7 Popular Atlanta Neighborhoods For Black Families, Young Professionals & Singles

It’s getting hot in here!

We’re taking a trip down to Hotlanta to visit some of their best neighborhoods.

With over half a million people, you have to wonder where is everyone congregating in the city?

With ideas for family and single, young professionals, here are 7 best Atlanta neighborhoods to live in.

Black Families

Virginia Highlands

If you’re looking for somewhere to settle down with your family, Virginia Highland might be it.

City life might be too fast for you and your loved ones, but this suburb could be ideal.

Definitely a favorite amongst those in Atlanta, Virginia Highland has been voted a lot of things.

According to Butch Whitfield, the town neighborhood has not only been voted “Best Overall Neighborhood,” but also “Favorite Neighborhood Overall.” 

Affectionately called “VaHi” by locals, this place has a lot to offer to families.

They have everything ranging from the parents to the children.

Starting with the children, there are numerous parks along the Virginia Highland borders.

Piedmont Park lies near the border of VaHi where there are numerous playgrounds and outdoor activities for the children to get involved in.

There are equally as many options for adults that include hard courts for tennis, soccer fields, running paths, and a swimming center.

The area also has great options for schooling between K-5.

Niche rates both Morningside Elementary School and Springdale Park Elementary School with a A- rating.

With both schools having over 700 students, students experience a 15:1 ratio with teachers.

Keeping in line with the safety of children and the family, the crime rate in Virginia Highland is relatively low.

There are a number of prevention systems in place to help keep the community safe including police, neighborhood security patrol, and neighborhood watch groups.

Parents also don’t have to worry about finding work.

While Virginia Highlands is a mostly suburban area, MARTA, the transportation system runs through VaHi to all the corporate hubs within Atlanta.

Buckhead

For those who are thriving financially, you might want to raise your family in the affluent neighborhood of Buckhead.

When it comes to Atlanta, you can consider Buckhead the equivalent to Beverly Hills.

Buckhead has the first best median home value which is just over $490K.

While it is quite expensive to live in Buckhead, there are a few reasons why many find it ideal for their families.

The neighborhood offers quite a few pros for parents.

Buckhead is the third largest business district, after Midtown and Downtown, so it won’t be hard to find work or commute.

If you enjoy a day shopping with your family, you might enjoy the wide range of shops at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza.

You’ll also find that there are a number of reasons you’d want to be centered in Buckhead for your children.

Buckhead is a great healthcare hub in the area powered by Piedmont Hospital.

There are also a number of public and private school options ranging from childcare up until high school.

If the kids want to stay close, they can even attend Georgia State University’s College of Business which is centered in Buckhead.

While the area doesn’t have the mass appeal of parks the same way that Virginia Highlands do, Buckhead is a great option for a safe neighborhood and excellent education for children.

Druid Hills

When compared to the rest of the neighborhoods on this list, Druid Hills is on the smaller side.

With around twelve thousand residents, the area houses some of Atlanta’s elite.

Why, you ask?

Well it might be that the average home price is $600,000.

For those that can afford the area, there are numerous reasons that make this neighborhood worth moving to with your family.

While the neighborhood is peaceful and quiet for families, it’s still an ideal location for working parents.

Only five miles from Downtown, the commute to work is seamless.

With MARTa running throughout the neighborhood, Emory University has a shuttle that travels around the neighborhood and city of Atlanta as well.

You’d also find that there are tons of parks, both recreational and informational, for spending time with the family.

The Fernbank Forest has the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Nearby houses the Fernbank School park which has a playground, picnic area, and walking trails.

For those who are looking to get their young ones into baseball, Medlock Park will give you the opinion of nine little league fields that include concessions, as well as a playground and running trail.

There are even a number of primary and secondary school options for children as well as a variety of religious organizations in the area.

One of the biggest selling points of the area is Emory University. 

The private university houses a hospital and healthcare center in Druid Hills.

With beautiful architecture, numerous work and education opportunities, and peace and quiet, Druid Hills is ideal for Atlanta-based families.

Kirkwood

With the neighborhoods already included on this list, you might be thinking that there’s no affordable place to live with your family in Atlanta.

That’s not true.

If you’d still like an amazing and affordable place to live in Atlanta, you need to look into Kirkwood.

While you’re looking at home for over half a million dollars in some of the other neighborhoods, a home in Kirkwood will cost you around $300,000 on average.

And while the price might get you there, there’s a lot that will make you and your family stay.

Niche ranks Kirkwood with an over grade of A with a B+ rating for families and here’s why.

The neighborhood offers a lot for families, both old and young.

The diversity of the residents is great, especially when spanning education levels.

Over a quarter of those living in the area are families with children.

With a population of less than six thousand, the residents can easily enjoy what the neighborhood has to offer.

Kirkwood hosts events like the Family Find and Home for the Holidays.

