Choosing a place to settle down and start a family while still pursuing professional ambitions can be a little tricky. After all, couples aren’t just thinking about themselves—they’re also thinking about the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of both children and the family as a whole.

Earning potential and hybrid-remote job opportunities have to be weighed heavily against things like child population numbers, crime rates, and childcare costs. So, we at Key Counseling Group got curious. We wanted to know which of Georgia’s ten largest cities (by population) were best suited for couples pursuing a career and planning to start a family.

To figure that out, we created a list of 13 metrics that, when combined, paint a picture of each city’s quality of life, family friendliness, and potential for professional growth. We’ve included factors, such as employment growth rates, number of entry-level jobs, housing costs, commute times, and public school rankings to name a few.

How does any of this relate to the mental health of couples and their children?

Families who struggle financially often have to navigate high housing costs, food insecurity, childcare expenses, and other economic challenges that can cause stress and anxiety. Median income is a reflection of financial security, which helps to shield people, especially children, from the harmful impact of those forces on a family’s mental well-being.

Since we’re considering the career health of these couples, we were also interested in unemployment rates, job growth rates, and the number of entry-level jobs in each area. Higher scores for these metrics likely indicate healthier job markets. That, in turn, can have a positive impact on mental health for those trying to further their careers. Being able to find entry-level work in one’s chosen field promotes a strong sense of identity, meaning, and purpose that can ward off depression and provide financial security.

Some metrics, such as “Children under 18,” “Crime Rates, and “Living in the same house more than one year,” speak to a sense of safety, stability, and family friendliness. Oftentimes, higher numbers of children indicate more recreational amenities for families and kids. It also provides greater opportunities for children to interact and communicate with other kids their own age, which can support their social and emotional development.

Hybrid/remote work potential and low commute times help parents strike a greater balance between their personal and professional lives. Strong work-life balance gives family members more time together and improves their quality of life. Flexible work environments mean less stress from fighting traffic and paying for expensive child care—and shorter commutes translate into more opportunities for self-care.

With all the stressors that families face today, we’re not just looking at the best cities in Georgia for professional couples to settle down and start a family. We’re really looking at a spectrum of metrics that can positively impact the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the family as a whole.”

Who Made The Top Of Our List?

1st Place—Johns Creek

Taking first place is Johns Creek, which features the highest median household income on our list at $153,882 annually—that’s 115.65 percent higher than Georgia’s median household income! It boasts an excellent public school system and the lowest crime rate just under Augusta-Richmond.

Admittedly, the city has the steepest housing and childcare costs on our list. Despite having the second highest number of entry-level jobs in our survey, it also reports the worst employment growth rate.

Notably, however, Johns Creek is home to Technology Park, a well-known hub for technologically innovative industries and companies. A whopping 29.80 percent of employees work in remote or hybrid capacities. It’s about a 30-minute drive to other major cities, including Atlanta and Roswell—and because the city is so young, it’s still developing and growing. It’s even home to nine parks at over 400 acres of combined land, making it a perfect place for kids.

Despite a few drawbacks, it’s clear why this destination tops our list. The great earning potential, ample opportunities for professional growth, and a child-friendly environment give family-minded professionals a compelling reason to consider Johns Creek as their future home.

2nd Place—Roswell

Second on our list is Roswell. Not unlike Johns Creek, it too has a commendably low crime rate and outstanding public schools, which is an absolute must for couples considering children. It has a somewhat lower median household income of $122,924—a figure that’s still 72 percent higher than the state average. Roswell also takes first place in the number of entry-level jobs available at nearly ten thousand open positions at the time of this survey.

With housing costs that also well-exceed Georgia’s state average, it may give pause to some couples looking to buy a home. However, its mean price tag difference of 11.41 percent compared to homes in Johns Creek makes this historic city an attractive secondary option. Roswell also hosts 22 parks on over 950 acres, incredibly safe neighborhoods, and the second-highest percentage of remote/hybrid workers (25.2 percent), making it one of our top choices.

3rd Place—Sandy Springs

For couples planning a family, Sandy Springs ties with Roswell and Johns Creek as the only cities on our list to receive an A-minus rating for their public school systems. It reported the second-highest number of entry-level jobs as well as the fastest-growing job market with a 2.94 percent employment growth rate. The median household income was $93,303 compared to Georgia’s median of $71,355.

People enjoy average commute times, modest crime rates, and lower childcare costs compared to Johns Creek and Roswell. Nearly a quarter of all employees work in hybrid or remote positions, giving professionals greater flexibility in their schedules while promoting a healthy work-life balance. To foster healthy and active lifestyles, the city features 28 parks encompassing over 950 acres of parkland.

Not surprisingly, Sandy Springs offers an enriching environment for family-minded professionals that combines top-tier educational institutions, abundant recreational activities, and robust career opportunities.

10th Place—Macon-Bibb

The employment growth rate for Macon-Bibb was the third lowest in our survey while unemployment rates were the highest, tying with Columbus for that spot. It also had the second-fewest number of entry-level jobs, which could make finding work with adequate pay more difficult. That combined with the fact that Macon-Bibb reports the lowest median household income on the list at $48,897 (or 31.5 percent less than Georgia’s median income) could mean the job market is struggling. The city also reports both the highest poverty rate (25%) and the highest crime rates (second only to Atlanta) on the list.

The combination of potential financial insecurity, a struggling job market, and less safe neighborhoods in comparison to other cities on our list put Macon-Bibb in tenth place for the best place to pursue a career and raise children.

Our Methodology

We selected 13 metrics that help us illustrate three categories: quality of life, family friendliness, and opportunities for professional growth—all of which are important for family-minded professionals. When choosing these metrics, we prioritized the relational health of the couple, the developmental well-being of their child, and the overall mental health of the family.

We then weighed those metrics according to their importance and impact.

Quality of Life (35%)

Median household income (DataUSA 2022) 10%
Cost to buy a house (Redfin.com) 10%
Percentage of hybrid/remote workers (DataUSA 2022) 5%
Commute times (DataUSA 2022) 5%
Poverty rates (DataUSA 2022) 5%

Family Friendliness (35%)

Percentage of children under 18 (Census.gov) 10%
Percentage of people living in the same house for > 1 year (https://www.census.gov/) 5%
Public school rating (Niche.com) 10%*
Number of crimes per 1,000 people (Neighborhoodscout.com) 5%
Cost of child care (Childcareaware.org) 5%

Professional Growth (30%)

Unemployment rates (U.S. Bureau of Labor) 10%
Employment growth rates (DataUSA 2022) 10%
Number of entry-level jobs (Indeed.com) 10%

*Public school rankings were drawn from the larger metro area when not available for the specific location.

Additional sources when information was unavailable: Glassdoor and YCharts

Georgia's Top Cities: Balancing Family Life and Career Growth