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Living in
Candler-McAfee.
Candler-McAfee is an unincorporated community in DeKalb County, GA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Candler-McAfee
This east Atlanta neighborhood sits about 10 miles from downtown, giving you that sweet spot of being close enough to the city without feeling like you're in the thick of it—though you should expect a 35-minute commute during rush hour if you're heading downtown for work. The median home price hovers around $259,300 with median rent at $1,498 a month, which is reasonable for the metro area, and the job market is solid with a 3.6% unemployment rate, so finding work isn't typically the barrier it is in some neighborhoods. The community itself is diverse and mature, with a median age around 40 and a population of about 21,000 people; it's the kind of place where you'll find established families, single parents, and empty nesters all mixed together rather than one demographic dominating.
Candler-McAfee at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.7%
Foreign-Born
5.9%
Broadband Internet
89.2%
of households
Population Growth
-11.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Candler-McAfee: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Candler-McAfee, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (37.0%), and 3.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.7%
of residents
65 and Older
24.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.8%
of households
Married Couples
29.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.62
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 8% above GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Candler-McAfee
In Candler-McAfee, rent runs 8% above the GA average, and home values are 15% below the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,174
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
21.6%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for GA
Unemployment in Candler-McAfee and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in DeKalb County, which includes Candler-McAfee, is close to the GA average.
Unemployment rate
Candler-McAfee: DeKalb County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
DeKalb County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Candler-McAfee is about 3% of DeKalb County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Candler-McAfee 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
Commute32.8 min avg
How Candler-McAfee residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Candler-McAfee, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 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 118% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the DeKalb County Police Department, which covers Candler-McAfee, runs 118% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
716.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,351.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by DeKalb County Police Department (county-wide rate)
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 Candler-McAfee, 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
Candler-McAfee is about 3% of DeKalb County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in DeKalb County, which includes Candler-McAfee, 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
Candler-McAfee is about 3% of DeKalb County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Candler-McAfee 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
53.2"
Annual Snowfall
2.2"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Candler-McAfee
Uninsured
12.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Candler-McAfee's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Georgia Regional Hospital Atlanta
Psychiatric · 2.4 mi away · Decatur
Emory Decatur Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.1 mi away · Decatur
Emory University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Candler-McAfee
Candler-McAfee's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Candler-McAfee (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 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
6.1 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, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Candler-McAfee
Candler-McAfee has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayChattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
18 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
23 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
73 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
90 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Candler-McAfee
Scott Candler Branch
1917 Candler Road, Decatur
Cities Near Candler-McAfee
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Candler-McAfee?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Candler-McAfee FAQ
Is Candler-McAfee, Georgia affordable?⌄
Candler-McAfee's median rent is $1,498/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $64,699/year. Median home value is $259,300.
Is Candler-McAfee, Georgia safe?⌄
Candler-McAfee is policed by the DeKalb County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 716 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3351 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Candler-McAfee, Georgia?⌄
DeKalb County, which includes Candler-McAfee, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Candler-McAfee, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Candler-McAfee is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,498/month and median household income is $64,699/year. The median home value is $259,300. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Candler-McAfee, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Candler-McAfee is 33 minutes, which is longer than 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