The former is an Easter egg hunt hosted for children while the latter is a Christmas themed festival that includes a tree lighting, holiday market, and more.

They even have a Wine Stroll for the adults that allows them to business hop to sample wines from around the world.

Lastly, their popular Kirkwood Spring Fling is an event for both the adults and children where the kids can have fun at the children’s area while parents can relax while they listen to music and sip beer.

The area also offers a number of public school options for children as well.

With all the pros of a small town, Kirkwood might be the ideal place for one to raise their family in Atlanta.

Singles & Young Professionals

Virginia Highland

Now, we already mentioned that Virginia Highland is an ideal place to raise a family, but the area is also great for singles and young professionals.

There’s a reason why VaHi is often ranked at the top of Atlanta neighborhoods.

It’s because it appeals to everyone.

While the average home price is high at around $750K, rent options are more feasible for younger individuals.

While Virginia Highland appeals to families, there are a few different reasons that have the younger crowd flocking to the neighborhood.

Most people ignorantly assume that most singles and young professionals just want a place to have fun.

That’s untrue.

To be honest, as a young professional, we’re just looking for a safe, quiet place to relax after a day at work that also offers a number of fun activities and locations for our free time.

Virginia Highland is the place to do it.

As previously mentioned, the area offers parks that are great work experiencing the landscaping or taking a run or walk.

They also have a series of summer festivals that are catered to older and younger people alike.

The singles and young professionals might enjoy the Virginia Highland Summerfest that takes place every year.

Normally taking place in June, it usually attracts over 50,000 visitors from the Atlanta metropolitan area and beyond.

Not only does it feature works from hundreds of artists, but attendees can enjoy music, food, and outdoor movies as well.

When it comes to young professionals, our lives are often surrounded by two things, work and play.

We want to work hard and enjoy ourselves before we settle down with a family.

For work, Virginia Highlands is close to Downtown and Midtown, the two biggest financial hubs in Atlanta.

This means there are a lot of great opportunities nearby for work.

Second, VaHi is known for their nightlife.

While you won’t find massive clubs, their night scene includes a great selection of restaurants, bars, and lounges that are ideal for winding down with your friends or meeting a potential love interest.

Not to mention, you’ll have a ton of great options for weekend brunch which I’m always excited about.

If you’re single or a young professional, living in Virginia Highland is going to offer an amazing experience for professional and personal growth.

Old Fourth Ward

Similarly to Virginia Highlands, Old Fourth Ward is perfectly catered for young people looking to plant roots.

A newer community in Atlanta, there’s a reason to consider this neighborhood.

LifeStorageBlog describes Old Fourth Ward as ideal for “students, young professionals, and first-time homebuyers.”

Why?

Well, if you’re looking to buy, the average home price is around $350,000 which is ideal compared to the $500,000+ we saw earlier on the list.

Now, for those looking to rent, the rates really are reasonable with an average of $1740.

Beyond the living situation, Old Fourth Ward continues to grow in its appeal.

Although Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up in Old Fourth Ward, the area went through a decline in the 1950s and 60s.

Even so, the area has seen a resurgence in recent years making it a popular hub for Atlanta newcomers.

The neighborhood has a collection of parks that feature running and bike trails for those who want to stay active.

OLd Fourth Ward is also great for looking at street art. 

The arts are highly popular in the area, but others might feel compelled by the area for Ponce City Market or Edgewood Avenue.

Ponce City Market features a number of stores and shops ranging from restaurants, retail stores, offices, apartments, and more.

Others might flock to Edgewood Avenue that serves as the restaurant and bar hub of the neighborhood.

While Old Fourth Ward would’ve fallen on this list a few decades ago, the community has definitely come back to life.

Midtown

While you’d be dropping a pretty penny if you wanted to live there, renting might be more plausible for the singles and young professionals who want to live in Midtown.

If you love a fast-paced lifestyle, this is the area for you.

There are a lot of upsides to living in Midtown, one of the most popular areas of Atlanta.

For those budding young professionals who want to pave their way into the world, Midtown might be a great place to start job hunting.

Midtown is one of the two biggest epicenters in Atlanta, and you’ll find a ton of opportunities to further your career path.

Midtown is where you’d find the Coca-Cola headquarters as well as regional offices for Google, Wells Fargo, and AT&T.

And if they’re not in Midtown, they’re a few miles and a train ride over in Downtown.

Outside of career opportunities, Midtown also offers a variety of options for those looking to thrive in their social life as well.

If you love art, Midtown is a cultural hub.

They have tons of places to explore including Fox Theatre, the Museum of Design Atlanta, and even the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

If you’re young, professional, and love art, consider a life in Midtown.

Adair Park

Out of all the areas on this list, if you’re looking for a great area with affordable prices, Adair Park would be the ideal solution.

If you’re on a budget, the average home prices in Adair Park are $200,000.

The average rent price is even under $1000!

