Cobb County

Metro Atlanta city recognized as one of the top places to live in the country

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A metro Atlanta city has been named in a national list as one of the best places to live in the country.

Zillow and Yelp, Inc. crowned Marietta as one of the top ten cities in the nation to be named as a suburb with urban amenities and a big city feel. Marietta was the only city in Georgia to be named in this list and only one of two cities in the Southeast.

“Increased opportunities to work remotely are pushing more Americans to rethink how and where they want to live. But even if there’s less of a need to live as close to urban job centers, traditional urban amenities — think restaurants, nightlife, museums and sports venues — remain a big draw and demand for city living remains high,” Zillow wrote.

The list cites key metrics, which include housing affordability compared to the nearest big cities and to the country at large, housing availability, the mix and diversity of businesses — including restaurants, nightlife and the arts — and consumer reviews and check-ins.

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All of Marietta’s amenities combine to place it on this coveted list.

Additionally, Livability analyzed more than 1,000 small to mid-sized cities on factors like safety, affordability, economic stability, outdoor recreation, accessibility and community engagement. This year’s list was also measured by a new metric: an “opportunity score” which was used to determine each city’s landscape of opportunity, including variables like job numbers, broadband access, economic resilience, and growth. Marietta was one of only three cities in Georgia to be named to this list.

“It is an honor to have Marietta placed on both these top tier lists of cities in recognition of our wonderful, vibrant, and diverse community,” said City Manager Bill Bruton. “Our restaurants, nightlife, museums, and arts scene have flourished over the years to create a place where people want to be. Our outdoor recreation and parks facilities have made our city a sports destination, while our economic development projects and job growth have steadily continued even during the pandemic.”

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