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Atlanta?
The median owner-occupied home in Atlanta is valued at $439,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,652, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,711 a month.
What is the weather like in Atlanta?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 33.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Atlanta get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlanta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 24, 1975. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)