Nature surrounds the city of Denver, Colorado, making it a paradise for any outdoor enthusiast who also enjoys city life. With close proximity to the Southern Rockies and extensive outdoor activities, it’s no wonder that nearly 715k people live in Denver. Whether you’re a Colorado native or moving to “the Mile High City,” buying a home in Denver may be on the top of your to-do list.
But with Denver’s median home sale price of $589,500 and an average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Denver of $2,646, you may be wondering if there are more affordable options close to the city. Don’t worry, Redfin has compiled a list of 10 affordable Denver suburbs that are within driving distance of downtown. That way you don’t have to miss out rooting for the Denver Broncos from Empower Field at Mile High while being close to all the nearby mountain ranges.
#1: Derby, CO
Median home price: $411,250
Driving distance from Denver: 20 minutes
Derby, CO homes for sale
Derby, CO apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $411,250, Derby, a neighborhood of Commerce City, is the most affordable Denver suburb on our list. Home to just about 9,000 residents, you can escape the hustle and bustle of city life, while only being 20 minutes away from all that Denver has to offer. Check out nearby Elaine T. Valente Open Spaces for a variety of nature walks around the South Platte River for some great scenery.
#2: Aurora, CO
Median home price: $486,500
Driving distance from Denver: 25 minutes
Aurora, CO homes for sale
Aurora, CO apartments for rent
Driving 25 minutes east of Denver will land you in the suburb of Aurora. With a population of nearly 386,300, you’ll be living the suburban life while exploring Denver in your free time. However, there are many fun activities in Aurora that you may just want to spend your free time in the suburbs. Make sure to visit Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, camp at Cherry Creek State Park, or hike through the Plains Conservation Center.
#3: Northglenn, CO
Median home price: $514,500
Driving distance from Denver: 20 minutes
Northglenn, CO homes for sale
Northglenn, CO apartments for rent
Northglenn takes the third spot on our list of Denver’s most affordable suburbs. Only a 20-minute drive into downtown Denver you’ll find yourself watching a Denver Nuggets game in no time. After moving to Northglenn, check out E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park and Croke Reservoir. When living in this suburb of roughly 38,200 people, you can also join in on a Full Moon Bike Ride.
#4: Thornton, CO
Median home price: $530,000
Driving distance from Denver: 20 minutes
Thornton, CO homes for sale
Thornton, CO apartments for rent
Nearly $50K less than Denver’s home prices and home to roughly 141,900 residents, Thornton lands fourth place. From renting a paddleboat at Carpenter Park to taking a scenic walk at Pelican Ponds Open Space, Thornton has much to offer to anyone living in the suburb. And drive approximately 20 minutes south and you’ll be at the Denver Zoo ready to check out all the colorful birds and scaly reptiles.
#5: Ken Caryl, CO
Median home price: $532,500
Driving distance from Denver: 30 minutes
Ken Caryl, CO homes for sale
Ken Caryl, CO apartments for rent
Known by locals as Ken Caryl Ranch, you’ll find this suburb located 30 minutes southeast of Denver with picturesque views of the foothills. With home prices about 55K below Denver’s, Ken Caryl should definitely be on your list of suburbs to check out. During the snowy months, make sure to take your sled over to Ken Caryl Sledding Hill for some winter fun. You can also head to nearby Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms and explore the native plants and wildflower gardens.
#6: Sheridan, CO
Median home price: $548,000
Driving distance from Denver: 20 minutes
Sheridan, CO homes for sale
Sheridan, CO apartments for rent
If you’re looking for small-town charm, then look no further than Sheridan. This suburb has roughly 6,000 residents and is less than 25 minutes away from Denver’s city center. Living in Sheridan, you’ll be close to River Run Park where you can learn how to river surf and South Platte River where you can brush up on your fishing skills.
#7: Commerce City, CO
Median home price: $548,500
Driving distance from Denver: 20 minutes
Commerce City, CO homes for sale
Commerce City, CO apartments for rent
Living in Denver, it’s likely that you know of Commerce City. About 62,000 residents call this affordable city home, so you’ll have a fraction of Denver’s population while remaining close to all the craft breweries in Denver. Once moving to Commerce City add the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and Buffalo Run Golf Course to your list of places to visit.
