50
States ranked
1,312
Cities scored
49
Data sources
11
Scoring categories
America’s Dashboard

America's Dashboard ranks and scores all 50 US states and1,312 cities using real government data. Compare economy, safety, health, education, affordability, and more — free, transparent, and updated with the latest federal statistics.

Updated as each source publishes its latest release

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Data sources

Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes by state·
  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
  • CDC BRFSS·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (table S2701)·
  • NAEP, The Nation's Report Card·
  • EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate (NCES)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates·
  • Cook Political Report, PVI·
  • Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures·
  • ALEC Rich States Poor States·
  • WalletHub Tax Burden Study·
  • Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities·
  • EPA AirData, Median AQI by County·
  • EIA State Electricity Profiles·
  • FEMA National Risk Index·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Broadband Subscriptions·
  • National Park Service API·
  • USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year Commuting·
  • FHWA Highway Statistics·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • EIA residential electricity prices·
  • EIA State Energy Data System, motor gasoline prices·
  • EIA Natural Gas Prices, residential·
  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
  • Tax Foundation, State Income Tax Rates and Brackets·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, goods·
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD)·
  • EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates·
  • NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33)·
  • BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9)·
  • NASBO Fiscal Survey of States·
  • Census Bureau State Government Finances·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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Home/States/Georgia

2026 edition·South·Pop. 11,302,748·Capital Atlanta·4th state, admitted 1788·Cook PVI Even

Is Georgia a Good Place to Live? Georgia Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes

Georgia ranks #26 of 50 with a composite score of 55.4 and a B grade, strongest in growth (#10) and weakest in transportation (#47). The median household earns $79,991 (1% below the national median), homes typically cost $330,817 (10% below the national average), and violent crime is 297 per 100,000 (9% below the national average).

Editor's verdict
Georgia is a metro Atlanta bet: 148,244 households arrived (#6 nationally), and the northside suburbs hold what pulls them in, the safest streets and highest incomes included. The tradeoff is a car-only life, a mean commute of 29.4 minutes (#45) and a median income of $79,991 that trails the national figure outside those suburbs.
Compare Georgia with its neighbors →Best cities in Georgia →How the score works →
Composite score
55.4B
#26 of 50 · #5 in the South
Top 10 in
Growth #10
Middle of the pack
Fiscal Health #12, Economy #14, Affordability #23, Safety #26, Livability #33, Education #34, Environment #38, Health #40
Bottom 10 in
Outdoor Access #46, Transportation #47
NumbersNumbersScorecardScoresCostCostTaxesTaxesSafetySafetyJobsJobsSchools & healthSchoolsMovingMovingCitiesCitiesBest forBest forNeighborsNeighborsFAQFAQ
Top ↑

Georgia by the numbers

Six measures every state is judged on, each with Georgia's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.

Median household income
$79,991
#23 of 50, 1 = highest · US $80,903
Typical home value
$330,817
#22 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US $368,697
Cost of living index
96.3
#25 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US 100
Violent crime per 100K
297
#26 of 50, 1 = safest · US 328
Unemployment rate
3.4%
#13 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 3.95%
Total tax burden
8.47%
#20 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 8.74%

Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.

→Read the Georgia overview

Georgia scores above the national average in 5 of 11 categories and ranks #5 of 14 states in the South, behind 4 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is unemployment rate (3.4%, 0.6 points below the national average); its biggest shortfall is median household income ($79,991, 1% below the national median). That mix of top-10 finishes (1) and bottom-10 finishes (2) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.

What stands out
  • Growth is the strongest category (#10), with GDP growth of +3.2% against +1.91% nationally, and nearly all of it happens inside metro Atlanta.
  • Florida is both the top origin and destination for Georgia movers, and arriving households report $70,169 against $72,288 for those leaving.
  • Infant childcare costs $11,066, #10 cheapest in the country, which matters more than the home price for a two-earner family with a toddler.

Where does Georgia rank in each category?

All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Georgia is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 2.

