8 Best Small Towns in Georgia

Are you considering making the leap to small-town life in Georgia? Small-town living delivers some incredible options for those looking to buy real estate, from historic antebellum mansions to opportunities to custom-build a dream home. Plus, you’ll gain benefits like close-knit communities where people greet you by name and less traffic.

With Georgia’s many small towns boasting something special, one of these incredible communities will surely be the perfect fit for your family! For our guide, we’ve selected oft-touted small towns ranging from 5,000-25,000 residents. We’ve excluded cities packed in the Atlanta metro (sorry, Decatur), as those are more suburbs of a huge city and may not have that classic, historic vibe you’re seeking.

With that said, read on and find out what towns make our list of Georgia’s top small towns.

Madison

Population: 4,400

Region: Athens metro

Georgia is a go-to for outdoor adventures. But have you heard about Madison’s certified Forest Therapy Trail? It’s the first in the US and offers a unique Japanese-inspired forest bathing experience.

But forest bathing is just one interesting thing to discover about Madison! This charming town also has one of the state’s largest historic districts. The local architecture has the antebellum classics of whitewashed columns and ornate details, Spanish-draped oak trees, and magnolias that shout, “you’re in the south!”

Madison has been called one of the South’s prettiest towns. The look is so iconic it’s been used for television shows and feature films, plus featured by magazines like Southern Living and Architectural Digest.

Downtown shops feature cute boutiques, delicious farm-to-table restaurants, and relaxing spas. During the year, residents have fun events like the Firefly Festival and Saturdays in the Park.

In June 2023, Madison had 160 homes for sale at a median price of $520,000.

Brunswick

Population: 7,500

Region: Southeast & Sea Islands

Not everyone can afford island living, but who needs to when you have the charming port town of Brunswick? Its rich history dates back to 1771 and includes the famous Brunswick stew! The town has a long maritime tradition and is proud to be the “Shrimp Capital of the World.”

Living here is a true delight. Imagine relaxing at your favorite waterfront fish house, watching the shrimp boats come and go as the sun sets. Or you can join them on your own boat, as the water’s easily accessible for sailing, kayaking, and motoring about to your favorite local fishing hole. Georgia’s Golden Isles–Jekyll Island and St. Simons– are just offshore to explore and enjoy in your downtime.

Drive around Brunswick, and you’ll find beautiful landscapes dotted with historic old barns and buildings. Landmarks include the Sidney Lanier Bridge and the majestic Lover’s Oak. The historic Old Town District is like a step back in time; explore it on First Fridays when live music and performers set the tone for a fun street fair.

Commuting elsewhere is a breeze, with easy access to metro cities and just a short drive to Savannah or Jacksonville, Florida.

Top it off with excellent schools and pleasant year-round weather, and Brunswick is a perfect choice for a peaceful retirement or a place to settle and raise a family. The town had 312 homes for sale at a median of $330,000 in June 2022.

Dahlonega

Population: 7,500

Region: Blue Ridge Mountain foothills

Attention wine enthusiasts, antique hunters, waterfall chasers, small-town lovers, and mountain admirers! Look no further than Dahlonega, the Heart of Georgia’s wine country. Living here, you are part of history. The country’s first major gold rush occurred here, drawing early colonists westward into the mountains, where they decided to settle amongst the gorgeous landscape. Southern Living ranked it Georgia’s best small town in 2023.

Located about an hour north of Atlanta, life in Dahlonega is set against beautiful mountain vistas and tranquil mountain creeks that drop over stunning waterfalls. Besides the mountain charm, attractions include learning about Dahlonega’s underground riches at the Dahlonega Gold Museum or panning for gold in the local streams.

Pair the real gold stuff with liquid gold! The vineyards of the Dahlonega Wine Trail are the heart of Georgia’s wine country.

For those who are more of an outdoor adventurer, the nearby Chattahoochee National Forest offers hiking, trout fishing, and mountain biking. Road cycling among the vineyards is another popular activity.

Downtown Dahlonega features an award-winning Main Street district lined by landmark historic buildings. Along the shaded brick walkways are small-town boutique retailers, wine shops, and art galleries. The public square is an open green space where the locals gather for First Fridays and Bear on the Square.

Dahlonega had 261 homes for sale at a median price of $480,000 in June 2023.

Dublin

Population: 5,000

Region: Central GA

Dublin is another oft-touted idyllic rural Georgia town, which lies outside Macon about halfway between Savannah and Atlanta just off I-16.

The town’s founder named it after Dublin, Ireland, which is fitting since residents celebrate their Irish heritage with a fantastic month-long St. Patrick’s Day Festival every February/March. Its look is eclectic, as some buildings date pre-Civil War, but you’ll also see neoclassical and Art Deco influences like the Old Post Office.

Dublin’s roots include more than Irish immigrants. Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr gave his first public speech at a local church. The event is now marked at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park. The neon art deco sign of the Dublin Theater is classic, and the town uses the venue for performing arts and movies.

Thousands of acres of wildlife management areas are out the door, where locals head to hunt deer and other wild game. The WMAs also have trails for hiking and off-roading. The Oconee River, surrounding lakes, and swampy lowlands are prime fishing grounds.

Dublin had an equestrian tradition, with multiple horse farms nearby. Southern Pines Park and Equestrian Center have an arena and stables for training and events. There are also two golf courses for those that enjoy a spring day on the fairway.