#8: Lakewood, CO (tie)
Median home price: $550,000
Driving distance from Denver: 15 minutes
Lakewood, CO homes for sale
Lakewood, CO apartments for rent
Next on our list of affordable Denver suburbs is Lakewood, which is about 15 minutes southwest of downtown. With a population of about 156,000, buying a home in Lakewood will get you closer to Mt. Evans and Grays Peak without losing out on the quick drive into Denver. If you’re going to call this affordable suburb home, plan time to horseback ride at Bear Creek Lake Park and hike along the trails at William Frederick Hayden Park.
#8: Brighton, CO (tie)
Median home price: $550,000
Driving distance from Denver: 25 minutes
Brighton, CO homes for sale
Brighton, CO apartments for rent
Tying the eighth spot on our list is the suburb of Brighton, where the home prices are about $40K less than in Denver. Brighton has roughly 40,100 residents and is a great suburb to consider moving to. From boating at Barr Lake State Park to floating along the lazy river at Oasis Family Aquatic Park during the summer, you’ll have easy access to what makes Brighton unique.
#10: Westminster, CO
Median home price: $575,000
Driving distance from Denver: 20 minutes
Westminster, CO homes for sale
Westminster, CO apartments for rent
Drive 20 minutes outside of Denver and you’ll find yourself in the final suburb on our list – Westminster. Home to 116,000 residents, moving to this affordable suburb can keep you close enough to Denver, without living the city life. In Westminster, you’ll find Butterfly Pavilion and the Standley Lake Regional Park & Wildlife Refuge. Don’t forget to stop by the Adventure Golf & Raceway for a game of mini-golf once you move here. If you’re not sure about buying your first home, you can check out the most affordable Denver suburbs to rent an apartment.
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Denver and under a 30 minute drive from downtown Denver. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center April 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com May 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau
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Anyone looking for a place to live right now is navigating one of the toughest and most expensive housing markets in recent history.
The pandemic boom in housing pushed home prices to an all-time high of $375,300 in March, 34% higher than the median price of $280,600 in March 2020, according to the National Association of Realtors. And in recent months, mortgage rates have been on the rise with the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage climbing above 5%. That has made the cost of financing a home about 40% more expensive than it was a year ago.
While rents in some big cities cratered early in the pandemic, they have largely rebounded and in many places have surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The median rent is up nearly 20% from two years ago, with asking rents in the largest housing markets reaching a record $1,807 a month in March according to Realtor.com.
All of these rising costs can make deciding whether to rent or buy a dizzying debate.
“Buy now before mortgage rates go any higher and begin to build equity!,” your buy brain says. “Maintain financial flexibility and keep your costs of getting in and out lower!” the voice urging you to rent says.
There are arguments for “waiting it out” until prices stop rising so fast. But for most people, housing is not a discretionary need, it is a necessity.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to where you live, your financial fitness, how long you plan to live in the home and what your cash flow looks like. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you choose between buying and renting.
Where do you live?
In more than half of the 50 biggest US cities, the monthly cost of buying a starter home was more affordable than renting a similar-sized unit, according to a report from Realtor.com released earlier this year.
But given the rapid spike in home prices, there are some areas where it is more affordable to rent than buy.
Austin, Texas, for example, is where it was most beneficial to rent rather than buy in January. It was followed by New York; San Francisco; San Jose, California; Seattle; Boston; Denver; Rochester, New York; Portland, Oregon; and Los Angeles.
In these 10 cities, the monthly payments associated with buying a starter home were 42% — or $978 higher — than rents, on average. For-sale starter homes in those places included a higher average share of condos than the national rate, and pricier homeowner association fees.
Places where buying was more beneficial than renting included Birmingham, Alabama, where the cost of buying a starter home was 44.3% less than the cost of renting in January. It was followed by Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.
Two cities in Florida — Tampa and Orlando — saw some of January’s fastest annual rent growth, which made buying more attractive even though home prices and mortgage rates were on the rise.
Are you financially fit?
The decision between renting or buying for most people is less about home prices or rents and more about whether you’re ready to be a homeowner.
