No matter where you live in the United States, each state has desirable locations and places where people avoid living. Georgia is no different from anywhere else in the United States, as it has both great and terrible cities. Although where you live is a matter of personal preference, there are some indicators to look for that are a sure sign that life is not great for residents of certain locations. Some of these include safety levels and crime rates, the standard of education, and the range of amenities and activities in an area. Economic issues also play a role, as areas with high unemployment, low property values, and below-average median household incomes are unlikely to offer a high standard of living. With these factors in mind, here are the 20 worst places to live in Georgia.
20. Thomasville
Overall, Thomasville is the 12th most dangerous place to live in Georgia, hence its inclusion in this list. Property crimes are the more significant issue, as Thomasville is ranked as having the eighth-most property crimes in the state. However, it is also in the top 20 locations for violent crimes, as Thomasville has the 18th most violent crimes in Georgia. A lack of job opportunities is also an issue in this area. There are some positive elements of this location that prevent it from ranking higher. For example, there are many leisure activities to enjoy in this area, and the public schools are rated above-average.
19. Fairburn
The main reason Fairburn is on the list of the worst places to live in Georgia is that it is the 11th most dangerous place to live in the state due to its alarming crime rates. It has the 11th most violent crimes and the 15th most property crimes in Georgia. The public schools in Fairburn are also below average. On the other hand, there are plenty of things to do in the area, and the community is diverse, says Niche.
18. Clarkston
A year ago, Clarkston only just made it into the top 40 most dangerous places to live in Georgia, and it is now the tenth most dangerous place to live in the state. The dramatic rise in crime rates in Clarkston is shocking. It now has the sixth most violent crimes and the 16th most property crimes in Georgia. The public schools are also poor in this Atlanta suburb. Some of the more positive features of Clarkston are community diversity, employment opportunities, and good transport links.
17. Waynesboro
Located approximately 30 miles south of Augusta, Waynesboro is only a small town with a population of 5,387. Despite its small size, crime is a big problem in Waynesboro. It has the ninth-most property crimes and the 13th most violent crimes in the state. Although crime is problematic, there are many positive features to life in Waynesboro, including decent public schools, a diverse community, various employment opportunities, and a range of activities to enjoy in the area.
16. Bainbridge
Bainbridge is the county seat of Decatur County, and it has a population of just under 12,000. It is the fifth most dangerous place to live in Georgia in terms of violent crime, as residents have a one in 81 chance of becoming a victim of this type of crime. Bainbridge is also the tenth-worst place to live for property crimes, meaning it is the ninth-most dangerous place to live overall. The reasons that Bainbridge does not rank higher in the worst place to live is that the median home value and household income are not bad, poverty is not a significant issue, and commutability is good.
15. Morrow
Crime rates in Morrow have risen significantly over the last year, and it is now the seventh-most dangerous place to live in Georgia. While it is only the 14th most dangerous place to live for property crimes, Morrow is the most dangerous place to live for property crimes.
14. Douglasville
Douglasville is one of the many locations in Georgia that makes it onto the list based on its crime rates. This city is located about a half-hour’s drive from Atlanta, and it has a population of 34,609. The greatest problem in Douglasville is property crimes, and there were between five and six of this type of crime reported every day throughout 2019. Although the violent crime rate is not as high, rape and aggravated assault cases are high.
13. Warner Robins
Warner Robins is the second-largest city in Georgia, with a population of 76,623. It is also the fifth-most dangerous place to live in the state. Property and violent crimes are both significant issues in this city, as it has the fifth-most property crimes and the seventh-most violent crimes in Georgia. It is notable that Warner Robins third-most rape cases anywhere in the state.
12. Albany
Albany is the seat of Dougherty County and the third-largest city in Georgia, with a population of just under 80,000. It is the crime rates in Albany that mean it ranks so highly on this list of the worst places to live in Georgia. Albany is the second-worst location for violent crimes and the sixth-most dangerous for property crimes. However, life is not all bad for the residents of Albany, as it has a vast array of leisure activities to enjoy for people of all ages.
11. Americus
Not only is Americus the second-most dangerous place to live in Georgia, but it is also the place in the state where women are most likely to get raped. Furthermore, Americus has the fourth-worst murder rates and the third-highest burglary rates in Georgia. Sadly, crime rates are increasing. Crime is not the only issue, as the schools are poor, job opportunities are limited, and there is a lack of family-oriented activities. On the other side of the coin, the community is diverse, the nightlife is vibrant, and the transport links are good.
