What it's like to live in McDonough
McDonough is a small city in Georgia with a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. McDonough deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How McDonough compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to McDonough
Based on McDonough's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,584
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,680 a year
- 66% of McDonough renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$62,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,460
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 27% above US
$1,792/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,792 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $314,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $314,600 · 66% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
338 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2665/100k · McDonough Police Department · 2024 data
Getting around▲ 25% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.5 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 21% 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
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, 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 (25 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
McDonough's strongest point is a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,792/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, people who dread long commutes, and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near McDonough
All Georgia guides →Moving to Stockbridge →
8 mi away · pop. 35,737
Rent $1,494/mo · Income $70,136
Compare with McDonough →Moving to Stonecrest →
17 mi away · pop. 60,501
Rent $1,601/mo · Income $64,591
Compare with McDonough →Not sure McDonough is the one?
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