Where Is the Richest Part of Atlanta? A Local Guide to High-Income Neighborhoods

If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or are considering a move, it’s natural to wonder: what is the richest part of Atlanta?

In reality, there isn’t just one single “richest” area. Atlanta has several pockets of very high income and luxury living, mostly clustered in the north and northwest parts of the city and into nearby suburbs.

Below is a practical, locally focused breakdown of Atlanta’s wealthiest areas, what “richest” typically means here, and what you can expect in each part of town.

What Does “Richest Part of Atlanta” Really Mean?

When people ask about the richest part of Atlanta, they’re usually thinking about areas with:

• High household incomes
• Expensive home prices and luxury real estate
• Upscale shopping, dining, and private schools
• Well-funded amenities like parks, country clubs, and security

In Atlanta, those areas tend to be found:

• In the Buckhead district of the City of Atlanta
• In the northern intown neighborhoods near Buckhead
• In nearby northside suburbs such as Sandy Springs and parts of North Fulton

“Richest” can mean income, property values, or lifestyle. Below, we’ll cover each of these angles, focusing on specific Atlanta neighborhoods and communities people typically associate with high wealth.

Buckhead: Atlanta’s Most Famous Wealthy District

If you had to name one area most people point to as the richest part of Atlanta, it would be Buckhead.

Why Buckhead Is Considered the Richest Area

Buckhead is known for:

• Luxury homes and high-end condos
• Upscale shopping (Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza)
• Fine dining and nightlife
• Corporate offices and financial services
• Some of the highest property values inside the Atlanta city limits

You’ll find both towering condo buildings along Peachtree Road and quiet, tree-lined streets with large single-family homes tucked away behind them.

Wealthy Neighborhoods Within Buckhead

Within Buckhead, certain residential pockets stand out for very high incomes and home prices:

• Tuxedo Park

  • One of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Atlanta
  • Large estates on spacious lots, many gated
  • Known for grand homes, historic and new construction

• Paces & Paces Ferry / West Paces Ferry Road

  • Runs near the Governor’s Mansion on West Paces Ferry Road
  • Mix of old Atlanta estates and newer luxury builds
  • Often cited among the highest-value residential corridors in the city

• Chastain Park (Buckhead side)

  • Surrounds Chastain Memorial Park, one of Atlanta’s largest parks
  • Known for a country-club feel, large homes, and access to trails, golf, and an amphitheater

• Peachtree Heights / Garden Hills / Peachtree Hills

  • In-town, walkable feel with higher-end bungalows, cottages, and small estates
  • Close to Peachtree Road, upscale retail, and restaurants

These neighborhoods are what many locals think of when they picture old Atlanta money and established wealth.

Other High-Income Intown Areas Near Buckhead

While Buckhead is the best-known wealthy district, several neighboring intown areas also have very high property values and household incomes.

Brookhaven (City of Brookhaven)

Located just northeast of Buckhead, Brookhaven is its own city but is often grouped into the same high-income north Atlanta belt.

• Brookhaven Heights / Brookhaven Fields / Ashford Park

  • Mix of renovated older homes and new construction
  • Popular with professionals who want proximity to Buckhead without being directly in the core

• Historic Brookhaven

  • Centered around the Capital City Club golf course
  • Grand homes, many on large lots, with a traditional country club environment

Brookhaven offers a combination of luxury homes, townhomes, and high-end apartments, and is similar in feel to some parts of Buckhead but with a slightly more residential character.

Morningside–Lenox Park & Virginia-Highland

Just south of Buckhead, Morningside–Lenox Park and Virginia-Highland are not “richest” in the flashy way Buckhead sometimes is, but they are high-value intown neighborhoods with strong incomes and real estate demand.

• Known for charming historic homes, renovated bungalows, and newer high-end builds
• Walkable streets with local restaurants, shops, and pubs
• Very popular with professionals and families who want intown living and quality schools

While home sizes can be smaller than Buckhead estates, price per square foot in some pockets is extremely high, making these some of the most expensive neighborhoods per square foot in the city.

