Why Johns Creek, Georgia, Is the Best Place to Live in 2025-2026

Just north of Atlanta, Johns Creek is the kind of place where tree-lined streets, a strong sense of community and a high quality of life come together to make it one of the nation’s most desirable places to call home.

Skylar Topper, an Atlanta real estate agent with Compass, was born and raised in Johns Creek and still calls it home today. She says what sets Johns Creek apart from other Atlanta suburbs is its ability to offer something for everyone.

“We have upscale shopping, restaurants and easy access to many highways,” Topper says. “It's very idyllic. Growing up here, we kind of called it like a little bit of a bubble because it's such a good place to live. It’s always been a pretty desirable area.”

The 10th-largest city in Georgia earned the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live 2025-2026 ranking, edging out Carmel, Indiana, and Pearland, Texas.

U.S. News’ analysis evaluates data related to the quality of life, desirability, job market and affordability of 859 U.S. cities. The factors include crime rates, cost of living, job market, net migration, climate, quality of education and more.

While other factors – such as personal preferences, proximity to family and friends, phase of life and career opportunities in a given field – certainly influence where Americans choose to call home, U.S. News considered data that can contribute to making a city a good place to live.

Johns Creek performed well in the quality of life (No. 24) and job market (No. 13) indexes, and it placed in the top quarter for desirability (No. 110). This combination propelled it to the top of the list. The city also ranked highly in several individual metrics that contributed to its overall score, including No. 1 for its low crime rate and No. 13 for college readiness.

Higher Value of Living

Cost of living is a big factor when determining where to live. Johns Creek may not be the most affordable city, but it did place No. 46 for housing affordability. The national average home value is $370,489, while the median home price in Johns Creek is $528,234.

This is more than the national average, but still affordable when you compare it to other competitive markets in metro Atlanta, especially considering the area's top-rated schools, low crime rates and high quality of life. The city's median household income of $163,653 is more than twice the national average of $79,466.

“The area is relatively affordable compared to surrounding cities such as Suwanee and Alpharetta, being a little more expensive than areas such as Duluth,” says Ashley Lazarian, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners in the north metro Atlanta area.

Lazarian notes that Johns Creek lacks some of the urban amenities you see in other Georgia microcities, but that’s changing.

“Johns Creek officials stepped up and are in the midst of a huge project, Medley, that I think is going to be a great addition to the area,” Lazarian says. Medley is a mixed-use, day-to-night destination currently under construction. “It will be similar to Alpharetta's Avalon, which draws a ton of people,” she adds.

It's not the only development under construction.

“One of the most exciting developments in the City is the future Town Center area, a 192-acre district in the heart of the City which is rapidly becoming a focal point for growth and economic development,” Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry wrote in an email. “With strong support from the private and public sectors, the Town Center area will include a vibrant mix of residential, office, retail, entertainment and outdoor space.”

Convenient Location

If you need to commute to Atlanta or catch a flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Johns Creek is only about 25 miles away from downtown.

“I would say my favorite thing about Johns Creek is the location and the community. The location is top-notch, being right in the middle of so many great cities like Alpharetta, Suwanee and Duluth,” Lazarian says. “It's also located right on (State Route) 141, which will take you straight into the city without having to hit the highway if you need to commute in or get to the airport.”

A Diverse Community in an Established Area

Johns Creek is one of the most diverse cities in Georgia, Bradberry wrote. "This is reflected in its restaurants, multiple cultural events and inclusive community atmosphere.”

Approximately 78,937 people call Johns Creek home, and 46.2% of the population is non-white, according to the city's website. It’s also an established area with mature trees, larger lots and older homes.

“It is a very established area with a very diverse community. I think culture really draws people as well,” Lazarian says. “Since it is more established, there are some older homes, which means you can get a little more home and lot size compared to the new construction options of today.”

Johns Creek was officially incorporated in 2006, and Lynn Pennington, past president of Johns Creek Beautification and co-chair of the ArtSpot Committee, says there’s still a collective enthusiasm about what type of city it should be. According to Pennington, Johns Creek has several high-performing public high schools and has focused on creating a community that is family-friendly by acquiring park land with recreation potential, building better sidewalks, sponsoring festivals and outdoor concerts and films.

