8 Best Places to Live In Macon-Bibb County

Positioned in Georgia’s center, Macon-Bibb County is a popular stop for those traveling on I-75 or jumping on I-16 into South Carolina. While many pass through, the secret is Macon is a great place to live. People come for the opportunities like higher education and the job market. They stay to enjoy access to nature while still having modern amenities like big brand stores, dining venues, and town events.

If you’re interested in moving to Macon or the surrounding Bibb County, our profile of the best areas to live will help guide your home search.

Why people live in Bibb County, GA

Macon is the main urban hub in Bibb County and central Georgia. It has several colleges and universities like Macon State, Wesleyan, Central Georgia Technical, Helms, and Mercer University. The concentration of higher education institutions lends Macon a college-town feel.

Bibb County is far enough away from Atlanta to not be significantly impacted by its traffic, crime rate, and urban sprawl. Still, it’s close enough to day trip, use the Atlanta International Airport, or enjoy the large-scale events a major metro like Atlanta can host.

Macon has several interesting cultural attractions, including the Tubman Museum, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, and Allman Brothers Band Museum. A music tradition runs deep in Macon, which was home to Capricorn Records. The modern city still has several music venues and events, like the Big Bird Dash.

Bibb County has excellent public schools, partly bolstered by the concentration of education talent. The Bibb County School District serves the county’s approximately 22,000 students. There are 21 elementary, six middle, six high, and six charter or specialty schools. The Georgia Academy for the Blind is based in Macon.

Many outdoor recreation options are available, whether you like to hike, fish, or bike. Inside Macon are several large parks: Central City Park, Riverside Park, and Amerson River Park. Lake Tobesofkee awaits a 15-minute drive out of town and is surrounded by public beaches and recreation areas. Four golf courses are inside the county, with two more just outside its borders.

The real estate market in Central Georgia is very affordable. The median home price in Bibb County was $165,500 in June 2022, with over 1,100 homes for sale. Home prices ranged up to $2.8 million.

Where to live in Macon-Bibb County, GA

Several towns and neighborhoods in Macon-Bibb County offer various real estate options. Find your Georgia homestead or live in a downtown townhouse near the Main Street hub.

Some of the best places to live in Macon and Bibb County include:

Downtown Macon

Downtown Macon is the perfect place to live for those who want to be in the heart of the action. Downtown begins against the Ocmulgee River and moves into town along Broadway.

Addison Tinsley Park, Turpin Park, and Hollingworth Park are historic green spaces in the town center. Living here, you have plenty of dining and entertainment options, from local breweries to bars to specialty tea shops. Locals have easy access to public transportation.

Downtown Macon is the home of many historical landmarks and museums. Walk to attractions like the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, The Douglas Theatre, the Hay House, and the Tubman Museum.

The median list price for downtown Macon in June 2022 was $425,000, with seven homes for sale. You’ll find historic homes, revamped loft spaces, and apartment living.

College Hill

Macon’s College Hill neighborhood is adjacent to downtown and gets its name from Mercer University, a private liberal arts college. The Macon campus enrolls over 8,000 students.

The area is filled with beautiful, historic homes that have been converted into apartments and rental properties for students and young professionals. You’ll find a mix of owner-occupied and rental properties in the area.

The College Hill Corridor is a designated National Register Historic District with over 1,000 contributing properties. The two-square-mile area is undergoing a revitalization that seeks to preserve its character while attracting businesses. The Macon Coliseum, Macon City Auditorium, and Terminal Station are located here.

Being this close to the college, you’ll find many dining and nightlife options. The community has several parks, including Macon Dog Park and Tattnall Square Park.

The median list price was $338,000 in June 2022, with 12 homes for sale ranging from $16.5K to $2.1 million.

Ingleside Historic District

The Ingleside Historic District is just west of downtown Macon. It was developed in the early 1900s as a streetcar suburb. The area has been well-preserved, and many of its historic homes remain.