10. Thomaston
The public schools in Thomaston are underfunded and overcrowded, which are big concerns for families considering moving to the area. Poor education is just one of the indicators of a weak economy in Thomaston. The unemployment rate of 13.7 percent is the 10th worst in the state, and those who do work have a median household income of under $25,000. It is also worth noting that Thomaston is the fourth-worst place to live in Georgia for women. The only plus side for Thomaston is that it does not rank in the top 20 for the most dangerous places to live.
9. Cordele
Cordele’s main problem is its economy, and a significant proportion of its residents are living below the poverty line. It is hardly surprising when the unemployment rate of 14.8 percent is taken into account. At $82,600, Cordele’s median home value is the eighth-worst in Georgia, which indicates a lack of demand for housing in the area. Cordele also has the third-lowest median household income. It is worse for the female residents of Cordele, who only earn $0.68 for every male dollar earned, and 49.3 percent of women in this city live in poverty. On the plus side, Cordele is not in the top 20 for crime rates. It ranks 24th for violent crime and 25th for property crime.
8. Eastman
Unemployment is a massive issue in Eastman, which has a population of 5,209 residents. Currently, 16.9 percent of the population is unemployed, which ranks it as the second-highest location for unemployment in the state. As it is only a small town, it is perhaps a lack of employment opportunities in the town and within a commutable distance that is contributing to the unemployment issue. Those that live in this location may feel that their biggest problem is a lack of amenities and leisure activities, as there is very little for the residents to enjoy in their hometown.
7. College Park
It is hardly surprising that College Park is in the top ten worst places to live in Georgia, as it has the highest crime rates and is ranked as the most dangerous place to live in the state, according to Road Snacks. It is the most dangerous for violent crimes and the second-most dangerous place to live in terms of property crimes. Unemployment is also high in College Park, at 10.2 percent. On the other hand, the median home value is reasonable, and the median household income is not depressing.
6. Brunswick
Brunswick is a city of two halves, as some people in Brunswick seem to enjoy an affluent and enjoyable lifestyle, while the other half are living below the poverty line. Although the median household income is not the worst in the state, 8.3 percent of Brunswick residents are unemployed. Regardless of the financial standing of the residents, Brunswick still has a high crime rate. Property crime is a bigger problem than violent crime in this area.
5. Cedartown
Although Cedartown does not rank in the top 20 for the most dangerous places to live, crime is still an issue in this city. However, there are bigger problems for the residents of Cedartown. It is the sixth-worst location for both median household income and median home value, which are both signs of economic issues in the area. It also has the fourth-highest high school drop out rate in Georgia. The unemployment rate is also higher than the state average, at 8.2 percent.
4. Forest Park
Forest Park is the fifth-most dangerous place to live in Georgia, as it has the fourth-most violent crime rate and the seventh-highest property crime rate in the state. However, it ranks even higher on the list of the worst places to live in Georgia as there are other factors that mean Forest Park is an undesirable location. At $63,000, Forest Park has the worst median home value in the state, which shows a lack of demand in the housing market. Residents of the city also have a low median household income, and 11.3 percent of the city’s population is unemployed. Another problem is the lack of leisure facilities in the area, which means that the overall standard of living is not great.
3. Moultrie
Economic issues are the greatest concern for residents living in Moultrie, which has a population of just over 14,000 people. Not only do they have the fifth-lowest median household income, but the median home value is also the 12th lowest in the state. Women have it worse than men in this city, as their income is significantly lower, and a whopping 37.4 percent of women in Moultrie are living in poverty, says Zippia.
2. Monroe
Based only on crime rates, Monroe would rank in the 16th position on the list, as it has the 20th most property crimes and the ninth most violent crimes. However, there are other factors that have made this an undesirable location. The median household income is one of the lowest in the state, and the unemployment rate is high at 11.8 percent. Those who have jobs may face a long commute to their place of employment, which is a further negative aspect of life in Monroe.
1. Swainsboro
According to Road Snacks, the worst place to live in Georgia is Swainsboro. Although property crimes are high in the area, there are other issues that have put this location at the top of the list. Swainsboro is only a small town with a population of just over 7,000 people, but there are a lot of people out of work. Currently, 11.4 percent of people are out of work, and those in work have a median household income of only $24,000. Therefore, there are many people below or on the poverty line. Furthermore, Swainsboro is in the middle of nowhere, so job opportunities, commutability, and leisure activities are all weak areas for this location.
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