What does your savings look like after a down payment is taken out? What is your credit score? Do you qualify for a mortgage? Can you make the monthly payments?
Andrew Dressel, a financial planner with Abundo Wealth in Minneapolis, likes people to have six months of expenses saved up in an emergency fund, $10,000 in cash to cover closing costs and moving expenses, and a credit score of 720 or higher when looking to buy.
“The emergency savings is of high importance and the 720 credit score has more wiggle room,” he said.
In addition, the overall cost of owning the home — including the mortgage and utilities, taxes, maintenance of appliances and the yard and the expense of everyday wear and tear — should not exceed 40% of a person’s take-home pay, he said.
“They need to also make sure they are not sacrificing their retirement or other goals just to own a home right now,” Dressel said.
How long will you live there?
If you only plan to live somewhere for two or three years, experts generally recommend renting.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or rushed by purchasing in some hectic markets with low inventory, renting is not a bad place to land if it’s only for a year or so, said Jay Abolofia, a certified financial planner with Lyon Financial.
He dismissed the sense of urgency many potential buyers are feeling to lock in mortgage rates before they rise higher, saying that interest rates and home prices often have an inverse relationship.
“When interest rates are lower, that puts upward pressure on housing prices,” he said. “Just because interest rates are low doesn’t mean it is a good time to buy and higher interest rates doesn’t mean it is a bad time to buy a home.”
But, Abolofia said, it is always a good time to buy if you’re planning on staying there for a while.
Cross check yourself by asking if you’re being too conservative about how much house you should buy, said Leonard Steinberg, an agent at Compass in New York.
“You should be conservative enough that you can sleep at night and eat,” said Steinberg. “But many people are too conservative.”
He said he often sees people buy homes that are too small and, after a few years, they realize the space isn’t working for them.
“Now they have the costs of selling and buying again,” he said, which includes closing costs, inspections, appraisals and realtor’s commissions. “Moving a lot is expensive.”
What are your monthly payments?
As a homeowner you will need to do the math on what your cash flow will look like with monthly mortgage payments, the money needed up front to complete the transaction and the amount you’ll need to maintain it.
There is no sense in rushing into homeownership before you can comfortably cover those costs, said Noah Damsky, a chartered financial analyst with Marina Wealth Advisors in Los Angeles.
Damsky recommends that your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 35% of your gross income. But that is the upper end. Other models are more conservative and suggest 25%, in order to keep your debt-to-income ratio lower. A middle-ground recommendation would be to put no more than 28% of your monthly gross income toward your mortgage payment.
And while some potential buyers may look forward to the tax benefits of homeownership — including deducting mortgage interest, property tax payments and other expenses from their federal income tax bill — Damsky cautions not to go overboard.
“I try to temper their expectations by explaining that the tax benefits will often be substantially offset by a roughly 1% annual maintenance cost.”
And they should be warned: The out-of-pocket costs of caring for a home could be even more, said Matt Hylland, a financial planner at Arnold and Mote Wealth Management in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He advises home buyers to budget 2% to 3% of the home’s value to cover upkeep and maintenance.
“Making sure you find a monthly payment that you can afford is important,” said Hylland. “But don’t forget to add to that other expenses you will face as a homeowner.”
Considering all that’s happening with climate change and the potential risk it brings to homeowners, you may be wondering if your house is in a flood zone. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, looking to sell a vacation home, or simply a homeowner looking for some answers, you have the right and responsibility to find out.
Flooding is one of the most expensive natural disasters, causing damage to not only your home’s structure but your belongings. In fact, if your home floods just one inch, the damage can cost you upwards of $25,000. Flood damage can result from many environmental factors, such as hurricanes, a breached dam, severe storms, over-saturated ground from overflowing rivers, lakes, oceans, and more.
Whether you’re living in Vancouver, BC, or Miami, FL, floods can happen anywhere, and the number of homes at risk of flooding increases every year. However, many people across the nation aren’t sure what flood zone their home, or prospective home, is in and if they’re truly at risk. We’ll walk through how to check your home’s flood zone, what the different flood zones mean, and what you need to know if you’re buying or selling a house in a flood zone.
