Growth & Migration

Atlanta continues to hold its position as the economic powerhouse of the Southeast, attracting new companies and residents with its culture, climate, and relative affordability. Metro Atlanta grew by 64,940 people in the past year, bringing the 11-county area to 5.1 million residents (+1.3%). About 10% of metro area residents live in the City of Atlanta (507,015 people).36

Each of the 11 counties grew this year, with the greatest number of new residents in Gwinnett (13,460), Fulton (11,200), Cobb (6,900), and Cherokee (6,890) Counties. As a percent of its total population, the northern edge counties saw the greatest rates of population growth, with Forsyth County growing by 2.6% and Cherokee County growing by 2.5% year-over-year.37

Atlanta’s strong job market and growing population are key reasons it is expected to be the #1 top U.S. real estate market to watch in 2023.38 In addition to growth in staple industries like life sciences and manufacturing, Georgia’s growing film industry and a number of major West Coast companies—including Apple, Microsoft, and Visa—opening large offices in Atlanta have also brought new residents to the metro. The number of jobs in Metro Atlanta was up 6.7% year-over-year, making it #2 of all large metros for job growth in 2022. The unemployment rate was just 2.7% in November 2022, below the national average of 3.4%.39 Atlanta workers are more likely to be working from home, with 24% telecommuting, three times as many teleworkers as there were prepandemic.40

This job growth has resulted in population growth to fuel demand for housing. Metro Atlanta was the #5 moving destination in the country in 2021.41 People are choosing to move to our region from all over the country and the world. In the U.S., the metro areas around New York City, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Orlando were among the top feeder markets for people relocating to Atlanta in recent years. Fellow Georgians are also migrating to Atlanta from places like Athens, Gainesville, and Savannah.42