CategoryScoreRankGradeWeightUS avgThe numbers behind it
Economy54.1#14 of 50B+15%47.1Its unemployment rate is 3.4% and median household income is $79,991.
Safety71.2#26 of 50B12%68.9The FBI estimates 296.9 violent crimes and 1,409.3 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
Health39.5#40 of 50C12%54.4Life expectancy is 75.9 years, 35.4% of adults have obesity, and 12% of residents are uninsured.
Education53.1#34 of 50C+12%57.5Eighth graders average 269 in NAEP math and 259 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 84.1%.
Affordability73.1#23 of 50B10%65.2Typical home value $330,817 (4.1x median income); cost of living index 96.3 (100 = US); center-based infant care $11,066 a year.
Fiscal Health69.7#12 of 50B+8%58.1It carries $1,690 of debt per resident, has 77% of pensions funded, and holds a AAA credit rating.
Growth51.5#10 of 50A7%38.8Population grew 0.88% last year; Census net domestic migration is +2.4 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series).
Transportation38.7#47 of 50D7%49.8The average commute is 29.4 minutes, 1.2% of workers use public transit, and 14.9% work from home.
Livability28.1#33 of 50C+7%34.3It has 1.774 restaurants and 0.024 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.048 bars and 0.038 social associations per 1,000.
Outdoor Access7.6#46 of 50D6%29.46.1% of its land is public, with 1.61 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents.
Environment32.1#38 of 50C4%42.5Its median air quality index is 45, 12% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 13.4.

Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.

Category shape

Georgia's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Georgia bulges toward growth and dips at transportation.

How expensive is Georgia?

Georgia's cost of living index is 96.3 against a national baseline of 100, 4% below the national average and #25 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $330,817 (10% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $90,495, $10,504 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Albany is cheapest (index 87.7) and Dunwoody priciest (100.1).

Housing market snapshot · August

Cold market
Typical home value
$330,817
-0.5% in 1 yr · +22.2% in 5 yr · national $369K
Mortgage payment
$1,702/mo
P&I, 20% down, current rates
Income needed
$90K
median earns $80K (+13%)
Rent, Atlanta
$1,853/mo
renting cheaper by $89 vs. a $1,942 metro payment
Price cuts · days
29% · 71
national 26% · 53 days

Ranked #29 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #21 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $10,504 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.

Full Georgia housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →

What a household keeps at $75,000

HouseholdGeorgiaMedian stateRank
Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare−$2,800−$11,758#14 of 50
Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare+$32,185+$31,418#25 of 50
Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax+$36,785+$35,970#25 of 50

Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.

Electricity price
14.73¢/kWh
#20 of 50 · US 17.84¢/kWh
Natural gas price
$20.42/Mcf
#45 of 50 · US $15.83/Mcf
Gasoline price
$2.95/gal
#6 of 50 · US $3.32/gal
Price level for goods
98.9
#38 of 50 · US 100
Center-based infant care, per year
$11,066
#10 of 50 · US $15,633
Editor's note

The cost index sits at 96.3, 4% below the national average, but that blends metro Atlanta's price with South Georgia's. Johns Creek and Alpharetta price like a coastal suburb; Albany, Valdosta and Columbus are among the Southeast's cheapest cities of their size. Newcomers budget for the house and forget the driving: a mean commute of 29.4 minutes, a second car, and summer electricity from May into October. A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $2,800 shortfall, $8,958 above the national median, #14 among the states.

  • Run your own budget for Georgia →
  • Georgia housing market →
  • Housing rankings →

What are taxes like in Georgia?

Georgia's tax mix is middle of the pack on income, property and sales taxes. The total state and local tax burden comes to 8.47% of income, 0.3 points below the national average (#20 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.83% of home value (#24), and combined sales tax averages 7.49% (#32).

Total tax burden
8.47%
#20 of 50 · US 8.74%
Top income tax rate
5.39%
#25 of 50 · US avg 5.46%
Effective property tax
0.83%
#24 of 50 · US 1.02%
Combined sales tax
7.49%
#32 of 50 · US 6.66%

Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.

