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Moving to Atlanta
The Brockbuilt Guide

Atlanta is hot—and we’re glad to call it home. Over the last 30 years, the southern city has experienced booming population growth, as well as incredible economic growth and entertainment notoriety. However, last year, the City of Atlanta hit a record-breaking population count of just under 5.1 million residents.

So, why is Atlanta so popular, and why are so many people relocating to Atlanta from big cities like New York City and Los Angeles? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Metro Atlanta had the second-highest job growth rate in the country from 2021-2022. Besides its impressive economic opportunities, Atlanta also has affordable housing, a fantastic food scene, a rich history, mild weather, and spectacular educational opportunities.

If you’re considering moving to Atlanta, this guide will cover everything you need to know about living in, working in, navigating, and enjoying the Big Peach.

In this article:

Best Places to Live in Atlanta: Good Atlanta Neighborhoods

Getting Around Atlanta

Colleges, Universities, and Learning Opportunities

Fun Things to Do in Atlanta

Working in Atlanta

FAQs About Moving to Atlanta

Best Places to Live in Atlanta: Good Atlanta Neighborhoods

Atlanta’s neighborhoods are as diverse as the people who live there. There are plenty of communities to choose from, and you should consider a few important factors when deciding where to settle down.

 

  • What is your budget?
  • How far are you willing to commute to work?
  • If you have children, what are the schools like in the community?
  • Are you looking for a quiet community away from the hustle and bustle of the city, or do you want to be within walking distance of all your favorite restaurants and shops?

To help you get started narrowing down your neighborhood list, here are some of the best places to live in Atlanta.

 

Downtown

Downtown Atlanta is the heart of the city. It is rich in cultural history, entertainment, sports, and activities and is rapidly transforming, with new local spots and major attractions popping up frequently. Many of the most popular Atlanta attractions, such as Georgia Aquarium and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, are within walking distance of each other.

MIDTOWN

Midtown Atlanta is central to most other Atlanta neighborhoods, making it an excellent and well-rounded choice for moving to Atlanta. It is a hub for recreation and entertainment, with popular Piedmont Park activities, plenty of local shops and dining, and many office buildings within its walkable metropolitan area.

Westside

Westside Atlanta is rich in industrial history. Many buildings are renovated from a long-gone era of meatpacking. Much of the area sat relatively unused until Westside Provisions District was introduced. Brock Built loves the Westside neighborhood so much we chose to build multiple communities in the area: West Highlands, Riverline, West Town, and Ten29 West.

EAST ATLANTA

East Atlanta is a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood surrounded by rapidly transforming developments on Atlanta’s eastside. Its convenient location near East Atlanta Village, Little Five Points, and downtown Atlanta gives it a personality all its own, just a short drive to many unique places to hang out. Our unique Modern Prairie-style community, The Parc, sets itself apart from the surrounding area with a modern design nestled among the trees.

KENNESAW/MARIETTA

The Kennesaw-Marietta-East Cobb area, just north of the city, is an incredible place to call home. The area enjoys excellent outdoor activities like hiking at Kennesaw Mountain and nearby parks, lakes, and recreation. There are plenty of dining and shopping options, with Town Center at Cobb being a longstanding community staple. Plus, it’s just a short drive to explore downtown Atlanta and the North Georgia mountains on the weekends. Residents at our active adult 55+ community, The Reserve at Bells Ferry, enjoy exploring all the options nearby.

Getting Around Atlanta

If you’re worried about how Atlanta traffic will impact your commute, don’t give it a second thought. There are many ways to get around town and explore your new city—many of which are free to enjoy!

BUSES AND RIDESHARE SERVICES MARTA

MARTA is a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system with high-speed trains connecting all major areas of Atlanta to the north, south, east, and west with stops at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Midtown Atlanta, and significant commercial areas. Traveling via MARTA is an affordable and quick way to move between neighborhoods without dealing with cars. Nationwide rideshare services Uber and Lyft are popular and readily available, making them a great way to travel for special events or a night out.

biking

BIKING, WALKING, AND THE BELTLINE

If you’re moving to Atlanta, you’ll want to explore the area in the fresh air. Atlanta has many walkable neighborhoods, including Old 4th Ward, the Westside, Midtown, and Downtown. The city is pedestrian-friendly to bikers, runners, and walkers. The BeltLine, introduced more than ten years ago, is a network of 22 miles of multi-use trails connecting communities to public parks, shops, dining, and housing. It is a recreational spot to exercise and creates a way to stroll between the best places to live in Atlanta. Our residents at Ten29 West enjoy private, gated access to the BeltLine which also runs through the middle of Brock Built community West Town.

Colleges, Universities, and Learning Opportunities

If you’re wondering if Atlanta is a good place to raise a family, you’ll love to hear about local educational opportunities. Whether you have kids heading off to college or you’re looking for a chance to further your education, the Atlanta area is home to many esteemed colleges, universities, including HBCUs.

From engineering to art and everything in between, Atlanta’s post-secondary school systems are built for thriving. Not to mention the educational opportunities that arise thanks to Georgia’s generous HOPE Scholarship, which provides a portion of tuition to eligible colleges or universities for high-achieving academic students.