Check FEMA’s flood map to find out if your house is in a flood zone
To start, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Map Service Center, a tool that displays information such as flood zones, floodways, and your home’s risk level. Type in a property’s address, and a map showing its flood zone will appear. As you’re analyzing the map, it’s important to remember that just part of the home’s lot could be in the flood zone. FEMA’s flood zone classifications range from low-risk to high-risk areas. Zones B, X, and C are low-risk flood zones, while A or V are high-risk flood zones. Let’s dive into what the different flood zones mean.
What do the different flood zones mean?
Zones with a letter grade of A or V are considered high-risk areas, while areas with letter grades of B, C, or X are considered low to moderate risk zones. FEMA has numerous flood zone classifications. Here are the most common flood zones and what they mean:
Zone | Description |
---|---|
A99 | An area protected upon completion of an under-construction federal flood protection system like a dam or levee. This zone still has a 1% chance of flooding each year and is a required flood insurance zone. |
AH | An area with a 1% chance of flooding each year, with the probability of 1 to 3 feet of water that pools in areas. Over the course of a 30-year mortgage, the likelihood of a flood is 26%. This is a zone where flood insurance is mandatory with BFEs at selected intervals. |
AR | An area with increased flood risk where temporary flood insurance is required. This area will be protected from the 1% annual chance flood by a federal flood protection system actively building or restoring a flood control system such as a levee or dam. |
VE, V1-V30 | Coastal areas are subject to a 1% chance of flooding per year, with additional hazards due to storm-induced velocity wave action. BFEs are determined in this zone. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements and floodplain management standards apply. |
V | Coastal areas inundated by 1% chance of flooding. This zone doesn’t have BFEs, but is considered high-risk with mandatory flood insurance requirements. Over the course of a 30-year mortgage, the likelihood of a flood is 26%. |
X (shaded), B | This is a moderate risk flood zone with a chance of a flood somewhere between the 100-year and 500-year mark. These areas are typically protected by levees or have shallow flooding areas. Zone B is being replaced with shaded zone X on new flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs). |
D | This zone is designed to catch all other risk areas that are not defined by other flood zones. Zone D indicates a possible risk of flooding, but the hazard level is undetermined. |
AO | This zone is specific to properties located near a river or stream. Areas in this zone still have a 1% chance of flooding each year with a 26% chance of flooding over the course of a 30-year mortgage. Flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet, resulting in Zone AO requiring flood insurance. |
AE, A1-A30 | Zone AE is a newer version of what used to be zones A1-A30. These zones represent areas with a 1% chance of flooding each year, for which BFEs have been determined. Flood insurance is mandatory in these zones. |
X (unshaded, C | Zone C and Zone X are low-risk areas with a .2% chance of an annual flood. These zones usually have minimal flooding, though there may be some ponding or local drainage problems. Zone X in particular is considered to be outside of the 500-year flood area and is protected from the 100-year flood by a levee. Zone C is being replaced with unshaded zone X on new FIRMs. |
*Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The elevation of surface water resulting from a flood has a 1% chance of equaling or exceeding that level in any given year.
It’s important to note that just because your home is not in a designated flood zone doesn’t mean flooding won’t happen. In fact, 20% of flood claims each year come from areas that are low risk. This is partly because flooding is so unpredictable and can be the result of several factors, such as thawing snow, burst pipes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, construction issues, and more.
What to know about buying a home in a flood zone
For almost everyone, finding out a home you’ve fallen in love with is in a high-risk flood zone can be a little heartbreaking. Sure, buying a home in a flood zone comes with additional risks, but it’s not a total deal-breaker. However, there are some things to consider that make the process a little different than buying a house in a low-risk flood zone, including:
Flood disclosure requirements
In the United States, there is no federal law that says home sellers are required to disclose information about a property’s flood risk or previous flood damage to prospective home buyers. However, 29 states do have flood disclosure requirements. This means, depending on where the property is located, it may be in your hands to research the flood risk of a property by visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Map Service Center.
The general rule of thumb is that a home seller should never hide material facts about a home from prospective buyers regardless of state laws. Some states do have a specific form sellers use to disclose any known issues that could impact the safety or value of the home.