Ansley Park & Midtown Adjacencies

Ansley Park, just north of Midtown, is another legacy wealthy neighborhood:

• Curving streets, parks, and early-1900s homes
• Directly adjacent to Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden
• High-end properties with easy access to Midtown offices and arts venues

This area doesn’t have the same “mall and towers” feel as Buckhead, but it quietly ranks among the priciest residential zones in Atlanta.

Wealthy Northside Suburbs Connected to Atlanta

Many people who ask about the richest part of Atlanta also include nearby northside suburbs, since they’re tightly connected to the city’s economy and lifestyle.

Sandy Springs

Just north of Buckhead, Sandy Springs is one of the wealthiest cities in the Atlanta metro area.

Key wealthy pockets include:

• Chastain Park (Sandy Springs side)
  • Large homes, leafy streets, and park access
• Riverside / Powers Ferry / Heards Ferry Road areas
  • Upscale neighborhoods with big lots and high-end construction
• Country club communities and gated enclaves along the Chattahoochee River

Many Atlanta executives and professionals choose Sandy Springs for larger lots, top-rated schools nearby, and a more suburban feel while still being relatively close to intown jobs.

North Fulton: Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton

Farther north, several areas in North Fulton County are known for high incomes and luxury housing:

• Alpharetta & Milton
  • Gated communities and estates, often with equestrian or golf amenities
  • High-end new construction and master-planned neighborhoods
• Johns Creek
  • Suburban neighborhoods with large homes and well-regarded public schools
• Roswell (north side)
  • Historic and newer luxury neighborhoods along the river and in north Roswell

While these aren’t “Atlanta” in a strict city-limit sense, many people from outside the region still consider them part of “greater Atlanta” when discussing the richest areas.

A Quick Comparison of Atlanta’s Wealthiest Areas

Below is a simple overview comparing major high-income zones people often mean when they say “richest part of Atlanta”:

How Locals Usually Answer: “Richest Part of Atlanta?”

If you ask someone who lives in the city, you’ll usually hear one of these answers:

• “Buckhead, especially Tuxedo Park and West Paces Ferry.”
• “North Buckhead and Brookhaven for upscale intown living.”
• “The northside suburbs like Sandy Springs, Milton, and Johns Creek.”

From a city-limits perspective, the richest part of Atlanta is most commonly understood to be:

From a metro-area perspective, people often expand that to include Buckhead + northside suburbs such as Sandy Springs, Milton, Alpharetta, and Johns Creek.

How This Matters if You Live In or Visit Atlanta

Depending on your situation, “richest part of Atlanta” can help you:

If You’re House-Hunting

• Look at Buckhead, Brookhaven, Ansley Park, and Morningside for intown luxury.
• Explore Sandy Springs and North Fulton if you prefer a suburban, larger-lot feel.
• Factor in commuting routes like GA-400, I-285, and Peachtree Road, which heavily influence day-to-day life in these areas.

If You’re Visiting Atlanta

You might enjoy:

• Buckhead Village & Peachtree Road for luxury shopping, dining, and hotels
• Chastain Park for concerts, walking trails, and a look at nearby upscale homes
• A drive along West Paces Ferry Road to see historic estates and the Governor’s Mansion area

If You’re Just Curious About the City

Knowing where the wealth is concentrated helps explain:

• Why traffic is so heavy on the north side
• Where high-end retail and dining tend to cluster
• How Atlanta has grown, with much of its recent residential expansion focused to the north

Key Takeaways

• There is no single official “richest part of Atlanta,” but Buckhead is the most widely recognized wealthy district.
• Tuxedo Park, Paces/West Paces Ferry, and Chastain Park within Buckhead are often considered among the richest neighborhoods in the city.
• Nearby intown areas like Brookhaven, Ansley Park, Morningside, and Virginia-Highland also rank high in income and home values.
• Sandy Springs and the North Fulton suburbs extend this wealthy corridor further north, forming a broad northside high-income belt closely tied to Atlanta’s economy.

For anyone living in, visiting, or studying Atlanta, understanding these areas gives a clearer picture of where wealth is concentrated and how the city is shaped by it.