The most popular public and private colleges include:

Georgia State University (public)Georgia Institute of Technology (public)

Emory University (private)

Morehouse College (private)

Clark Atlanta University (private)

Spelman College (private)

Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta (private)

Atlanta also has a strong network of public and private school systems for children in K-12, including top-rated charter and magnet schools.

Fun Things to Do in Atlanta

When moving to Atlanta, get ready to experience the most well-rounded attractions, bars and restaurants, and local events you can find. It would take you years to explore every single Atlanta hotspot! You’ll never have to worry about hosting friends and family—Atlanta is a great place to host visitors! The mild weather year-round and unbeatable summers make Atlanta one of the most fun places to explore outdoors.

 

Atlanta Attractions

Atlanta is an exciting destination with people with a variety of interests. Whether you like to spend your days perusing museums or strolling through the park, the best thing to do in Atlanta is to explore. A few of our team’s favorite attractions include:

 

  • Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium and home to over 250,000 animals from 500 different species.
  • Atlanta Botanical Garden has been around since 1889 and encompasses 13 acres of gardens and nature preserves.
  • Zoo Atlanta is home to more than 1,300 animals from 300 species, including red pandas, snow leopards, hippos (one of the last places you can see them in captivity), kangaroos, and koalas.
  • Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts football games for the Atlanta Falcons (NFL), soccer matches for Atlanta United (MLS), and college football games such as the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. It also hosts major entertainers like Taylor Swift and Billy Joel.

 

Atlanta Bars and Restaurants

There is no shortage of places to eat or drink in Atlanta. When it comes to homemade southern cooking, top coffee shops, or award-winning food halls, Atlanta is quite the foodie town. Here’s what we recommend adding to your must-try list.

 

  • Chattahoochee Food Works—a new food hall experience with a variety of dining and drink options (Westside)
  • Brash Coffee—freshly-roasted espresso and coffee (multiple locations)
  • Marcel—upscale steak and craft cocktails (Westside)
  • Ponce City Market—a collection of food stalls and sit-down restaurants (Old 4th Ward)
  • Atlanta Breakfast Club—a popular spot for morning meals (Downtown)
  • Gunshow—creative dining for dinner (Glenwood Park/East Atlanta)

 

Atlanta Events and Festivals

From concerts to markets to festivals and beyond, there’s no shortage of seasonal events in Atlanta.

Every year, Atlanta hosts a variety of fall festivals in local communities. These festivals include arts and crafts vendors, music, food, and visiting with neighbors. When the winter holidays arrive, you’ll have plenty of ways to celebrate with family, friends, and houseguests in the mild winter weather with light shows and ice skating galore!

Music festivals like the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Music Midtown, and Shaky Knees bring in thousands of visitors and a collection of outstanding musicians each year. These weekends full of music are an excellent time for those who like to discover new artists and dance all day long.

DragonCon Atlanta, the Peachtree Road Race, and national sports tournaments also bring visitors to Atlanta from around the world. In recent years, Atlanta has hosted the Super Bowl (three times!) and the NCAA Final Four Men’s Basketball Championship. It was also the host of the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics and will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Working in Atlanta

You may be moving to Atlanta for work—and for a good reason. Atlanta is a great place to work, with over 5,000 Fortune 500 companies calling it home. With a booming tech scene and a growing entertainment industry, many career opportunities exist here. It’s sometimes even referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the South!”

Are you thinking about relocating to Atlanta for a new career? Atlanta has a strong economy overall. In fact, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the GDP of the Atlanta Metro area (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA MSA) is almost $370 billion and growing. Over the last 10 years, its GDP has grown 31%! Unemployment rates remain low, with an all-time historic low for the city of 2.8% as of September 2022.

  • Home Depot
  • Coca-Cola Company
  • United Parcel Service (UPS)
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Microsoft (regional campus)
  • Carter's

FAQs About Moving to Atlanta

IS MOVING TO ATLANTA A GOOD IDEA?

If you can’t help but wonder, “should I move to Atlanta?” we’re here to help. Moving to Atlanta is a great idea! Based on the quality of life alone, Atlanta is an exciting hometown combining the best of food, festivals, shopping, and events. Not to mention the incredibly friendly, welcoming, and diverse population! These reasons prove that Atlanta is a good place to raise a family. But if that isn’t enough to convince you–the economy will. The job industry in Atlanta is booming with a historically low unemployment rate.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO MOVE TO ATLANTA?

Moving to Atlanta is affordable—much more than other major metropolitan cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York City. The best recommendation for budgeting as you’re relocating to Atlanta is to look at your needs, income, and goals over the next few years to determine how well-suited Atlanta is for you.

WHAT SALARY DO YOU NEED TO LIVE COMFORTABLY IN ATLANTA?

On average, the annual suggested salary to live in Atlanta comfortably would be between $69,0000 and $87,000. The median household income in Atlanta is $65,345.

Brock Built is all about loving where you live, and our team loves Atlanta for many reasons: the food, the history, and the attractions. It’s a great place to live, work, and play—but moving is always a significant change, so it’s helpful to gather all the perspectives you can before you make a decision about relocating to Atlanta.

To see what your home might look like in the city, check out our Atlanta, Georgia, communities to see what’s available. Once you’ve spotted your dream home, send us a note to schedule a tour. Happy Atlanta Househunting!