Flood insurance requirements
Even if your home is not in a high-risk flood zone, you should consider getting flood insurance. For example, should your home flood just one inch, the damage can cost you upwards of $25,000. Your mortgage lender may require you to have flood insurance coverage even if your home is located in a moderate-to-low-risk area. While you can purchase flood insurance at any time, note that it won’t take effect until 30 days after you’ve paid your premium.
Homeowners with property in a high-risk flood zone can obtain coverage through a private flood insurance plan or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a program that covers nearly 5 million policyholders nationwide. NFIP is funded and backed by the federal government, which FEMA oversees. However, NFIP coverage isn’t available everywhere. Find out if your insurance provider participates in NFIP, or simply call your provider to inquire about adding flood insurance to your homeowner’s policy. Let’s look at the differences between the two options:
NFIP | Private Flood Insurance | |
---|---|---|
Max rebuild cost | $250,000 | Typically up to $500,000 or higher |
Availability | All 50 states | May only offer coverage in higher-risk areas |
Elevation certificate required | Yes | No |
Waiting period | 30 days | 15 days |
Lender accepted | Yes | Yes |
Building coverage | Replacement cost | Replacement cost |
Contents coverage | Actual cash value | Contents coverage |
Loss-of-use coverage | No | Yes |
Loss avoidance coverage | No | Yes |
Debris removal | Yes | Yes |
Home values impacted by flood zones
Now, you may be wondering if property value can be negatively impacted if it’s in a high-risk flood zone. The short answer is yes. However, homeowners can offset this and protect the home from flooding by implementing a few strategies, such as purchasing flood insurance, installing a sump pump, investing in flood sensors, and adding barriers around your home.
What to know about selling a home in a flood zone
Real estate disclosures and flood zones
Real estate disclosures, or a seller disclosure, is a set of documents answered by the seller of a home, listing any known issues with the property and any remodel projects completed during the time they owned the home. All states have laws regarding real estate disclosures and documents that provide details about a property’s condition that might negatively impact its value. However, as mentioned above, the specific laws regarding previous flooding information and flood zone status vary state by state.
Strategies for selling a house in a flood zone
It’s true that some buyers may not be willing to take on the risk of living in a flood zone. However, there are some strategies to make your home more attractive to those on the fence:
- Adjust sale price based on flood zone and the local housing market. Work with your real estate agent on a pricing strategy to determine a competitive sale price and get buyers through the door.
- Be sure to mention if your home has never flooded. Request a copy of a free report showing your past seven years of insurance claims history through the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE). This may help put potential buyers at ease and give them peace of mind if they’re hesitant about making an offer.
- Offer to cover the insurance bill. Another option is to offer to cover the flood insurance costs for a year as an incentive to buy the home. This can be done through an adjustment to the purchase price or as a credit at closing.
- Ask about the Community Rating System. The Community Rating System is an optional incentive program that encourages community-wide initiatives to reduce flooding. Communities enrolled in the program may be eligible for discounted flood insurance.
- Order a certificate of elevation. A potential buyer may be required to present the elevation certificate to their insurance agency as well as their lender. The certificate describes the risk a property would be at if a major flood were to occur and if the property is above the height of estimated floodwaters.
Reduce flood risk with home improvements
There are many ways to reduce the risk of flood damage, and not all of them are difficult or expensive. Michael Stahl, the CMO of SERVPRO, a trusted leader in the restoration industry, advises homeowners on several proactive ways to reduce water damage. “Regular maintenance work such as cleaning gutters, roof repair, checking rain spouts to ensure the water drains away from your home, and repairing sidewalks and driveways near your home can help mitigate damage,” suggests Stahl. “Additionally, proper landscaping can greatly help mitigate flood risks. By sloping your yard away from your home and adding drainage to your driveway, you help prevent opportunities for flood water to gather and cause damage.”
Michael Stahl further explains, “If flooding has occurred, you must ensure safety – is it safe to stay in your house? Are there concerns about electricity or hazards that can cause slips, falls, and injuries? Once you assess these, removing wet furniture and other items and putting them in a safe, dry place can help start the process. It’s important to know that wet materials are heavy, so you want to ensure you can safely do this without injury. We always recommend reaching out to an expert in water restoration to help with this process and provide the professional services ultimately needed to mitigate the damage.”
