Druid Hills continues to earn recognition as one of the nation’s most desirable places to live, blending historic charm, urban convenience, and high livability.
While technically a historic in-town neighborhood (partly in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County) rather than a classic suburb, its tree-lined streets, Olmsted-designed parks, and proximity to Emory University make it a standout enclave just 4–5 miles east of downtown Atlanta.
Now, while it’s certainly a nice enclave that people want to live in, Druid Hills is not really a suburb, but we’ll take it.
Recent data from sources like Redfin, Zillow, Realtor.com, and Niche affirm its appeal, with strong (though fluctuating) home values, excellent amenities, and a highly educated resident base.
In addition to home prices, some of the factors included:
- Crime rate
- Unemployment ratio
- Property taxes
- Clinician to patient ratio
- Median Household Income: Roughly $130,000 (with average/mean higher due to affluent households; per capita income ~$75,000–$92,000). Poverty rate ~9%.
- Housing Market (as of early 2026): Median sale prices range from ~$690K–$837K depending on the source and month, with some reports showing medians around $813K in March 2026 (down ~30% YoY in one snapshot, reflecting market normalization and variability in luxury sales).
Let’s look at the numbers:
Here Are The Most Livable Cities In The USA
|
Rank |
Suburb |
City |
Population |
Median household income |
Median household income growth |
Median house price |
Median house price growth |
Overall livability score /10 |
|
1 |
Druid Hills |
Atlanta |
8,365 |
$123,405 |
31.10% |
$573,400 |
15.60% |
7.6 |
|
2 |
Falls Church |
Washington, D.C. |
14,128 |
$124,796 |
8.71% |
$757,300 |
2.06% |
7.57 |
|
3 |
Pimmit Hills |
Washington, D.C. |
6,223 |
$131,118 |
14.80% |
$612,900 |
16.60% |
7.52 |
|
4 |
Melrose |
Boston |
28,113 |
$103,743 |
11.00% |
$508,700 |
9.80% |
7.41 |
|
4 |
Pleasant Ridge |
Detroit |
2,431 |
$116,583 |
14.00% |
$332,900 |
12.50% |
7.41 |
Another metro Atlanta location makes an appearance in the statistics when it comes to real estate property values. East Point, Georgia is listed 9th when it comes to suburbs with the greatest annual home prices growth.
East Point, which is about four miles from downtown Atlanta, has some great things to do there.
You can view the full study here.
When it comes to a livable area, Atlanta’s neighborhoods have quite a few amenities to chose from. If you like food halls, there’s quite a few as well as the walking space provided by the Beltline.
Atlanta has one of the best real estate markets in the country, with affordable housing in every quadrant of the city. Large backyards, manicured parcels and strong neighborhoods with ample dining amenities make it one of the top places for transplants.
Not to mention that the city’s dining scene is the best in the Southeast. Looking for a home? Check out our Real Estate Resource Page.
Keep up with what’s going on in Atlanta’s real estate scene here with our Apartment Guide.
