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Living in
McDonough.
About
Life in McDonough
McDonough functions primarily as a commuter town for Atlanta workers, with a 32-minute average commute and solid I-75 access that makes the trade-off worthwhile for many. Housing is moderately priced compared to closer-in Atlanta suburbs—median home values around $315,000 and rents near $1,792—though these figures reflect the broader metro trend. The job market is stable with a 3.7% unemployment rate, though most employment requires heading toward Atlanta.
McDonough at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Foreign-Born
11.1%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
+14.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.1% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in McDonough: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In McDonough, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (34.6%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.4%
of residents
65 and Older
8.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
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 29% above GA average
Rent, home values, and income in McDonough
In McDonough, rent runs 29% above the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
65.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
34.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,973
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2006
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $334,022 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above GA average
Unemployment in McDonough and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in McDonough is 0.5 percentage points higher than the GA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What McDonough 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
Commute32.5 min avg
How McDonough residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In McDonough, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 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 7% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in McDonough runs 7% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
338
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
2,664.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,767 national, 2024)
McDonough Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Henry County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Henry County, which includes McDonough, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Tornado | $116,000 |
| 2024 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $34,000 |
| 2022 | 1 | Hail | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4,000 |
| 2020 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110,000 |
| 2019 | 8 | Drought | $39,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $41,000 |
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
Henry County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Henry County, which includes McDonough, is typically good — 273 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
273
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Henry County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
McDonough has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.8"
Hot Days/Year
74
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
68
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
100
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 32°F | 5.30" |
| Feb | 59°F | 34°F | 4.47" |
| Mar | 67°F | 40°F | 5.44" |
| Apr | 76°F | 47°F | 3.82" |
| May | 83°F | 56°F | 3.31" |
| Jun | 89°F | 65°F | 4.32" |
| Jul | 92°F | 69°F | 4.43" |
| Aug | 91°F | 68°F | 4.56" |
| Sep | 85°F | 62°F | 3.73" |
| Oct | 75°F | 50°F | 3.45" |
| Nov | 64°F | 39°F | 3.65" |
| Dec | 56°F | 34°F | 4.67" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in McDonough
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside McDonough's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Wellstar Sylvan Grove Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.7 mi away · Jackson
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.
Education18.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in McDonough
McDonough's student/teacher ratio is 18.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 28.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for McDonough
McDonough has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayChattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
39 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
44 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayAndersonville National Historic Site
National Historic Site
86 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
97 mi awayJimmy Carter National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in McDonough
Mcdonough Public Library
1001 Florence Mcgarity Blvd, Mcdonough
Cities Near McDonough
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to McDonough?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
McDonough FAQ
Is McDonough, Georgia affordable?⌄
McDonough's median rent is $1,792/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $75,343/year. Median home value is $314,600.
Is McDonough, Georgia safe?⌄
McDonough's violent crime rate was 338 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is close to the national average of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2665 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in McDonough, Georgia?⌄
McDonough has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in McDonough, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in McDonough is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,792/month and median household income is $75,343/year. The median home value is $314,600. About 66% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in McDonough, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in McDonough 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