Macon-Bibb County, GA, known as "The Heart of Georgia," is a vibrant community with a rich history and a strong sense of pride. Located in central Georgia, Macon-Bibb County is approximately 85 miles south of Atlanta and 140 miles north of Valdosta. This medium-sized area is celebrated for its historic sites, beautiful parks, and thriving arts scene.
Macon-Bibb County's climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, ideal for enjoying outdoor activities year-round. The area boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as the scenic Amerson River Park and the expansive Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, which offer hiking, biking, and opportunities for family picnics.
The cultural scene in Macon-Bibb County is dynamic, with attractions like the Tubman Museum, the Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House, and the historic Grand Opera House. The area hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, including the International Cherry Blossom Festival and the Macon Film Festival, celebrating the community's artistic and cultural achievements.
Education is a cornerstone of the Macon-Bibb County community, with institutions like Mercer University and Middle Georgia State University providing higher education opportunities. The area's public and private schools serve a diverse student population, making Macon-Bibb County an attractive place for families. The presence of major healthcare institutions, such as Atrium Health Navicent, ensures residents have access to top-notch medical care and supports a strong job market.
Living in Macon-Bibb County combines the benefits of urban amenities with the charm of a close-knit community. Residents enjoy access to excellent healthcare facilities, diverse dining options, and a range of housing choices. The area's efficient public transportation system, including buses and proximity to major highways, makes commuting and exploring the area convenient. With its historical significance, cultural vibrancy, and welcoming atmosphere, living in Macon-Bibb County offers a dynamic and fulfilling experience.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Schools
Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.
Macon-Bibb County, Georgia is a mid-sized city with a population of 158,411 people. Macon-Bibb County is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (39%) and Black or African American (54%). Macon-Bibb County is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 47%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Macon-Bibb County is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Macon-Bibb County could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Georgia if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Macon-Bibb County and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, health & safety, education, employment, housing and other important metrics.
The livability score in Macon-Bibb County is 75 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 86th percentile of all cities across America. Clearly, Macon-Bibb County is doing something right, as this score ranks well above the average of most cities. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Macon-Bibb County scores well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) Macon-Bibb County does not fare well for the following: crime (F), education (F) and employment (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Macon-Bibb County can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Assuming that Macon-Bibb County meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Macon-Bibb County. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Macon-Bibb County are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Macon-Bibb County come in at $226,876, which is 18.4% lower than the Georgia average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Macon-Bibb County, the home price to income ratio is 3.7, which is 0% lower than the Georgia average.
| Statistic | Macon-Bibb County | Georgia | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 81.7% | 79.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.3% | 10.1% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.1% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.8% | 5.1% | 4.6% |
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