What it's like to live in Villa Rica
Villa Rica is a small city in Georgia with home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, a population that has grown fast since 2020, 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. Villa Rica deals with commute times longer than most cities, above-average rainfall, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Above-average commute times
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Villa Rica compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Villa Rica
Based on Villa Rica's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,094
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,880 a year
- 32% of Villa Rica renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$54,840
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,420
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,547/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,547 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $274,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $274,200 · 32% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Carroll County is 3.3%, 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.
Carroll County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 29% below US
235 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1212/100k · Villa Rica Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 31% above US
34 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 34 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. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°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
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 21% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. 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. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (24 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Villa Rica's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are commute times longer than most cities and above-average rainfall. A year of median rent ($1,547/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low) and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Villa Rica
All Georgia guides →Moving to Douglasville →
12 mi away · pop. 37,536
Rent $1,582/mo · Income $79,107
Compare with Villa Rica →Moving to Carrollton →
14 mi away · pop. 27,392
Rent $1,089/mo · Income $54,379
Compare with Villa Rica →Moving to Lithia Springs →
15 mi away · pop. 16,875
Rent $1,402/mo · Income $62,417
Compare with Villa Rica →Not sure Villa Rica is the one?
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