To appeal to more buyers, here are additional home improvements and renovations to consider:
- Elevate your home. Raise the first floor of your house by just one foot above base flood elevation, and you could see a 30% reduction in annual flood insurance premiums, according to FEMA. It’s important to note that a project like this, on average, costs about $47,500.
- Elevate major appliances. Save yourself and future buyers from an additional flood insurance surcharge by relocating your appliances, water heater, HVAC system, and furnace to an elevated platform.
- Reduce the risk of sitting water by adding vents in the crawl space. Water and moisture can cause costly structural damage to your foundation. If your home is ever to flood, vents in the crawl space will allow any water that enters the crawl space to exit back out. Sitting water can damage your foundation so it’s important to properly maintain a crawlspace to prevent costly repairs in the future. Vents in the crawl space allow water to flow freely in and out of the enclosure, reducing the risk of structural issues in the event of flooding.
- Add barriers or sandbags around your home. Beams, levees, and flood walls can reduce the risk of flood water entering your home. Be sure to research whether your local building codes permit barriers around your home. If permanent barriers aren’t an option, you can always add sandbags around your home to create a protective wall for added protection.
- Install an automatic shutoff valve and check valve. An automatic shutoff valve installed near the primary water inlet in your house can help reduce the risk of major flood damage to your home. When a battery-powered flood sensor is activated, it turns off the main water supply. You can also install a check valve in plumbing to prevent flood water from backing up into your drains.
- Be proactive and invest in flood sensors. Flood sensors are placed in several locations throughout your home and will notify you the moment water is detected where it shouldn’t be. It will also alert you of other events that can cause water damage, like a burst pipe or overflowing sink.
- Install a battery-powered sump pump. A sump pump is designed to remove water that has accumulated in your basement and out of your home to a dry well or storm drain. It can cost about $1,200 to install a sump pump but it’s a solid investment to minimize flood damage.
Learn more about FEMA’s new pricing methodology for insurance premiums, Risk Rating 2.0.
A city known by many names, “the Big Peach,” “The ATL,” or even, “Hotlanta,” Atlanta, Georgia, is known for its Southern hospitality and rich history. And it’s no surprise that nearly 500K people call this metropolis home. If you’re currently living in Atlanta or relocating from another city, you may find that Atlanta’s median home sale price of $403,750 is outside of your budget.
But, if you don’t see yourself living anywhere else, there’s no need to worry. We’ve rounded up the ten best affordable suburbs within driving distance of Atlanta that may fit better with how much house you can afford. That way, you can explore all Atlanta has to offer, from Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park to the Georgia Aquarium, without paying the premium of living in the city.
#1: Forest Park, GA
Median home price: $180,000
Driving distance from Atlanta: 20 minutes
Forest Park, GA homes for sale
Forest Park, GA apartments for rent
With a population of 19,932, Forest Park is the most affordable Atlanta suburb on our list. Forest Park’s median home sale price is significantly less – about $220K – than in Atlanta and under 30 minutes away from downtown. Living in Forest Park, you’ll have close access to the Atlanta State Farmers Market and Starr Park, so make sure to enjoy the great outdoors and pick up some fresh peaches while you’re at it.
#2: Morrow, GA
Median home price: $215,000
Driving distance from Atlanta: 25 minutes
Morrow, GA homes for sale
Morrow, GA apartments for rent
Coming in as Atlanta’s second-best affordable suburb is Morrow. Only 25 minutes from Atlanta’s city center, you’ll find yourself grabbing some BBQ for lunch in no time. One popular thing to do in Morrow includes visiting Reynolds Nature Preserve where you can watch butterflies during the spring and summer. When living in this suburb of just over 6,500 people, you can also spend time cheering on the Clayton State University Lakers’ sports teams.
#3: East Point, GA
Median home price: $264,650
Driving distance from Atlanta: 15 minutes
East Point, GA homes for sale
East Point, GA apartments for rent
A recognizable suburb of Atlanta is East Point, where the home prices are about $140K less than in Atlanta. East Point is a great suburb to consider moving to and has just about 38,400 people living there. From hiking through the hidden forests at Connally Nature Park to supporting the many local businesses in town, you’ll have plenty of activities to do throughout East Point.
