Study: Best Cities to Raise a Family in Georgia

Georgia is a deal-finder's best friend. Southern charm and Southern hospitality combine to provide residents with a relatively low cost of living in the Peach State. For 10 cities in particular, it's a great place to bring a family and stay there until everyone is out of the nest. These cities have strong schools, short commutes, and loyal neighbors who will stick around. Read on to find the CreditDonkey team's top picks for the best places to raise a family in Georgia.

Study Methodology

To shape our study, we first excluded those cities with a population of less than 15,000. We then used these five factors to come up with our top 10:

1. Education
   
2. Commute Time
   
3. Household Type
   
4. Residency
   
5. Housing Costs

From kindergarten all the way up to college, Georgia prides itself on its exceptional schools and how educated residents are overall. We looked at the percentage of people in each city who earned a high school diploma or higher as a measure of educational attainment.

Atlanta is infamous for its traffic woes but you'll find there are plenty of Georgia cities where the daily drive is less of a headache. We ranked the cities in our study based on the average commute and found the longest drive takes just under 31 minutes.

Some cities are geared towards retirees while others are favored by the working crowd. Our study focused on the percentage of family households with children under 18 to find those locales that are most welcoming to people with kids.

Most people don't relish the thought of packing up and moving every other year and when you find a home you like, leaving it is the last thing you want to do. If you're looking for a place where people tend to stick around, check out how each city ranks based on the percentage of residents still living in the same home they were living in a year ago.

Georgia's home prices are among the lowest in the nation, which is good news for your budget. Whether you're planning to buy or you're more comfortable renting, it pays to know which cities are the easiest on your wallet. Our rankings measured affordability for each location based on what percentage of income residents spend on housing.

10 Best Cities to Raise a Family in Georgia

10. Roswell

• High School Graduate or Higher: 93%
  
• Commute Time: 26.5 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 33.7%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 86.2%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 21.6%

The largest city on our list is Roswell, with a population of nearly 94,000 people. One of Atlanta's northernmost suburbs, it's also close to both Marietta and Alpharetta. We think Roswell is a good match for families who want access to quality good schools and don't mind paying a bit more for their home. Median home values surpass the $300,000 mark. Since the market continues to heat up, you'll need to move quickly if you're planning to buy.

Did You Know: The Roswell Manufacturing Company mill was burned by General William T. Sherman during his infamous march across the south.

9. Dublin

• High School Graduate or Higher: 80.6%
  
• Commute Time: 17.8 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 30.9%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 86%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 23.2%

Dublin is one of the smaller towns on our list, with just over 16,000 residents, but we think it's well-suited for families who prefer a slower pace. Farming is still an important part of the economy and attractions like the TroupCorn corn maze give kids an opportunity to learn about local agriculture. You won't have to worry about wasting a lot of time getting to work each day and housing costs won't wreak havoc on your paycheck.

Did You Know: The Dublin-Laurens St. Patrick's Day Festival is the largest Irish-themed event in the state.

8. Sugar Hill

• High School Graduate or Higher: 89.9%
  
• Commute Time: 30.6 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 47.3%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 89.2%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 23.1%

With a slogan like "The Sweet Life," you can't go wrong if you decide to call Sugar Hill home. Though still relatively small at just under 20,000 residents, it's considered one of the country's fastest-growing cities. There's an obvious kid-friendly vibe here, which is evidenced by the fact that nearly half of all family households include children under 18. Higher home values mean you'll spend slightly more on housing but it's a small price to pay for the quality of life residents enjoy.

Did You Know: Local legend says that Sugar Hill got its name when a freight wagon carrying sugar accidentally spilled its contents on a nearby hill.

7. St. Mary's

• High School Graduate or Higher: 92.3%
  
• Commute Time: 19.6 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 33.7%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 75.4%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 21.1%

Nicknamed "The Gateway to Cumberland Island," St. Mary's is a picturesque little town located along Georgia's southern coast. The city features a busy tourist trade thanks to the Cumberland Island National Seashore but as you can see, there's a healthy number of families living in the area. Housing costs aren't too steep and you'll find that it takes less than 20 minutes on average to get to the office.

Did You Know: St. Mary's is reportedly haunted by a number of ghosts, including a well-loved paddlewheel captain and a headless pirate who spends his nights wandering through the marsh.

