What it's like to live in College Park
College Park is a small city in Georgia with rent below the national average, county unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. College Park deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
How College Park compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to College Park
Based on College Park's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,414
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,280 a year
- 52% of College Park renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$65,160
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $32,580
- Homes cost 6.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 15% below US
$1,207/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,207 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $325,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $325,800 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Fulton County is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Fulton County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 295% above US
1302 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 6372/100k · College Park Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% take public transit; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 20% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (10 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
College Park's strongest points are rent below the national average and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,207/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near College Park
All Georgia guides →Moving to East Point →
2 mi away · pop. 38,335
Rent $1,364/mo · Income $68,598
Compare with College Park →Moving to Riverdale →
6 mi away · pop. 14,792
Rent $1,360/mo · Income $63,455
Compare with College Park →Moving to Forest Park →
6 mi away · pop. 19,504
Rent $1,189/mo · Income $41,211
Compare with College Park →Moving to Union City →
6 mi away · pop. 27,728
Rent $1,330/mo · Income $49,549
Compare with College Park →Not sure College Park is the one?
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