“It may be a Southern thing, but people are very friendly here. This welcoming presence, along with available employment within driving distance for its well-educated residents, has resulted in a culturally diverse population,” Pennington says. “Johns Creek is developing a strong sense of community and many residents are getting involved to make our city even better than it currently is.”

An Abundance of Activities

Johns Creek is a young community, having become a municipality when it was incorporated on Dec. 1, 2006. However, its roots date back to the early 19th century, when trading posts were established along the Chattahoochee River in what was then Cherokee territory.

Today, the city offers an abundance of recreational opportunities, including extensive park systems that encompass more than 400 acres across nine parks.

According to Topper, there’s something for every type of lifestyle. “We’re along the Chattahoochee River, so we have a lot of really cool parks that allow you to walk along the river,” she explains. “A lot of these parks have pickleball courts, tennis ball courts and beach volleyball courts.”

Residents can take advantage of the pleasant weather to experience those parks: Johns Creek has an average winter temperature of 48 degrees, while fall and spring temperatures are generally in the low 60s and summer weather hovers around 78 degrees.

Johns Creek boasts a highly accomplished professional symphony orchestra, and the city has also invested in the arts. “We have an art center in the city that serves residents of all ages with classes, activities and camps. I've been enrolled in pottery classes since I retired several years ago, and my time spent at The Art Center at Johns Creek is precious to me,” Pennington says.

Job Opportunities

While there may not be as many job opportunities in Johns Creek as downtown Atlanta, the city is pro-business, Bradberry said, and still has plenty of job opportunities. Johns Creek ranked No. 13 for its healthy job market.

“Johns Creek is home to many large employers as well as many smaller local and family-owned businesses,” Bradberry said. Some of the most notable employers include Alcon, Boston Scientific, Emory Johns Creek Hospital and Macy’s Technology.

Topper also pointed out that people are moving to Johns Creek from all over the country to work for these companies.

The city also boasts a low unemployment rate of just 1.7%, outperforming the state of Georgia (3.6%) and the national average of 4.2%.

Nationally Recognized Public School System

Led by its first-rate public schools, the city took the No. 13 spot for college readiness, which isn’t a surprise considering the Johns Creek public school system is nationally recognized, particularly for its STEM education.

“The public schools in Johns Creek are not only the backbone of our community, but they are one of the main reasons people choose to live here to raise their families and educate their children,” Bradberry said. “Johns Creek students consistently rank at the top of national test scores and excel in all walks of school life: academic, athletic and extracurricular.”

Johns Creek High School was nationally ranked in U.S. News' Best High Schools, named No. 20 in Georgia high schools, No. 13 in Atlanta metro area high schools and No. 3 in Fulton County Schools High Schools. Northview High School in nearby Duluth was also nationally ranked, as was Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta.

“I have a 1-year-old and he's not even in school yet," Topper says. "But for us, it was kind of a natural progression to move up to Johns Creek from living in the city because we wanted to start immersing ourselves in the lifestyle that it offers, where we can walk all around as a family and already be in the school districts that we know will want to be in when he goes to kindergarten in four years."

Health Care Availability

Emory Johns Creek Hospital – ranked No. 8 in Georgia and No. 7 in Atlanta by U.S. News – provides residents with top-tier medical care. In addition to a highly rated hospital, the area offers plenty of urgent care centers, specialists and wellness providers, making it easy to access care when you need it. Johns Creek ranked in the top 30% of 859 cities for health care availability.

Low Crime Rate

Johns Creek is the safest place to live in the U.S., ranking No. 1 in the Best Places to Live crime subcategory.

“The City of Johns Creek has been consistently recognized as one of the safest cities in Georgia and the U.S.,” Bradberry wrote. “The Johns Creek Police Department and Fire Department operate 24/7 to keep the residents, visitors and businesses within the city safe and secure.”

The safety and home security research group SafeWise named Johns Creek the No. 5 safest city in Georgia in 2025, and it took the No. 2 spot for the safest city in America in 2024.

“We feel kind of like lucky to live here, because you feel safe and you feel like you have the best hospital, you have the best schools, you have great public works, great parks and all of that,” Topper says. “It really is like your quintessential American suburb.”