6. Peachtree City

• High School Graduate or Higher: 95.9%
  
• Commute Time: 28.6 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 37.6%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 85.9%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 20%

Things are just peachy for the residents of Peachtree City, one of Atlanta's more affluent suburbs. The local school system has the highest graduation rate in the metro area and several schools have received individual recognition for excellence. Residents are well educated and tend to bring home a much bigger payday, with a median income of more than $91,000. If safety's a priority, you'll be glad to know that the crime rate is among the lowest in the state.

Did You Know: Peachtree City is roughly 30 miles from some of the state's best family attractions, including Six Flags, the Georgia Aquarium and the LEGOLAND Discovery Center.

5. Kingsland

• High School Graduate or Higher: 91.3%
  
• Commute Time: 21.5 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 43.6%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 83.4%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 23.1%

Kingsland sits adjacent to St. Mary's and when it comes to size, educational attainment and median incomes, the two are nearly identical. By the numbers, Kingsland ranks a little higher on our list because there are slightly more families living in the area. Boating, fishing, horseback riding and kayaking are just a few of the adventures kids will enjoy, while mom and dad may prefer a stroll through the historic downtown district.

Did You Know: In 2012, Kingsland was the setting for "Lovetown, USA," a reality series developed by Oprah Winfrey that focused on helping local singles find their perfect match.

4. Pooler

• High School Graduate or Higher: 95%
  
• Commute Time: 22.1 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 38.2%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 84.7%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 22.2%

Pooler can't match the size of nearby Savannah but it makes up for in terms of its overall affordability. While home prices are slightly higher than the metro area, you'll spend a much lower percentage of your income on housing. This small community is especially inviting to families, largely due to its low crime rate and hospitable atmosphere. Pooler is close to all that Savannah has to offer and if you're looking for a weekend getaway, Hilton Head is just across the South Carolina state line.

Did You Know: Pooler is close to several significant historical attractions including the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts.

3. Johns Creek

• High School Graduate or Higher: 96.5%
  
• Commute Time: 30.2 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 49.9%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 89.5%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 21%

Johns Creek is another of Atlanta's larger cities and more than 82,000 people call it home. The city is one of the metro area's most affluent suburbs, second only to Milton when it comes to how much residents earn. Half of the family households in John Creeks include minor children and the population is highly educated. The city has a solid economic base all its own but at less than 30 miles from the capital, you shouldn't have any trouble landing a job.

Did You Know: Johns Creek is close to Lake Lanier, which was the site for several events from the 1996 Summer Olympics.

2. Alpharetta

• High School Graduate or Higher: 97.2%
  
• Commute Time: 25.3 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 42.9%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 83.8%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 18.6%

Alpharetta is another Atlanta suburb that's earned a reputation for being well-to-do, but it's not quite as pricey as its neighbors. Despite its larger size, the city has an outstanding crime rate and home prices aren't through the roof. Commute times aren't bad on average but you'll want to give yourself a little more time if you're driving to downtown Atlanta. From ice skating to go-kart racing, there's not much you won't find in the way of family fun.

Did You Know: Alpharetta's North Point Mall is home to the only American Girl Boutique and Bistro in Georgia.

1. Milton

• High School Graduate or Higher: 97.8%
  
• Commute Time: 29.6 minutes
  
• Households With Children Under 18: 44.5%
  
• Residing in Same Home: 87.9%
  
• Income Spent on Housing: 18.1%

Milton, officially a city for less than a decade, has quickly become one of the Atlanta area's most desirable places to live. In terms of educational achievement and the percentage of income residents spend for housing on average, the city easily outshines the competition. Residents have convenient access to everything the capital city has to offer but without all the hassles you'd expect in a larger urban area. A median income of close to $117,000 is just the icing on the cake.

Did You Know: Milton offers several annual events that are specifically geared towards kids and families, including Camp Joyful Soles and the Crabapple Fest.

You might be curious as to why some of Georgia's larger cities aren't on our list. After all, Atlanta is the premier destination for up-and-coming professionals while Savannah is bursting at the seams with antebellum history and natural beauty. Not to mention cities like Athens, August and Columbus, which bring their own unique flavor to the table. Although their appeal is undisputed, we believe the 10 cities we've chosen have that little something extra that makes them the overall most livable spots for families.