Can the state pay its bills?

Credit rating
AAA
S&P / Moody's
Rainy-day fund
16.4%
of spending · #7 of 50
Pensions funded
77%
of obligations · #21 of 50
Debt per resident
$1,690
state debt · #6 of 50

Fiscal health scores 69.7 out of 100, #12 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.

Editor's note

Georgia's mix is middle of the pack on income, property and sales taxes, so nobody moves here for the tax code. A high earner pays the 5.39% top rate on nearly all income, giving up the no-tax arithmetic of Florida or Tennessee. A retiree does better: Social Security isn't taxed, and a retirement income exclusion at sixty-two shelters much pension and investment income. Homeowners get an effective rate of 0.83% (0.2 points below the national average) plus a homestead exemption. Groceries dodge state sales tax but not local, and county add-ons push the combined 7.49% above the national 6.66%.

  • Fiscal health rankings →
  • Best states for retirees →

Is Georgia safe?

Georgia reports 297 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 9% below the national average and #26 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,409 per 100,000, 8% below the national average (#21 of 50). The safety score is 71.2 out of 100, #26 of 50; among tracked cities, Johns Creek has the lowest violent crime rate.

Georgia vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents

Violent crime#26 of 50
GA
297
US
328
Property crime#21 of 50
GA
1,409
US
1,535

FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.

Safest tracked cities in Georgia

CityPopulationViolent / 100KProperty / 100K
Johns Creek81,98840442
Roswell92,621111761
Sandy Springs107,0871141,263
Dunwoody51,7581622,856
Alpharetta66,8552201,040

Lowest violent crime among the 20 Georgia cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.

Editor's note

Violent crime is 297 per hundred thousand, 9% below the national average, mostly an Atlanta-and-South-Georgia figure. Atlanta proper, Albany, Columbus and Warner Robins run several times the northside suburbs' rates; Johns Creek is the safest tracked city, half an hour up the highway from the city that drags the average. Property crime (1,409, 8% below the national average) follows the same map. The practical unit is the county line, and Fulton alone contains both ends.

  • Safety rankings →
  • Best states for families →

What is the job market like in Georgia?

Georgia's unemployment rate is 3.4%, 0.6 points below the national average and #13 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $79,991, 1% below the national median. Real GDP grew +3.2% in the latest year (#6 of 50) and GDP per capita is $63,669, 1% below the national average. The population is growing 0.88% a year, 0.4 points above the national average. The economy score is 54.1 out of 100, #14 of 50.

Median household income
$79,991
#23 of 50 · US $80,903
Unemployment rate
3.4%
#13 of 50 · US 3.95%
GDP per capita
$63,669
#22 of 50 · US $64,333
Real GDP growth
+3.2%
#6 of 50 · US +1.91%
Population growth
+0.88%
#10 of 50 · US +0.51%

Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.

Highest-paying tracked occupations in Georgia, adjusted for cost of living

OccupationCost-adjustedMedian wageMetro
Family Medicine Physicians$235,200$228,144Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta
Lawyers$158,875$154,109Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta
Software Developers$142,793$138,509Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta
Computer Systems Analysts$112,123$108,759Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta
General & Operations Managers$110,012$106,712Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.

Editor's note

Atlanta is the job market; the rest of Georgia is smaller markets with one anchor each. Logistics through Hartsfield-Jackson and the Port of Savannah, film production, payments processing and the headquarters roster (Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot, UPS) drive the metro. Outside it, Warner Robins runs on its Air Force base, Columbus and Augusta on Army posts, Dalton on carpet mills, and South Georgia on farming. Unemployment is 3.4% (0.6 points below the national average), and family medicine physicians in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta earn a median $228,144.

  • Economy rankings →
  • Wages by occupation and metro →

How are Georgia's schools and healthcare?

Georgia's education score is 53.1 out of 100, #34 of 50. Eighth graders average 269 in NAEP math (#37 of 50) and 259 in reading (#18 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 84.1%, 1.5 points below the national average (#33 of 50).

