Get to Know Milton, GA

Barns, pastureland, and horses…the pleasures of city living, am I right? Don’t be alarmed if you did a double-take reading that sentence. Milton, Georgia, is a unique place in the Atlanta metro. In fact, it’s one of its most desirable and top places to live because of how its distinctive small-town style vibe is so close to the thriving Atlanta urban jungle. Discover what makes Milton so special and if it could be right for your next home. 

About Milton, GA 

Given the age of some of Georgia’s other towns, Milton is a relatively new city, founded in 2006. However, it’s been around a long time, as it was formerly part of Milton County before it became part of unincorporated Hilton County. It was named after a Revolutionary War hero, John Milton.

Over the decades, the area was primarily rural and known for its equestrian communities and large estates. People tired of Atlanta city life were attracted to its rolling hills and horse farms. Equestrian fans kept their horses here while keeping homes in Atlanta or Alpharetta for their day-to-day work. 

Today, around 40,000 people have the pleasure of calling Milton home. The city is in the northern part of the Atlanta metro and within the Fulton County borders. From its first established day as a town, Milton committed to preserving its small-town charm and rural vibe. As it says on its website, the idea is “rural, not remote.” 

What that means is residents gain a community with large, spaced-out lots and ample green spaces but easy access to quality schools, shopping, dining, and work. Milton has earned accolades as a Tree City USA, for its low crime rate, and high quality of life. Surrounding the beautiful farms are some of the best places to live in the metro, like Alpharetta with its shopping areas and Roswell with its parks. That combination makes Milton a top place to live in the Atlanta metro and Georgia. 

Milton’s Top Perks

Education: Milton falls under the Fulton County School District. Local children attend one of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Its Milton High School has been nationally recognized for its academic excellence in the past. Additionally, Milton has nine private schools for PK-12.

Equestrian tradition: Horse lovers can have the best of both worlds–access to quality boarding and training facilities and high-profile careers. The town has dozens of barns and horse farms, yet central Atlanta is a half-hour drive away. The city’s Equestrian Committee is dedicated to nurturing the city’s equestrian heritage. 

Festivals: Locals love the annual Crabapple Festival, an arts festival in early October with over 100 vendors and artisans. Milton also runs an Earth Day event, a community egg hunt, and the Fourth of July Walking Parade.

Location: People initially think of how close Milton is to Atlanta. Downtown is about a thirty-minute drive, give or take rush hour traffic, and where you are in Milton. But it’s also about an hour from the mountains. Choose between urban fun or a peaceful day in the North Georgia hillsides.

Milton Cost of Living

Remember, this is one of Atlanta’s top suburbs. Demand pushes up living expenses, making Milton 45% more expensive than the national average and 19% more expensive than the Georgia average.

Housing is definitely the primary driver. Buying a home in Milton runs 130% more than the national average. But you’ll find some other expenses, like transportation and groceries, will take a chunk of your budget. 

Milton Real Estate

To maintain its rural character, the city zoning now restricts residential lots to at least one acre in size. Those sizing restrictions, combined with the high number of estates and horse farms, push up real estate prices.

To give you an idea of the price spread, Milton had 246 listings in November 2023. The lowest price listing was a vacant one-acre lot for $255,000. The highest-priced listing was $10.97 million for a 50-acre lot. The median list price for October 2023 was $1.4 million, totaling $300 per sq ft. It was a 21.5% year-over-year increase in prices. 

Even though the restrictions for residential real estate trend towards single-family homes on larger estates, Milton does have condo and townhome properties. They are a small fraction of the market, with just 24 listings at the time. Some of these were closer to Alpharetta than Milton. 

Milton also doesn’t have many waterfront living options, as it is predominantly an equestrian area. Properties with waterfront are most likely to have small lakes and reservoirs.  

But if you want farmland, a ranch, or horse property, Milton will be right up your alley. Around 37 listings included “farm” or “horse” as one of its key features. 

Milton Neighborhoods

Although it’s a young city, Milton has multiple established and new developments. Pick between buying an independent estate or finding a country club lifestyle in an equestrian or golfing community. 

Knox Landing is an example of what you can find in Milton homes. The location is near some shopping centers, so running to the grocery store is easy. Homes trend towards executive and estate in size and styling. 

Wood Valley residents have housing options with Chicken Creek in their backyard. The Milton Tennis Center is also based here. The residential perks include a clubhouse and a swimming pool. Homes are typically four to eight bedrooms on one to two acres. 

Wyndham Farms is a small neighborhood of just 54 homes with a strong emphasis on family-friendly living. Even though it’s small, it has two tennis courts and a swimming pool managed by its HOA. Bayside Equestrian is a short drive away. 

The Homestead at Milton is an opportunity to custom-build an estate home surrounded by beautiful countryside. Vacant lots are available on this repurposed former golf course. It is a gated community with lots starting at four acres and expanding to ten.

Crabapple is a historic district that partially sits in Milton. Here, you’ll find mixed-use-style living near a Main Street-style environment. Walk to the delicious hometown restaurants, the Crabapple Market, and other perks. Housing includes condos, apartments, and historic homes. 

If you’d like the country club lifestyle, perhaps The Manor Golf and Country Club will appeal to you. The custom-built homes in this gated community include access to the championship club at The Manor and the Sequoia Club, a multi-club membership platform with two other courses accessible to members. Inside the community is an expansive clubhouse with swimming, fine dining, and event facilities. In addition to golf, find tennis courts for play. 

Fairmont is an example of a swim & tennis community, a popular lifestyle option throughout the mid-South. It’s part of the Windward area off GA Highway 9. The neighborhood was built in the 1990s with a family-friendly vibe in mind. The locals have swimming and tennis facilities, plus a playground.

Things to Do in Milton

What else makes Milton a great place to live? As a resident, you’ll have these attractions in your backyard:

Every Saturday, with good weather, visit the Milton Farmer’s Market in downtown Crabapple. The local produce and specialty handmade items change by the season, but over a dozen vendors are always in attendance.

Painted Horse Winery sells handcrafted artisanal wine with grapes grown on-site. The beautiful grounds are open to events like weddings. The facilities include Pamelot Farm, where riding lessons are available.

Milton has multiple parks and recreation facilities, with bookable community centers, public swimming pools, and sports courts. Find walking trails at Lakhapani Preserve, Birmingham Park, and Milton City Park and Preserve. The community centers run youth, adult, and senior programming. Take photo classes, Tai Chi, or art. Register the kids for dance, soccer, or karate. 

Living in Milton, Ga

Hopefully, you can see the appeal of buying a home in Milton, GA. For the cost of living, you gain a rural, small-town lifestyle but are still commutable to major companies, shopping centers, and things to do. For equestrians living near Atlanta, it’s hard to beat Milton.