Never before have there been so many options in your search for a safe neighborhood residence. In the Northeastern area of the United States, for instance, Nassau or Rockland counties contain some of the safest neighborhoods in New York State. In the South Central region, many have discovered the safest neighborhoods in Texas to be clustered near larger cities. Houston has safe Kingwood or West University neighborhoods, Dallas its sheltered Highland Park or Lakewood, and San Antonio has desirable Stone Oak or Helotes. Even overseas, there are historic safest neighborhoods in Paris- such as the charming arrondissements St Germaine on the left bank of the Seine River, central Le Marias and the Islands, or the more affordable Latin Quarter.
But what if the Southeast region of the US is where you want to live? The Southeast has milder “four seasons” weather, affordability, and solid employment opportunities with major companies such as Coca-Cola, Cox, UPS, CNN, Home Depot, Aflac, Google, or Delta Air Lines. So you may find that Georgia’s capital and largest city of Atlanta is your first pick- with its many best choices of safest neighborhoods in Atlanta.
Despite many benefits of living in Atlanta, like most larger US cities in the country- (ranked #37 with 510,823 people), Atlanta faces public safety concerns. It has a high total crime rate of 110% higher than the national average. To give some perspective to this however, half of violent crime in Atlanta occurs among its gang members, not the average citizens. Furthermore property crimes-especially auto thefts- are the prevalent crimes, making up about 86% of total crimes committed. While these are not good statistics, it must be noted that such crimes typically do not pose any threat to a citizen’s actual safety. Significant strides have been made by Atlanta to reduce crime- with programs that address youth crime prevention, guns, and gangs.
So What Are Some Safe Places To Live In Atlanta?
The safest neighborhoods in Atlanta are generally in the north and northwestern areas. These include Castlewood, Northwest Buckhead, Mt. Paran-Northside, and Kingswood. All these neighborhoods have received the top score- the lowest possible Crime Score of 1/10 from the CAP Index. The CAP Index is a scoring system that gives relative measures of the likelihood of crime and loss in a particular locale. Each score ranges between 1 and 10, with 1 representing the lowest amount of crime and 10 the highest. (For comparison, the national average CAP Score is 4/10).
However there is a high price tag for these safest neighborhoods in Atlanta with the lowest CAP Scores- the median home prices in them range from $1.5 million-$2.5 million (with 1 bedroom apartment rents around $1,600-$3,500/monthly depending on location). If you have the budget, these safe neighborhoods offer top schools, nature preserves, world-class restaurants and shopping, golf courses, parks and community gardens.
Here are 7 additional safe neighborhood options in Atlanta:
- Lake Claire, a neighborhood in eastside Atlanta, is slightly more affordable, and has a good crime rating CAP score of 3/10. Median house prices here hover around $637,500 with rents for a 1 bedroom from $1,600 up to $3,300. Surrounded by historic neighborhoods like Candler Park, Inman Park, Druid Hills, and Kirkwood, Lake Claire housing is a mix of bungalows, craftsman homes and condos. Popular with young professionals, it is also family-friendly- notable for its highly ranked schools. (Lake Claire actually has NO lake- the name is shorthand for its intersection of Lakeshore and Claire Drives!)
- Virginia Highland (or VaHi to the locals) is another safe, more affordable option. It is located 3 miles northeast of downtown, making it a quick 10 minute drive there if traffic permits, or an easy MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) commute from nearby Midtown Station or Inman Park station. Virginia Highland is attractive with young professionals and families- some have even moved to the area because of its very popular VaHi Summerfest festival. Median house prices in Virginia Highland list around $775,000 with 1 bedroom rents starting at $2,135. Crime here is 63.4% lower than the Atlanta average.
- Atlantic Station makes the secure neighborhood list for professionals, students, retirees and families alike. This modern urban neighborhood is at the center of Atlanta, built around a district dubbed the “Atlantic Station Mall” with various nearby museums and parks. It is one of the low-crime areas in Atlanta (with a 15.5% lower crime rate than the city average). Not owning a car is possible here in Atlantic Station- it is highly walkable, plus has free city shuttles that connect to the nearby MARTA station. House prices range from $400,000 up to over $1 million, and rents for 1 bedrooms start around $1,900/month.
- Cabbagetown is an urban neighborhood 2 miles east of downtown that is ranked as 69% safer than the rest of Atlanta’s neighborhoods. It is an attractive secure spot for singles, young professionals, and families. Cabbagetown’s unpoetic-sounding name derives from the original German and Irish residents who worked at the nearby mill and cultivated cabbage in their home gardens. Cabbagetown gained recent fame as home to underground music cult figure Benjamin Smoke of the band Smoke, and has also been a hangout for The Indigo Girls and Cat Power. This ethnically diverse community is in southeast Atlanta, known for its historic 19th century mill houses and artistic vibe, reflected in numerous art galleries and murals around town. Its recent median home sale price is $358,500 down from previous house listings starting at $500,000. Rents here cluster around $2,000-$3,000/month.
- Candler Park is another Intown Atlanta location that is ranked as 81% safer than the rest of Atlanta’s neighborhoods. This neighborhood is named after Candler Park in its center, surrounded by charming bungalows and Victorian-style homes- very walkable and also with easy access to the MARTA Blue and Green lines. Residents are a mix of singles, young professionals, families and retirees. Median prices of homes here range from $600,000 to $1 million, though recent median sales were down to $494,000. Rents vary from $1,800 to $2,300 for a 1 bedroom rental.
- Midtown is a neighborhood often chosen by young residents, some families- and especially students (due to its proximity to Georgia Tech, SCAD Atlanta and John Marshall Law School). With a convenient Intown Atlanta location and solid public transportation options (MARTA Gold and Red lines), Midtown is a hub for the arts, good restaurants, hot spot bars, and home of the Atlanta Pride Festival. Median home purchase prices are around $354,500, with 1 bedroom rents starting in the $1,200-$1500/mo range. Midtown is safer than 81% of other Atlanta neighborhoods.
- Underwood Hills in Atlanta’s Upper West Side is ranked as safer than 50% of the rest of Atlanta neighborhoods. Residents are drawn to its suburban feel and the outdoor attractions like Atlanta Memorial Park or Underwood Hills Park. Families also appreciate Underwood Hills’ good schools and more affordable housing options. Residents take advantage of the MARTA bus routes along Defers Ferry Road to access nearby downtown Atlanta. The recent median sale price of a home in the competitive Underwood Hills market was $370,000. The price range for 1 bedroom rents are $1,600 to $2,200/ month.
In conclusion, this analysis should help you make an informed decision about where to live safely in Atlanta. With so many diverse and interesting Atlanta neighborhoods from which to choose, your ideal secure new home is waiting for you in “The Big Peach.”