For the singles or young professionals who are still building up their savings, this location is great.

Outside of the housing situation, there are a few other factors that make Adair Park a great option.

If you’re looking to explore, the Atlanta Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, and Martin Luther King. Jr National Historic Sites are all located in the neighborhood.

Plus, if you’re often entertaining visiting guests, you’ll always have a line up of where to take them.

While you won’t find the same amount of places in Adair Park as you would Midtown, the area is up and coming, so you won’t have to wait too long. 

And if you’re really interested in being a part of a fast nightlife, all you need to do is catch a train or Uber to a nearby ATL neighborhood.

Is Atlanta Safe?

One of the biggest questions one might have when moving to a big city is how safe it is.

When it comes to all the biggest cities around the country, including New York City and Los Angeles, you’re always going to run into crime.

Crime is often indicative and directly correlated to the number of people within the city.

In fact, the FBI often ranks the top 20 cities in the United States with the highest crime.

You’d be glad to know that Atlanta doesn’t fall on this list.

Even so, you’re going to find crime in Atlanta.

As with any major city, you’re going to find that there are safe and dangerous areas.

While I’m not here to scare you, I am here to give you the facts.

According to Forbes, Atlanta is the eighth most homicide-prone city in the U.S. 

And while you might also be thinking of safety outside of violent crime, it might be good to know that Atlanta’s risk of tornadoes is higher than the national average.

As always, there are methods to staying safe in any city so be mindful when moving to Atlanta.

It might be a saving grace to know that many of the suburbs in Atlanta are listed as being some of the safest in the state.

What Is Atlanta’s Demographic?

When moving to a new city, it’s important for many to get a feel of the demographics ranging from how many people the city has to their breakdown in race.

Atlanta ranks in the top 40 of the most populous cities in the country with just over half a million residents.

With that being said, Atlanta has always been known for having a predominantly Black population, but just how much of the population is Black?

According to InfoPlease, Black people make up over 61% of Atlanta’s population.

This is followed by just over 33% for Whites.

The next largest population is Asian residents who make up less than 2% of the city’s population.

When it comes to gender, the ratio is pretty even with 50.4% of the population being women and 49.6% being men.

Now, if you’re a young professional, you might be happy to know that the largest age demographic is between 25-34 years old.

This group holds almost 20% of the population followed by 35-44 year olds with 15.5% and 45-54 year olds at 12%.

With the median age of the city being 31.9, singles and young professionals should thrive in the city.

Even so, the breakdown of the age demographic shows that the city is teeming with families raising their small to young adult children.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Atlanta?

As with any city, Atlanta has its pros and cons.

Let’s go over the cons first.

Atlanta is a major city and their roadwork could be a lot better.

Because of this, you’re going to run into traffic.

From experience, I was stuck in traffic at 9AM on a Saturday morning, and to this day, I’m still wondering why.

The second con bounces off the first in that you’ll probably have to drive a lot.

Atlanta is vast so you might find yourself driving from neighborhood to neighborhood.

And while you might be fine with taking a train if you’re a single, young professional, but if you’re bringing your family along with you, you might want to find some activities to keep the kids preoccupied as you drive around the city.

They call it Hotlanta for a reason.

If you’re not a fan of the heat, you need to be prepared for the brutal summers.

It gets hot, humid, muggy, and any other synonym you can think of.

While you might be able to save on HVAC in the fall and winter, prepare for your bill to go up in the summer months.

Now there are a few other cons to living in Atlanta, but let’s get to some of the pros.

When compared to a lot of other major cities in the country, like New York, the cost of living in Atlanta is relatively low.

Just look at the prices in Adair Park.

Another great thing about Atlanta is that it offers tons of outdoor experiences and spaces for people of all ages, including children.

If you’re looking to move to Atlanta, one great thing to know is that Atlanta houses a lot of transplants.

When you go to a city like New York, you’ll run into tons of New Yorkers who clearly have the pride of the Yankees.

In a city like Atlanta, you’ll find many who have moved from other cities so you don’t have to worry as much as running into an endless number of cliques.

And last but not least, I’m going to pair two pros into one.

If you’re young and you like to have fun, festivals are extremely popular in Atlanta, so they’re always a highlight whether it’s a Christmas or summer festival.

You can also enjoy the nightlife in Atlanta as well.

Whether you’re looking to unwind with a drink or a few dances at a nightclub, the city is your oyster.

The Best Atlanta Neighborhoods Conclusion

Atlanta is a bustling city in the South and there’s a reason why the area continues to grow and grow.

While you might be charmed by the southern hospitality, there are tons of great reasons that make living in Atlanta an option.

And before making the move, plan a vacation to explore the city!

If you’re with your family, you can still figure out fun, affordable ways to travel.

Ultimately, whether you’re looking for job stability, great schools, or an active social life, Atlanta is a hub for all people.