Navigate apartment hunting and city life like a local with our curated articles about Atlanta, Georgia.
National study of renter’s satisfaction with their cities and states
Apartment List has released Atlanta’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of 111 million American renters nationwide.
"Atlanta renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories average scores."
Key findings in Atlanta include the following:
Atlanta renters gave their city a B overall.
The highest-rated categories for Atlanta were jobs and career opportunities, social life, recreational activities and pet-friendliness, which all received B+ grades.
The areas of concern to Atlanta renters are commute time (D) and quality of local schools (C+).
Millennial renters are very satisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of B+, while renters who are parents are less satisfied, giving it a C+.
Atlanta earned similar scores compared to other nearby cities like Athens (B) and Savannah (B+), but earned higher marks than Augusta (D) and Decatur (F).
Atlanta relatively poorly compared to other Southern cities, including Charlotte, NC (A-), Nashville, TN (A-) and Virginia Beach, VA (A-).
The top rated cities nationwide for renter satisfaction include Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA, Boulder, CO and Ann Arbor, MI. The lowest rated cities include Tallahassee, FL, Stockton, CA, Dayton, OH, Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
Renters say:
For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.
Canopy
The park apartments
Lithonia, Decatur, Tucker
Outside of metro Atlanta
Urban renaissance energizes Downtown Atlanta, where historic buildings alongside dramatic skyscrapers create architectural diversity reflecting the district's ongoing transformation. The walkable neighborhood surrounds Centennial Olympic Park with its popular fountain and nearby attractions including Georgia Aquarium. Though weekend tourist presence increases around major venues, residential sections maintain surprisingly separate identity from visitor districts, while excellent transit connections via multiple MARTA lines create car-optional living unusual in typically automobile-dependent southern cities.
Urban energy thrives along the BeltLine's art-lined trails. Converted loft renters face 300% price hikes since 2020 but enjoy free access to Piedmont Park's skate plaza. Construction noise from the Midtown Union project continues through 2027.
Revitalization pulses through this artsy enclave near Westside Reservoir Park. Renters score converted lofts but face sporadic gunfire echoing from abandoned lots. The Sylvan Hills Market hosts free jazz nights testing noise ordinances.