Apartment Costs In This GA Town Are In The Top 10 Nationally: New Study

ATLANTA, GA — Real-estate experts say Atlanta boasts one of the top 10 markets for new affordable apartments, placing the town among other major U.S. cities in a ranking released this week.

RentCafe, which analyzes apartment-related data, on Tuesday reported Seattle narrowly outweighs New York City to be deemed the No. 1 market for affordable apartments. Atlanta is fifth-best on the list that featured 20 markets overall.

Examiners looked at inexpensive housing construction from the last decade to compile their list.

In Georgia, construction has been completed on 10,486 new affordable apartments in the last five years in Atlanta, according to RentCafe. Before then, 4,139 affordable apartments were developed from 2015-19, creating a 153.35 percent increase.

This pushes an 11.10 percent share of new affordable apartments compared to overall housing in Atlanta, according to the data.

Notably, the Reserve at Douglasville at 7755 Dallas Hwy. 92 has provided cheap prices and 286 apartments for low-income renters, according to RentCafe.

"Set in a growing suburb west of Atlanta, the property introduces affordable apartments to an area where new housing has often skewed toward higher price points," the analysis stated.

RentCafe's report was released the same day as Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' announcement of The Kennedy at Riverside, a 1.2-acre mixed-income community with 50 units at 1988 Hollywood Road NW in Atlanta. The area is in the Perry Bolton Tax Allocation District.

The Kennedy will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments while offering live/work units for small business entrepreneurs. Other amenities, such as a fitness space, will be available.

Construction has began, and Dickens said move-ins are expected by fall 2027.

"This development is designed with real life in mind," Dickens said. " ... This is what building housing that supports people, small businesses and stronger neighborhoods together looks like."

RentCafe reported the full top 20 markets for best affordable apartments are as follows:

1. Seattle, Washington
2. New York City, New York
3. Austin, Texas
4. Twin Cities, Minnesota
5. Atlanta, Georgia
6. Denver, Colorado
7. Los Angeles, California
8. Bay Area, California
9. San Antonio, Texas
10. Miami, Florida
11. San Francisco, California
12. Chicago, Illinois
13. Portland, Oregon
14. Charlotte, North Carolina
15. Washington, D.C.
16. Nashville, Tennessee
17. Dallas, Texas
18. Eastern Virginia, Virginia
19. Phoenix, Arizona
20. Northern Virginia, Virignia

See RentCafe's full methodology.