The Ingleside neighborhood is one of Macon’s most desirable places because of its lower cost of living and historic feel. It’s centrally located and close to all the amenities of downtown.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The boundaries are roughly Oglethorpe Street, Houston Avenue, Anthony Road, and Rose Hill Cemetery.

The median list price was $275,000 in June 2022, with 15 homes for sale. Prices ranged from $139,900 to $1.3 million.

Wesleyan Woods

Wesleyan Woods is a small, affluent neighborhood located just outside Macon. Residents live minutes from Wesleyan College and the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Tattnall Square Academy is a private school located inside the community. It’s an excellent place to live if you want a quiet and peaceful setting while still being close to the city.

Enjoy easy access to all the amenities Macon offers, including shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Macon Mall is just a short drive away.

The neighborhood is made up of large, executive-style homes on spacious lots.

Payne

Payne is a small, historic neighborhood located just north of downtown Macon. It’s one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods and was once a separate town. Macon annexed the town in 2015. The central Freedom Park remains a gathering place.

Payne is conveniently located to amenities like The Allman Brothers Band Museum, downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Georgia Academy for the Blind is along Vineville Ave near Freedom Park.

The area has small, affordable homes. It’s a great place to live if you’re looking for an affordable starter home or investment property.

The median list price was $145,000 in June 2022, with 186 homes for sale in the greater Payne area. Prices ranged up to $1.3 million.

East Macon

East Macon is a large rural-feeling unincorporated area located east of downtown Macon. It’s beside the Macon Downtown Airport and convenient to Lakeside Park and the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.

The East Macon Historic District is a concentrated area near the Ocmulgee Mounds, with homes ranging from $7,000 to $295,000. Efforts are underway to revitalize the district as an Arts Village.

It’s a racially and economically diverse area with a mix of owner-occupied and rental properties. Architectural styles vary, with Neoclassical Revival, Craftsman, Italianate, and Folk Victorian present.

Vineville

Vineville is a historic neighborhood located just north of downtown Macon. It was developed in the late 1800s as an area with plantation estates and farms well outside Macon limits. These were divided in the early 1900s as the growing suburb was laid out. The area has been well-preserved, and many historic homes remain with their bungalow and cottage character.

The Vineville Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. The neighborhood is conveniently located in midtown Macon, minutes from downtown and Ingleside Village, with picturesque tree-lined streets and architecturally fascinating homes.

Within its boundaries are Plantation Plain, Victorian, Neoclassical, Bungalow, and various other notable architectural styles.

Whispering Pines

Whispering Pines is a beautiful 35-acre neighborhood that offers residents a suburban feel while still being close to the amenities of Macon. It was awarded the 2021 Community of the Year award by Meybohm.

This newer community rests along the shores of Lake Wildwood, a man-made lake where locals can fish, paddleboard, and swim. The entire development was built with the topography, giving the streets a rolling, winding park-life feel.

Whispering Pines has a 3.5-acre park with a community playground, 10-foot fire pit, sidewalks, picnic area, baseball, and 6.2 miles of hidden walking trails to enjoy year-round. That’s in addition to the community gardens and pocket parks scattered around the different phases of development.

Home prices started in the $300s and went to the $400s in 2022.

The community is three miles from the Market at Riverwood. Major stores like Lowe’s and CVS are within a ten-minute drive.

Unincorporated Bibb County

Throughout the rest of Bibb County, you’ll find incorporated areas like Franklinton, Walden, Rutland, Lizella, and West Point. Around these communities are expansive homesites, ranch homes, farming communities, and industrial hubs. In particular, Walden and Rutland and near industrial centers that provide employment opportunities.

Living in Macon-Bibb County

Macon-Bibb County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. There’s something for everyone in this central Georgia community. From historic neighborhoods to rural farming communities, Macon-Bibb County has it all. And with its convenient location to major cities like Atlanta and Savannah, you’ll never be far from the action. So if you’re looking for a place to call home, Macon-Bibb County should be at the top of your list.