Education score
53.1
#34 of 50 · US 57.5
Graduation rate
84.1%
#33 of 50 · US 85.6%
NAEP math, grade 8
269
#37 of 50 · US 273 · grade 4: 236
NAEP reading, grade 8
259
#18 of 50 · US 257 · grade 4: 214

Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate

CityGrad rateStudents / teacherPer pupil
Valdosta92.3%14.7$12,619
Savannah90%13.3$15,342
Warner Robins90%15.2$13,044

NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.

Editor's note

Georgia's graduation rate is 84.1%, 1.5 points below the national average, and education ranks #34. The spread is wide: Valdosta posts the highest tracked graduation rate, and Forsyth, north Fulton and east Cobb districts are why families pay northside prices. Funding follows local property wealth, so a district line can matter more than a county line. The HOPE scholarship pays much in-state tuition for students who keep a B average.

  • Education rankings →

Georgia is #40 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 75.9 years, 1.0 years below the national average. 35.4% of adults have obesity (#31 of 50) and 12% of residents have no health insurance (#49 of 50). The health score is 39.5 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.

Health score
39.5
#40 of 50 · US 54.4
Life expectancy
75.9 years
#36 of 50 · US 76.9 years
Adults with obesity
35.4%
#31 of 50 · US 34%
Uninsured
12%
#49 of 50 · US 7.6%

CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.

Editor's note

Life expectancy is 75.9 years, 1.0 years below the national average, and Georgia ranks #40 for health. The gap is geographic: metro Atlanta has Emory, Grady and Piedmont nearby, while rural South Georgia counties have lost hospitals and maternity units and rely on Albany or Macon. Georgia has not expanded Medicaid, and 12% of residents are uninsured, #49 of 50. An AQI of 45, #47, means ozone season is real for anyone with asthma.

  • Health rankings →

Who is moving to Georgia, and who is leaving?

Georgia gained a net 14,671 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 148,244 moved in and 133,573 moved out, +1.3 per 1,000 residents (#16 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $70,169 against $72,288 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +36.7K people (266.2K in, 229.5K out, ±21.1K), consistent with the IRS direction.

Households moving in
148,244
top origin Florida
Households moving out
133,573
top destination Florida
Net per 1,000 residents
+1.3
#16 of 50 · +14,671 households
Avg income, arrivals
$70,169
leavers $72,288 · leavers earn more

Where they come from

  1. 1Florida28,263 · $65,134
  2. 2New York9,138 · $66,934
  3. 3Texas9,120 · $72,432
  4. 4California8,796 · $90,158
  5. 5Alabama8,527 · $54,746

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.

Where they go

  1. 1Florida23,475 · $91,345
  2. 2Texas10,897 · $68,672
  3. 3South Carolina9,309 · $80,867
  4. 4Alabama9,224 · $61,054
  5. 5North Carolina9,082 · $71,750

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.

Editor's note

Georgia gains households on net, +14,671, but churn dwarfs the gain: 148,244 in and 133,573 out. Florida sends the most and Florida receives the most; the flows aren't the same people. Arrivals report $70,169, departures $72,288, consistent with Georgia taking in lower-earning households from Florida and the Northeast while sending higher earners to Florida, Texas and the Carolinas. Metro Atlanta absorbs most of it; South Georgia barely registers.

  • All Georgia migration flows →
  • State-by-state migration →

Where should you live in Georgia?

By composite score, the best of the 20 Georgia cities we track are Johns Creek (73.4), Alpharetta (70.6), and Roswell (69.2). Albany is the cheapest (cost index 87.7), Johns Creek the richest ($160,093), and Gainesville the fastest growing (+2.4% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Georgia cities we cover, not every city in the state.

Standout cities in Georgia

Best forCityMeasure
SafestJohns Creek40 violent crimes per 100K
CheapestAlbanycost of living index 87.7
Most walkableAtlantawalkability 13.3 of 20
Cleanest airMariettamedian AQI 35 (county)
Best schoolsValdosta92.3% graduation rate
RichestJohns Creek$160,093

Among the 20 Georgia cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.

