© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Decatur.
About
Life in Decatur
Decatur is a community of 24,470 people in Georgia. The median household income is $140,480, median rent runs about $1,655 per month, and median home values are around $701,400. Unemployment is low at 3.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Decatur at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Foreign-Born
8.4%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
+1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.4% foreign-born, most often from Ethiopia
Who lives in Decatur: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Decatur, the largest foreign-born group is from Ethiopia (11.5%), and 5.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.9%
of households
Married Couples
52.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
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 19% above GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Decatur
In Decatur, rent runs 19% above the GA average, and home values are 131% above the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,295
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $277,179 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for GA
Unemployment in Decatur and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Decatur is close to the GA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Decatur 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
Commute25.9 min avg
How Decatur residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Decatur, most residents drive alone to work (47%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 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 60% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Decatur runs 60% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
131.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,886.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Decatur 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 Decatur, 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
Decatur 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 Decatur, 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
Decatur 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
Decatur 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
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Decatur
Uninsured
3.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Decatur's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Emory Decatur Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 1.6 mi away · Decatur
Emory University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Atlanta
Decatur (atlanta) VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Decatur
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.
Education12.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Decatur
Decatur's student/teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 76.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
76.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Decatur
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 836 students · in-state tuition $52,552 · 75% graduate · median earnings $60,457 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 516 students · in-state tuition $15,992 · 21% graduate · median earnings $51,716 (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
5.7 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
5.3 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 Decatur
Decatur has 8 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
16 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
21 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
76 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
88 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
99 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Decatur
Decatur Library
215 Sycamore St, Decatur
Cities Near Decatur
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Decatur?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Decatur FAQ
Is Decatur, Georgia affordable?⌄
Decatur's median rent is $1,655/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $139,397/year. Median home value is $701,400.
Is Decatur, Georgia safe?⌄
Decatur's violent crime rate was 131 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1887 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Decatur, Georgia?⌄
Decatur has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Decatur, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Decatur is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,655/month and median household income is $139,397/year. The median home value is $701,400. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Decatur, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Decatur is 26 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