The Peach State’s capital is made up of transplants who have been magnetized to Atlanta for its booming economic environment, warm climate, and relatively low cost of living. New grads have picked up the scent and are heading to the Dirty South in droves. Here are the best neighborhoods for recent graduates to stake out a spot in Atlanta.
- Midtown
- West Midtown (The Westside)
- Virginia Highland
- Old Fourth Ward
- Cabbagetown
- Inman Park
- Downtown
- Buckhead
Midtown
Just a few minutes by foot, car, or train from the Downtown business district, Midtown is for the recent grad who enjoys the energy of city living. Location and entertainment options make Midtown one of the most popular spots in Atlanta for renters, whether you’re into nature or the arts. Piedmont Park–Atlanta’s version of Central Park– boasts green, leafy trails, a lake, and ample green space to play a game of pickup or picnic on the weekends. Peachtree Street (one of the many, you’ll come to find) is home to several bars, renowned restaurants, big-name shops, a few performing arts theaters, and the world’s largest drive-in, the iconic Varsity.
The large neighborhood was once the hub of Atlanta’s LGBT community and remains a vibrant arts mecca. In Midtown, you’ll have your choice of high-rises, condos, apartments, and houses, priced to be near the action.
West Midtown (The Westside)
The West Side (aka West Midtown) encompasses several neighborhoods and districts just west of Midtown, with convenient access to Downtown. Once an industrial area, The Westside has experienced a comeback with an explosion of recent development. This hip hood has a unique retail district with trendy shops, a vibrant nightlife with great bars, upscale dining (including two top Zagat-rated restaurants), and cool music venues.
The bustling Intown commercial area is also a well-known art district, hosting the monthly Westside Arts District Art Walk at local galleries and its four arts centers: the Goat Farm Arts Center, Westside Cultural Arts Center, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center and King Plow Arts Center. The Westside Provisions District serves as the area’s retail, restaurant, and residential complex. The name of the game in this former meatpacking district is craftsmanship: Here, you’ll find artisan furniture, paper goods, bread and cheese, ice cream, and even burgers.
What used to be industrial is now residential: warehouses and factories have been converted into lofts and condos. For a more non-utilitarian esthetic, there’s also luxe high-rise and mid-rise condos and apartments. If you’re looking to work in tech startups, the companies in West Midtown’s ultra-modern office buildings await.
Virginia Highland
Virginia Highland (aka The Highlands, aka Va-Hi) is an east Atlanta neighborhood just two miles away from Midtown, perfect for those who work at Midtown behemoths such as UPS, AT&T, and Emory University. Young professionals flock to this Intown area because it’s close enough to the action while maintaining a quieter small-town, slower-paced vibe. That’s not to say there’s nothing to do.
Named for the Virginia and Highland Avenue intersection it’s based around, Va-Hi has many sidewalk cafes, popular bars, upscale restaurants with patios, shops, and spas. The neighborhood hosts an art and food festival, the Virginia Highland Summerfest, each year in June. Close to Atlanta’s popular BeltLine green space, the tree-lined streets are highly walkable, especially compared to other parts of the city. The Highlands are full of bungalow homes and historic Victorian and colonial-style architecture, but there are plenty of townhouses, condos, and apartment complexes for all budgets.
Old Fourth Ward
Appropriately named, Old Fourth Ward is one of the oldest sections of Atlanta. Known to locals as O4W, the former industrial area has seen some major redevelopment over the past 20 years and is now one of Intown’s most popular neighborhoods. Attracting those in search of an active, artsy lifestyle, the trendy hub is a hive for foodies and shoppers.
The historic 1920s Sears, Roebuck & Co., building was converted into Ponce City Market. This large popular market is full of hip eateries, indie fashion, trendy bars, restaurants, shops, and a rooftop that features a bar, restaurant, and entertainment. The bar and restaurant district, Edgewood Avenue, connects the Old Fourth Ward to downtown and Inman Park. It’s home to eclectic nightspots like Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium, Cafe Circa, and the Sound Table.
Running along O4W’s eastern border, The BeltLine’s Eastside Trail turned the old rail corridor into green space with a trail for walking and cycling. The area’s diverse architecture includes fixer-uppers, already restored homes, 1920s bungalows, and Craftsman-style houses among O4W’s preserved historic buildings. For the more modern renter, there are a plethora of contemporary apartment buildings and industrial-style lofts, too.
Cabbagetown
If you can get over telling people you live in Cabbagetown, you might save a buck or two. Just south of Old Fourth Ward, this east side neighborhood offers more affordable housing than those near the city’s center. In the late 1880s, the area built up around a textile-processing mill and was home to many millworkers (mainly of Scots-Irish descent) and their families. Apparently, they cooked so much cabbage that the name stuck. After the mill closed in 1977, the area fell into disrepair, but recent developments have made this emerging arts district a favorite among musicians and creatives.
Now, the area around Wylie and Carroll Streets is home to cozy eateries, boutiques, and art galleries. A big part of the tiny, hip neighborhood’s culture is street art: tags, graffiti, and murals embrace the community’s colorful spirit. Tucked beneath rail tracks, The Krog Street Tunnel connects Cabbagetown to Inman Park and acts as a living canvass for local street artists. Cabbagetown’s narrow streets are lined with colorful, charming architecture, including 1800s mill cottages with double-height porches and almost neon-hued shotgun homes.
Inman Park
Atlanta’s first planned suburb re-emerged in popularity recently when the Eastside BeltLine was completed; connecting the area to shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. Foodies flock to the Krog Street Market that occupies a 1920’s warehouse in the heart of Inman Park. The local gathering place offers artisan baked goods, local produce, and prepared food alongside southern-grown restaurants and retailers. It’s also next door neighbors with Little Five Points, an eclectic place to people watch or shop for vintage clothes.
The BeltLine isn’t the leafy area’s only green space: Inman Park is also home to Springvale Park. Here again, you get what you pay for. Rent may be higher than the city average because you’re paying for proximity to amenities.
Downtown
Downtown was once considered strictly a commercial district, but now people actually live there. New apartment buildings have attracted inhabitants looking to be close to work as well as some of Atlanta’s biggest tourist attractions. On the downside, being in the mix of it all will cost you a pretty penny.
Buckhead
Historically ritzy and upscale, this bougie uptown neighborhood is known by some as the “Beverly Hills” of Atlanta. The coveted and affluent area a few miles north of downtown is popular with recent college grads and young professionals for its chic, upscale shopping, dining, and nightlife. Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza anchor the fashion center, with hundreds of boutiques and shopping outlets. Many fine dining establishments and gourmet bistros, like King + Duke, make Buckhead a foodie haven, as well.
This area is easily one of Atlanta’s trendiest neighborhoods, with both the Havana Club (a Buckhead nightlife fixture since ‘96) and Moondogs, a late-night watering hole offering all your favorites: karaoke, pool, darts, DJ music, beer pong, and flip cup. Extroverts who enjoy luxurious living will be right at home in Buckhead. Of course, rent in the area’s well-appointed apartment complexes comes with its own hefty price tag, which may be out of reach for some recent graduates.
Putting up with the pollen count and the traffic is a small price to pay for living in A-Town. Search thousands of apartments on Zumper and find the one for you; your new city awaits.
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