Editor's note

Regions of Georgia

Metro Atlanta

More than half the state's people and nearly all its high-wage jobs, split north-south: the northside suburbs price and test like a different state from South Fulton and Stonecrest.

AtlantaSandy SpringsJohns CreekAlpharettaRoswellDunwoodyBrookhavenSmyrnaMariettaSouth FultonStonecrest
North Georgia

The mountains, Lake Lanier and the Athens college scene; cooler than the rest of the state, growing fast along the interstates, and a bedroom region for the northern suburbs.

GainesvilleAthens
Middle Georgia and the Fall Line

Macon, Columbus and Augusta sit where the hills meet the coastal plain; homes cost half of Atlanta's, jobs lean on the military and hospitals, and summers run hotter.

MaconWarner RobinsColumbusAugusta
Coastal Georgia

Savannah, its port and the barrier islands; humid, hurricane-exposed with insurance premiums to match, and the one Georgia market where tourism and logistics set the rents.

Savannah
South Georgia

Farm country from the Alabama line to the Okefenokee; the cheapest housing, the lowest incomes, thin hospital coverage, and a long drive to anything Atlanta takes for granted.

AlbanyValdosta

All 20 tracked cities, best to worst

#CityGradeScorePopulationIncomeViolent / 100KCost index
1Johns Creek
A+
73.481,988$160,09340100.1
2Alpharetta
A+
70.666,855$147,612220100.1
3Roswell
A+
69.292,621$128,654111100.1
4Sandy Springs
A+
68.0107,087$104,340114100.1
5Dunwoody
A
67.151,758$121,903162100.1
6Brookhaven
A
65.457,855$117,663265100.1
7Smyrna
A
64.856,633$100,061240100.1
8Marietta
B+
60.962,263$72,725291100.1
9Atlanta
B
58.3505,268$85,652736100.1
10Gainesville
C+
55.245,032$66,97440496.8
11Athens
C+
54.2127,345$52,97435293.3
12South Fulton
C+
53.9110,471$82,324477100.1
13Warner Robins
C+
53.982,990$66,97051393.8
14Savannah
C
51.9147,898$57,137—95.2
15Columbus
C
51.4203,711$58,07336689.3
16Valdosta
D
46.655,252$45,92547788.3
17Stonecrest
D
46.560,501$64,591—100.1
18Augusta
D
45.9201,528$55,48554791.9
19Macon
F
40.3156,578$51,2341,29388.5
20Albany
F
39.567,224$47,2401,48587.7

Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Georgia cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.

Best cities in Georgia for…

#CityScoreEducationSafetyAffordability
1Johns Creek74.4—100.043.7
2Roswell69.560.694.351.8
3Alpharetta68.958.785.346.6
4Sandy Springs68.3—90.448.8
5Smyrna65.963.584.357.6
All Georgia cities for families →Best states for families →
  • All 1,312 cities →

Who is Georgia best for?

The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Georgia cities for each.

Families
#33of 50
Best Georgia cities →
Retirees
#27of 50
Best Georgia cities →
Remote Workers
#20of 50
Best Georgia cities →
Young Professionals
#17of 50
Best Georgia cities →
Small Business
#13of 50
Best Georgia cities →
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#40of 50
Best Georgia cities →
Georgia fits
  • Two-earner families with young kids: childcare costs $11,066 a year and the northside suburbs pair that with the state's lowest crime.
  • Mid-career professionals who want a big-city labor market at a Southern price: GDP per capita is $63,669 and the cost of living index is 96.3, 4% below the national average.
  • Movers from the Northeast who want a hub airport and a direct flight home: Georgia took in 148,244 households, #6 nationally.
Georgia does not fit
  • Households that need transit or a short drive: 1.2% of commuters use transit and the mean commute is 29.4 minutes.
  • Anyone who wants public land nearby: 6.1% of Georgia is public, 11.1 points below the national average, and outdoor access ranks #46.
  • Retirees weighing the whole picture: life expectancy is 75.9 years, health ranks #40, and the retiree persona lands at #27.

Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →

How does Georgia compare with its neighbors?

Georgia ranks #26. Among its bordering states, Florida ranks highest (#21) and Alabama lowest (#37). Tennessee is the most similar on the composite score and Alabama the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.

StateOverallScoreMedian incomeTypical homeCost indexViolent crimeTax burdenCompare
Georgia#2655.4$79,991$330,81796.32978.47%
Florida#2159.9$77,735$375,470103.42756.49%Compare →
North Carolina#2359.1$73,958$334,77394.33308.18%Compare →
Tennessee#2457.1$71,997$334,10891.94926.38%Compare →
South Carolina#3649.0$72,350$306,32393.73888.15%Compare →
Alabama#3748.5$66,659$241,61388.83487.99%Compare →
United States—57.9$80,903$368,6971003288.74%

Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.

People also compare
Georgia vs. New York →Georgia vs. Texas →
Other South states
  • Virginia#15
  • Texas#32
  • Kentucky#41
  • Oklahoma#43
  • West Virginia#44
  • Mississippi#46
  • Arkansas#48
  • Louisiana#50
Editor's note

Florida is the comparison Georgians make: Valdosta against Tallahassee, or the Jacksonville commute from Camden County. Florida wins on income tax (none against 5.39%) and loses on home insurance and rent. Alabama is the cheap side of every shared line; Columbus and Phenix City are one metro with two tax codes.

  • Compare Georgia with any state →

How the score works

Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.

The weights

Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.

From raw numbers to scores

Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.

Letter grades

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.

Cities, budgets and neighbors

The 20 Georgia city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.

Editor's notes

Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.

Always the latest release

Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.

What the score cannot tell you

Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.

Category briefs

Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →

Key takeaways

What the Georgia numbers say when read together.

  1. 01

    Growth is Georgia's strongest suit

    Georgia is a #26 state overall but #10 of 50 for growth, 16 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 51.5 against a national average of 38.8. Fiscal Health (#12) is next. Growth carries 7% of the composite.

  2. 02

    Transportation is where Georgia falls furthest behind

    Georgia ranks #47 of 50 for transportation, 21 places below its overall #26, with a score of 38.7 against a national average of 49.8. At 7% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.

  3. 03

    Unemployment rate is 0.6 points below the national average

    Georgia's unemployment rate is 3.4%, 0.6 points below the national average of 3.95%, #13 of 50 (1 = lowest). The largest gap in the other direction is median household income: $79,991, 1% below the national median. Source: BLS LAUS, latest release.

  4. 04

    More households arrive than leave

    Georgia ranks #16 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+1.3). The households arriving report $2,119 less in average income than those leaving ($70,169 against $72,288), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount grows. Florida is both the largest source and the largest destination.

  5. 05

    A middle income is squeezed less here than in most states

    A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $2,800 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#14 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $32,185 surplus; a retiree couple at a $36,785 surplus. Infant childcare runs $11,066 a year, 29% below the national average.

  6. 06

    Georgia sits 4th among its 6-state neighborhood

    3 of Georgia's 5 bordering states rank above its #26; the closest match on the composite is Tennessee. Median income among them runs from $66,659 in Alabama to $77,735 in Florida; Georgia is at $79,991.

Editor's note

The tradeoff

+Real GDP growth of +3.2% and a #10 growth rank mean the job market keeps expanding.

−That growth is metro Atlanta's; median income statewide is still $79,991, 1% below the national median.

+Infant childcare at $11,066 a year is #10 cheapest, a real saving for two-earner families.

−Education ranks #34 and the graduation rate is 84.1%, so the district you pick does the work.

+Air travel, logistics and headquarters jobs make Atlanta one of the few Southern metros with a national labor market.

−The mean commute is 29.4 minutes (#45) and only 1.2% of commuters use transit, so you will drive it.

Frequently asked questions about living in Georgia

Is Georgia a good place to live?

Georgia ranks #26 of 50 with a B grade, #5 of 14 in the South. It is top 10 in growth and bottom 10 in outdoor access and transportation. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 5 of 6 (home prices, cost of living, violent crime, unemployment, and tax burden) and trails on income. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.