#4: Redan, GA
Median home price: $265,000
Driving distance from Atlanta: 30 minutes
Redan, GA homes for sale
Redan, GA apartments for rent
Just 30 minutes away is the Atlanta suburb of Redan. With a population around 32,000, you’ll have a small-town feel while being able to explore Atlanta in your free time. If you find yourself moving to the fourth most affordable suburb, make sure to visit Redan Park for an afternoon picnic or a baseball game with friends.
#5: Conyers, GA
Median home price: $279,000
Driving distance from Atlanta: 30 minutes
Conyers, GA homes for sale
Conyers, GA apartments for rent
If you’ve been living in Atlanta for some time, you’ve probably heard about the suburb of Conyers. About 17,300 residents call this affordable city home, so you’ll have a fraction of Atlanta’s population and live outside of the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. There are plenty of places to add to your list of must-sees in Conyers, including Olde Town Conyers, the city’s historic district, and Lewis Vaughn Botanical Gardens, where you can see an impressive collection of native plants from Georgia’s Piedmont region.
#6: Panthersville, GA
Median home price: $280,000
Driving distance from Atlanta: 15 minutes
Pathersville, GA homes for sale
Pathersville, GA apartments for rent
Drive 15 minutes southeast of Atlanta and you’ll find the suburb of Panthersville, home to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation headquarters. With about 11,000 residents, moving to this affordable suburb can keep you close enough to Atlanta, while spending about $120K less on a home. In Panthersville, you’ll find Exchange Park which features splash pads for warm summer days and a hiking trail.
#7: College Park, GA
Median home price: $281,050
Driving distance from Atlanta: 20 minutes
College Park, GA homes for sale
College Park, GA apartments for rent
Next on our list of affordable Atlanta suburbs is College Park, which is almost 20 minutes away from the city center. With a population of 13,930, relocating to College Park will give you a smaller town atmosphere compared to the Big Peach. After moving to this affordable suburb, play a round of golf at the College Park Golf Course or explore the quaint downtown. You can also start planning your next vacation as you’re just minutes away from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
#8: Decatur, GA
Median home price: $290,500
Driving distance from Atlanta: 20 minutes
Decatur, GA homes for sale
Decatur, GA apartments for rent
Decatur is a great place to consider moving to with easy access to downtown Atlanta, just about 20 minutes away. About 24,000 people live in this affordable suburban town, but you’ll be surrounded by lots of small towns to explore in your free time. Popular things to do in Decatur include exploring the DeKalb History Center Museum, picking up some fresh produce from Your DeKalb Farmers Market, and going for a stroll at Glenlake Park.
#9: Powder Springs, GA
Median home price: $357,000
Driving distance from Atlanta: 35 minutes
Powder Springs, GA homes for sale
Powder Springs, GA apartments for rent
If you move to Powder Springs, you’ll find yourself in Atlanta in roughly 35 minutes without significant traffic. While Powder Springs only has a population of about 16,900, you won’t miss out on the great things that make this suburb great. Home to Silver Comet Trail and Seven Springs Water Park, you’ll have plenty of outdoor activities to do while living in Powder Springs.
#10: Tucker, GA
Median home price: $380,000
Driving distance from Atlanta: 25 minutes
Tucker, GA homes for sale
Tucker, GA apartments for rent
Last but not least on our list of most affordable Atlanta suburbs is Tucker. Located northeast of Atlanta, Tucker is only about a 25-minute drive away from the city center. Known for its natural areas, check out Friends of Tucker Nature Preserve, Kelley Cofer Park, or take a hike at nearby Probst Park. Tucker is also home to charming Main Street filled with local shops and restaurants. Each May, the city hosts Tucker Day, celebrating the city with a parade, live music, and food. If you’re not sure about buying your first home, you can check out the most affordable Atlanta suburbs to rent an apartment.
Methodology: Affordability based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of Atlanta and under a 30-minute drive from downtown Atlanta. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
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