Housing is super affordable, with home values almost 50% lower than the state average, making Dublin one of the most budget-friendly places to live in the US. Plus, it’s 25% less expensive than the national average cost of living. The 282 homes listed in June 2023 had a median price of $292,000.

Senoia

Population: 5,000

Region: East-Central GA

If you are a celebrity buff and want small-town living, maybe Senoia is your vibe. “The Walking Dead” used multiple locations around the town and countryside for filming. On their tours, show fans still visit The Woodbury Shoppe to see exclusive memorabilia and buy fan gear. But it’s not the only show or movie to use the historic buildings as a backdrop. The town film credits include “Driving Miss Daisy” and 2011’s “Footloose.”

The town’s origins were mainly agricultural, and the railroad was crucial for helping the local farms ship out their cotton, livestock, and other products. The downtown buildings date to the early 1900s, coinciding with railroad construction. The Senoia’s culture and sites still reflect its origins, which you can learn more about at the Senoia Area Historical Society Museum.

Life feels very small-town South in Senoia. Hear the stock cars rumble on Friday nights at the Senoia Raceway dirt track. On weekends, the playground at Seavy Street Park stays busy with children, while the relaxing Marimac Lakes Park has locals casting fishing lines off the shore. During the farming season, locals gather at the farmer’s market on Saturdays and at a monthly street fair called Alive After 5.

Senoia is about a half-hour drive from Atlanta, making it easy to blend small-town living with access to entertainment and jobs within the big city. The 210 homes for sale had a median list price of $582,000 in June 2023.

Blue Ridge

Population: 1,300

Region: Blue Ridge Mountains

We know Blue Ridge is way smaller than our initial small-town estimate, but it pops up time again as a great small town in Georgia. Plus, it has a large vacation segment that makes its population slightly more than 2,000, depending on the time of year.

Why Blue Ridge? It may be tiny, but the town caters to vacationers and locals with top-notch restaurants, breweries, shops, and art galleries. Outside of town, an outdoor playground awaits. The nearby Chattahoochee National Forest and the Rich Mountain Wilderness promise shady forested trails as you backpack or mountain bike. Locals cool off in summers tubing and kayaking on the Toccoa River or boating on the Blue Ridge Lake.

The real star of this town is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway! Experience a four-hour, 26-mile round-trip adventure through lush forests, Appalachian foothills, and along the Toccoa River in vintage rail cars. Pro tip: Autumn is the perfect time to book a trip and witness the stunning colors of fall foliage.

The real estate market includes log cabins and rustic vacation homes up in the mountains. June 2023 had 394 homes for sale at a median list price of $745,000.

Pine Mountain

Population: 1,200

Region: West Georgia

This charming western Georgia town near the Alabama border has long been a vacation retreat. It’s best known for Callaway Gardens, a resort with a lake and butterfly house, bird exhibits, a golf course, and 2,500 acres of breathtaking natural gardens. The 10 million winter holiday light spectacle is among the nation’s best.

Beloved by former president Franklin D. Roosevelt, the local hills became his white winter house, and he visited the hot springs nearby to relieve his polio symptoms. Visitors come to see the Little White House. Another popular attraction is the multi-day hike on the Pine Mountain Trail in F.D. Roosevelt State Park, the state’s largest park. It’s the perfect way to unwind and enjoy tranquil surroundings.

Because of its convenient location between Macon, Atlanta, and Columbus, it is a haven for those who enjoy being outside in less crowded spaces. Pine Mountain has a small but charming downtown, with stores and cafes that cater a little more to the tourists coming through for their vacation.

But they’re equally charming for residents; as a regular, you’ll get to know your neighbors. The 66 homes on the market had a median list price of $335,000 in June 2023.

Thomasville

Population: 19,000

Region: Southwest GA

Families love Thomasville because of the top-rated schools, affordable housing, and low cost of living. The town radiates classic southern charm, with cobblestone streets, indie bookshops, and friendly locals that greet you when you walk in.

The sweet scent of over 1,500 blooms at the Thomasville Rose Garden is a huge attractor. The annual Rose Show & Festival, a beloved tradition since 1922, takes place in April. It’s a multi-day celebration complete with a parade. The town’s other star events are the Victorian Christmas celebration and the Thomasville Antiques Show.

Another perk is all the hometown local restaurants and cafes. Savor the flavors of downtown on a Taste of Thomasville Food Tour, or take your time to discover the delights yourself. There’s a local dairy making cheeses, a chocolatier, bakeries, and of course, barbecue.

Thomasville’s traditions include quail hunting, which can be arranged at the private game lands and reserves around it. Families can take their kids on a “quail hunt” by looking for the 18 statues hidden around downtown.

The closest major city is Tallahassee, FL, so the Emerald Coast beaches are day trippable from Thomasville. June 2023 had 181 listings at a median price of $282,200.

Live the Georgia Small-Town Life

This small sampling of the incredible small towns available to call home in Georgia highlights what the state is known for: traditional Main Streets, friendly people, and access to fantastic parks. Unfortunately, some other small towns with impressive personalities, like Helen and Ellijay, didn’t make the list because they were too small. You may also prefer island living, like at Tybee or St. Mary’s. But if one of these featured Georgia towns speaks to you, why not get to know it further with the help of a local real estate agent?