Where does Georgia rank among US states?

Georgia ranks #26 of 50 overall with a composite score of 55.4 (grade B), and #5 of 14 states in the South. Its best category rank is #10 (growth) and its worst #47 (transportation). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so B means rank 19–26.

Is it expensive to live in Georgia?

At #25 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Georgia is 4% below the national average: its index is 96.3 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $330,817 (10% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $90,495 against a median household income of $79,991. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $2,800 shortfall after all costs, #14 of 50 (1 = most left over).

Does Georgia have a state income tax?

Yes. Georgia's top state income tax rate is 5.39% (#25 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 8.47% of income, 0.3 points below the national average. Property tax is 0.83% of home value and combined sales tax 7.49%.

What is the crime rate in Georgia?

Georgia reports 297 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 9% below the national average and #26 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,409 property crimes per 100,000, 8% below the national average (#21). Its safety score is 71.2 out of 100, #26 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.

Does Georgia have good schools?

Georgia is #34 of 50 for education (score 53.1 out of 100). Its public school students average 269 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#37) and 259 in eighth-grade reading (#18), and the high school graduation rate is 84.1%, 1.5 points below the national average (#33). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Valdosta has the highest graduation rate at 92.3%.

Why are people moving to Georgia?

Georgia gained a net 14,671 households in the latest IRS release: 148,244 moved in and 133,573 moved out, +1.3 per 1,000 residents (#16 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Florida (28,263 households) and the most common destination is Florida (23,475). Arriving households report an average income of $70,169 against $72,288 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.

Is Georgia a red or blue state?

Georgia is an even split on the Cook Partisan Voting Index. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.

What are the downsides of living in Georgia?

Driving, heat and thin public services outside the metro. Transportation ranks #47 and outdoor access #46, the mean commute is 29.4 minutes, and the air quality index of 45 ranks #47. Health is the quieter problem: life expectancy is 75.9 years, 1.0 years below the national average, and rural hospitals keep closing. None of it shows up on a home listing, and all of it shows up in year two.

Where in Georgia should I live?

Depends on what you're optimizing. Families with a budget pick north Fulton, Forsyth or east Cobb for schools and crime rates (Johns Creek is the safest tracked city). Young professionals pick Midtown, Brookhaven or Smyrna for the short drive to work. Anyone chasing value with a job market picks Savannah or Gainesville. For the cheapest house, Albany has the lowest cost index, with incomes to match.

Is Georgia tax-friendly for retirees?

Yes, more than the rate implies. Social Security isn't taxed, and the retirement income exclusion at sixty-two shelters much pension, annuity and investment income, doubled for a qualifying couple. Property tax runs 0.83% with a homestead exemption and senior breaks that vary by county. The sales tax of 7.49% bites, since local rates apply to groceries. The retiree rank of #27 reflects health, not taxes.

Does Georgia get hurricanes?

Rarely at full strength, but the coast and South Georgia feel them. The FEMA risk index is 13.4, 55% below the national average, for a mostly inland state. Savannah and the barrier islands carry the wind premiums; Albany and Valdosta have taken hits from storms crossing the Panhandle. Metro Atlanta's hazards are ice storms, tornadoes and tropical remnants that flood creeks. Budget for flood insurance near any creek.

Do I need a car in Georgia?

Yes, almost everywhere. 1.2% of commuters use transit statewide, and MARTA covers a slice of Atlanta, Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton that most jobs and homes sit outside of. Inside the Perimeter you can manage with one car and the train; anywhere else, plan on one per adult. Gas is cheap ($2.95 per gallon, #6 nationally), which softens the 29.4 minutes mean commute a little. Not much.

All the numbers

Every metric behind Georgia's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.

