10 Largest Cities in Georgia
- Atlanta
- Columbus
- Augusta
- Macon
- Savannah
- Athens
- Sandy Springs
- South Fulton
- Roswell
- Johns Creek
1. Atlanta
With a population of just under 500,000, Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia. It's also the state capital and the central hub of the Atlanta-Sandy-Springs-Roswell metro area, which is home to around 6.1 million people, making it the 8th largest MSA in the country. Atlanta is also the eighth largest city in the Southeast and the 38th largest in the US overall. A major cultural and economic powerhouse, Atlanta has a GDP of $473 billion, making it the 11th largest economy of all cities in the US. It's also known for its major airport terminal, world-famous music scene, and rich history as an epicenter of the Civil Rights movement.
2. Columbus
Columbus is the second largest city in Georgia, with a population of 202,616. It officially merged with Muscogee County in 1970 to become a consolidated city-county and forms a metro area with the nearby Alabama cities of Auburn and Opelika, which has a population of 328,883. Despite being the second largest city, the Columbus MSA is the fourth largest in Georgia after Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah. Columbus is also known for being the home of the US Army Post, Fort Moore, which is a significant employer in the city.
3. Augusta
Augusta is also one of the largest cities in Georgia. It's also the 116th largest in the US, with just over 200,000 people. A 1995 referendum consolidated the City of Augusta with Richmond County, merging the two jurisdictions and making it the center of the Augusta metro area. With a total population of 611,000 people, the MSA is also the second largest in Georgia, the 9th largest in the Deep South, and the 95th largest in the country by population. Augusta is known for being the home of the master's golf tournament and the birthplace of singer James Brown. It also offers affordable living, natural beauty, and a family-friendly atmosphere.
4. Macon
Macon is the fourth-largest city in Georgia, with a population of 157,346 people. Similar to Augusta, Macon merged with Bibb County following a 2012 referendum. It's the largest city in the Macon metro area, which has a population of 328,883, and the principal city in the Macon-Warner Robbins combined MSA, which has a total population of 425,416. Known as the "heart of Georgia," Macon is famous for its central location and many museums, tourist destinations, and institutions of higher learning.
5. Savannah
Savannah is another one of the biggest cities in Georgia. It's also one of the oldest cities in Georgia, having served as the British colonial capital for the Province of Georgia. With a population of 147,780, it's the fifth-largest city by population. However, the metro area ranks third in the state with a total population of 404,798. That makes Savannah the 185th largest city in the US and 135th largest metro area. Savannah is famous for its beautiful cobblestone streets, well-maintained community parks, and antebellum architecture, making it a great destination for tourists and families.
6. Athens
Athens is the 6th largest city in Georgia, with a population of 127,315. Another consolidated city-county, the City of Athens, merged with the Clarke County government in 1991. It's the central city in the Athens metropolitan area, which is home to 215,415 people. But it's also located about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta and considered a part of the larger Metro Atlanta CSA. Athens is a college town famous for being the home of the University of Georgia and for the local alternative rock scene that birthed bands like REM and B-52s.
7. Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs is a city in northern Fulton County, often regarded as the largest suburb of Atlanta. It's the seventh largest city in the state with a population of 108,080 and makes up a significant part of the Atlanta-Sandy-Springs-Roswell MSA. Home to some of Atlanta's wealthiest residents, Sandy Springs is an affluent suburb with numerous corporate headquarters, including companies like UPS, Cox Entertainment, and Mercedes Benz USA.
8. South Fulton
South Fulton is also one of the biggest cities in Georgia by population. South Fulton is located in Fulton County, and is considered to be part of the Atlanta metro area. The city was officially incorporated in 2017 through a merger of multiple smaller communities and features a total population of 107,436 as of 2020. The incorporation of Sandy Springs in 2005 set off the cityhood movement in Fulton County. That eventually resulted in the creation of South Fulton out of multiple smaller towns and unincorporated communities that united to make up the eighth-largest city in Georgia.
9. Roswell
Roswell is the ninth largest city in Georgia, with a population of 92,950 as of 2020. Also located in Fulton County, Roswell is a close suburb of Atlanta and a major part of the Atlanta-Sandy-Springs-Roswell MSA. Roswell was first incorporated in 1854 but was a small community until the 1970s when it had a population of just over 5,000. Between 1970 and 1980, the population grew by 329%, then increased by an additional 105.4% by 1990. Although that explosive growth has slowed, it still continues to expand, and the population increased by 5% between 2010 and 2020.
10. Johns Creek
Johns Creek is another city in northeastern Fulton County and a major suburb of Atlanta. With a population of 82,453, Johns Creek is Georgia's 10th largest city, with 28,638 households and 23,283 families. Considered an affluent suburb, John's Creek features a median home listing price of $695,000 and a median household income of $133,948. The population is also steadily growing and increased by 7.5% between 2010 and 2020.