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Living in
Brookhaven.
About
Life in Brookhaven
If you're considering moving to Brookhaven, you're looking at a solidly affluent northeastern Atlanta suburb with a median household income around $117,000 and a median home value of $692,700—prices that reflect the area's desirability but won't surprise anyone familiar with metro Atlanta's market. The job market is strong with a 2.5% unemployment rate, and commutes average about 24 minutes, though that depends heavily on where you're working and which routes you take during rush hour. What makes Brookhaven distinctive is its genuine diversity: the Buford Highway corridor in particular has become a vibrant hub for Hispanic, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities, with restaurants and businesses catering to multiple cultures.
Brookhaven at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
21.1%
Broadband Internet
96.5%
of households
Population Growth
+5.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Brookhaven: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brookhaven, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.2%), and 18.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
10.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.9%
of households
Married Couples
38.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 35% above GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Brookhaven
In Brookhaven, rent runs 35% above the GA average, and home values are 128% above the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,537
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $742,959 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below GA average
Unemployment in Brookhaven and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Brookhaven is 0.9 percentage points lower than the GA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Brookhaven Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area
Commute25.1 min avg
How Brookhaven residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brookhaven, most residents drive alone to work (56%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 20% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brookhaven runs 20% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
264.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,993.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brookhaven Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
DeKalb County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In DeKalb County, which includes Brookhaven, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $417,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | Flash Flood | $4.1M |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $367,000 |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $83,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $55,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
DeKalb County, county-wide
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in DeKalb County, which includes Brookhaven, is typically good — 213 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
213
per year
Moderate Days
152
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
DeKalb County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brookhaven has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.5"
Hot Days/Year
53
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
49
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 33°F | 4.57" |
| Feb | 56°F | 36°F | 4.47" |
| Mar | 64°F | 42°F | 4.70" |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 3.87" |
| May | 80°F | 59°F | 3.83" |
| Jun | 86°F | 66°F | 4.69" |
| Jul | 89°F | 70°F | 4.71" |
| Aug | 88°F | 69°F | 4.51" |
| Sep | 83°F | 63°F | 4.12" |
| Oct | 73°F | 51°F | 3.39" |
| Nov | 63°F | 41°F | 4.21" |
| Dec | 54°F | 36°F | 4.36" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brookhaven
Brookhaven has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
13.4%
of residents
Athur M Blank Hospital
Childrens · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Atlanta
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
Childrens · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Atlanta
Northside Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Atlanta
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brookhaven
Brookhaven's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 70.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
70.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Brookhaven
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,352 students · in-state tuition $49,430 · 53% graduate · median earnings $60,002 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 26,623 students · in-state tuition $8,664 · 56% graduate · median earnings $51,903 (10 yrs after entry)
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
7.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 18,785 students · in-state tuition $12,008 · 93% graduate · median earnings $114,210 (10 yrs after entry)
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
8.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 13,693 students · in-state tuition $3,200 · 24% graduate · median earnings $51,903 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,298 students · in-state tuition $68,056 · 93% graduate · median earnings $93,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,603 students · in-state tuition $30,270 · 45% graduate · median earnings $46,867 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,414 students · in-state tuition $32,470 · 76% graduate · median earnings $65,773 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brookhaven
Brookhaven has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayChattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
9 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
16 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
83 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
83 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
92 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brookhaven
Brookhaven Branch
1242 N. Druid Hills Rd, Atlanta
Cities Near Brookhaven
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brookhaven?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brookhaven FAQ
Is Brookhaven, Georgia affordable?⌄
Brookhaven's median rent is $1,882/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $117,663/year. Median home value is $692,700.
Is Brookhaven, Georgia safe?⌄
Brookhaven's violent crime rate was 265 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1994 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brookhaven, Georgia?⌄
Brookhaven has an unemployment rate of 2.5%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brookhaven, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Brookhaven is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,882/month and median household income is $117,663/year. The median home value is $692,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brookhaven, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Brookhaven is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from