Median Household Income
$79,991
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: $80,903
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
BLS LAUS · Nat'l avg: 3.9%
Population Growth
+0.88%
Census, year over year · Nat'l avg: +0.5%
54.1Economy Score · National avg: 47.1
Violent Crime Rate
296.9
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 313
Property Crime Rate
1,409.3
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 1,475
71.2Safety Score · National avg: 68.9
Life Expectancy
75.9 yr
CDC NCHS · Nat'l avg: 76.9 yr
Adults With Obesity
35.4%
CDC BRFSS · Nat'l avg: 34%
Uninsured
12%
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 7.6%
39.5Health Score · National avg: 54.4
HS Graduation Rate
84.1%
EDFacts · Nat'l avg: 85.6%
NAEP Math, 8th Grade
269
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 273
NAEP Reading, 8th Grade
259
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 257
53.1Education Score · National avg: 57.5
GDP Per Capita
$63,669
BEA · Nat'l avg: $64,333
GDP Growth Rate
+3.2%
Real, year over year · Nat'l avg: +1.9%
Credit Rating
AAA
S&P / Moody's, latest
Fiscal Score
69.7
of 100 · Nat'l avg: 58.1
Budget Balance
+5.6%
Surplus · % of revenue · NASBO
State Debt Per Capita
$1,690
Census state finances · Nat'l avg: $3,506
Rainy Day Fund
16.4%
of expenditures · Pew Fiscal 50
Pension Funded Ratio
77%
Pew · Nat'l avg: 74.3%
Tax Burden
8.47%
of income · Nat'l avg: 8.74%
Income Tax Rate
5.39%
Top rate, state + local
Property Tax Rate
0.83%
Effective rate · Nat'l avg: 1.02%
Sales Tax Rate
7.49%
State + local avg · Nat'l avg: 6.66%
69.7Fiscal Health Score · National avg: 58.1
Typical Home Value
$330,817
Latest month · Nat'l avg: $383,360
Cost of Living Index
96.3
BEA Regional Price Parity · National = 100
Price-to-Income Ratio
4.1x
Home value ÷ median income · Nat'l avg: 4.6x
Electricity
14.73¢/kWh
EIA
Natural Gas
$20.42/Mcf
EIA
Gasoline
$2.95/gal
EIA
Infant Care (Center)
$11,066/yr
Child Care Aware of America
Goods Prices
98.9
BEA price level for goods · US = 100
73.1Affordability Score · National avg: 65.2
Air Quality Index
45
EPA annual median · Nat'l avg: 38.8
Renewable Energy
12%
EIA, % of electricity · Nat'l avg: 29%
Natural Disaster Risk
13.4
FEMA NRI per capita · Nat'l avg: 30
32.1Environment Score · National avg: 42.5
Public Land
6.1%
of state area · USGS PAD-US
Recreation Facilities
1.61
per 10K residents · Census CBP
Park Acreage per Capita
0
NPS acres per resident
7.6Outdoor Access Score · National avg: 29.4
Mean Commute Time
29.4 min
Mean travel time to work · Census ACS
60+ Min Commute
11.3%
of workers · Census ACS
Drive Alone
71.4%
of commuters · Census ACS
Public Transit Use
1.2%
of commuters · Census ACS
Walk / Bicycle
1.4%
active commuters · Census ACS
Work From Home
14.9%
of workers · Census ACS
Vehicle Miles Traveled
10,908
per capita · FHWA
Carpool Rate
9.3%
of commuters · Census ACS
38.7Transportation Score · National avg: 49.8
Restaurants per 1K
1.774
Census County Business Patterns
Arts & Entertainment
0.024
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Social Associations
0.038
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Bars & Breweries
0.048
per 1K residents · Census CBP
28.1Livability Score · National avg: 34.3
Net Domestic Migration
+2.4
per 1,000 residents · Nat'l avg: +1.1
Migration Trend
Gaining
More people moving in than out
Broadband Subscription
93.4%
Households, any type · Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 92.7%
Households Moving In
148.2K
Top origin: Florida
Households Moving Out
133.6K
Top destination: Florida
51.5Growth Score · National avg: 38.8

Also consulted for the Georgia editor's notes

  • Georgia Department of Revenue, Retirement Income Exclusion ↗