The 10 Most Dangerous And Worst Neighborhoods In Atlanta, GA

The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Atlanta For 2024

Nestled into the intersection of I-20 and I-285 in the western section of the city, Adamsville provides a home to 4,144 residents. It’s difficult for these folks to find good-paying jobs, as a feeble economy leaves the area as the number 1 worst part of Atlanta.

The area’s unemployment rate comes in at a lofty 12.5%. Even those people who can land work have trouble paying the bills. The median income hovers at only $30,664.

There are bright spots to life in Adamsville. For some family-friendly fun, residents can head over to Cascade Family Skating or cross over I-285 to reach the nearby CT Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center.

As you might guess, Lakewood Heights-Southeastern Atlanta is located in the southeast section of the city. High unemployment and substandard schools contribute to the neighborhood’s reputation as the number 2 least inviting part of the city.

A sluggish economy leaves the unemployment rate at a lofty 10.3%. What jobs that exist are low-paying as well. The median income stands at $27,867.

Not everything in Lakewood Heights is dreary. Residents can head over to South Bend Park for a nice day outdoors. Meanwhile, the cost of living is relatively low, with a median home value of $53,753.

Originally developed in the 1920s by a successful local businessman named Dr. Edwin Wiley Grove, Grove Park sits in the eastern part of the city. Despite the entrepreneurial spirit that created the neighborhood, a feeble economy has let it down in the 21st century. As a result, it counts as the number 3 least alluring area of Atlanta.

Jobs are hard to come by for the 3,620 locals. The unemployment stands at 8.1%, while the median income reaches just $35,433.

Otherwise, life in the area has its charms. Homes are affordable at a median price of $133,243. There are also plenty of amenities, including the area’s namesake park.

Located in the western part of Atlanta, Center Hill stretches from Frederick Douglass High School and Lincoln Cemetery on the southern end to Center Hill Park at the northern end. Jobs are the major issue for this neighborhood, making this one of the least attractive spots in the city.

The unemployment rate sits at 10.2% and the median income hovers at $36,764. Concerns about schools also hold the area back. Despite the financial troubles, you can find affordable housing in Center Hill. The median home value comes to $120,200.

Meanwhile, you can find lots of amenities in the area. Center Hill features a number of churches, plus a thriving commercial stretch along Highway 78.

There really is an Adair Park. In fact, there are two of them in this centrally located section of the city, known as Adair Park I and Adair Park II. Unfortunately, access to pleasant outdoors activities doesn’t pay the bills. With a scarcity of jobs in the region, Adair Park stands as one of the worst places in the city to put down roots.

The 1,157 residents of this neighborhood have to make due with a median income of $48,235. That is, if they can find a job at all. The unemployment rate stands at an imposing 11.1%.

Located near downtown Atlanta, Adair Park was originally a planned community in the 19th century. This location allows locals an easy trip to any amenities the city can offer.

As the name suggests, Oakland City was once its own municipality. It became part of Atlanta in 1910. Unfortunately, these days, it exists as a particularly unappealing part of the metropolis, ranking as the number 6 worst spot to live in the city.

A lack of jobs weighs on the 3,881 residents. They suffer with an unemployment rate of 6.0%. On top of that, local jobs leave a lot to be desired in the wage department, with a median income of $32,702.

Oakland City works hard to foster a connection to its historic roots. Check out the neighborhood’s Historic District for a glimpse into the past.

You’ll have trouble finding a job in Adams Park. The unemployment rate in the neighborhood runs a scary 6.2%. This weak job market makes the area one of the least inviting places in all of Atlanta.

Unemployment isn’t the only economic pressure in the area. Low-wage jobs also hurt the neighborhood’s 2,398 residents, with a median income of just $55,906. Locals also struggle with a below-average school system.

Located in the southeast part of the city, Adams Park does provide its namesake recreation area. In the park, locals can find a swimming pool and a golf course.

Though its bounded to the north by downtown Atlanta, with easy access to both I-20 and I-85, Mechanicsville doesn’t exist as a commuter’s paradise. In fact, the 4,221 residents of the neighborhood have trouble taking advantage of the city’s opportunities. This economic stagnation creates the number 8 most unappealing sector of the city.

Despite the proximity of the downtown area, good jobs are hard to come by. The median income sits at $32,768 and the unemployment rate comes in at 5.2%. Housing is at least affordable, with a median home value of $113,900.

Given its location near the center of the action, Mechanicsville does grant its residents plenty of amenities. This includes its share of green spaces, like the Rosa L. Burney Park.

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous Atlanta neighborhoods in 2024

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in Atlanta:

• High crime (Estimated)
• High unemployment (Less jobs)
• Low median income (Less pay)
• Low population density (No things to do)
• Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)

Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia for each of these criteria from worst to best.

Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”

The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of Atlanta.

The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Atlanta.

Skip to the end to see the list of all 30 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.