Is Lithonia, GA A Good Place To Live?

Gary Evans
by Gary Evans

Your home will likely be the most important purchase you ever make in your life. The importance of getting the most out of that particular purchase cannot be overstated. In search of a great home investment, you should reserve time to check out what’s available in Lithonia, Georgia.

Lithonia is an underrated gem of a city found in Georgia’s DeKalb County. You may not have heard much about it previously, but there are real reasons why it deserves your attention.

House prices in Lithonia are remarkably affordable as they’re nearly half the price of an average home in the country. What’s even more appealing about becoming a homeowner in Lithonia is that the prices of properties there have steadily risen. Unfortunately, bad traffic and high crime rates take a lot of joy out of the experience of living in Lithonia.

Buying a new home in Lithonia is a very realistic proposition compared to what it’s like in other cities. Find out if there are enough reasons for you to move by continuing with the rest of this article.

Do You Need to Hire Movers?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

Why Is Lithonia a Good Place to Live?

Lithonia, otherwise known as the City of Granite, got its start as a small farming community back in the early 1800s. The city has grown significantly since then, but it still retains its small-town identity.

Will you like staying in this small Georgia city? That’s a question you’ll have to answer on your own. However, we will include some important details that should help you reach your conclusion.

In this section, we’ll focus more on the pros of living in Lithonia. See what they are for yourself and determine if they are good enough incentives for you to move there.

Very Affordable Houses

Buying a home is not necessary whenever you move to a new city. You can always look for an apartment and stay in the city that way. If you have family in that city you can stay with, that would be even better for your finances. Still, a lot of people prefer purchasing a new home in the city they’re moving to, but that’s not always easy. Homes are big purchases and you may have to save for a while before you can secure enough money.

What’s great about Lithonia is that homes are more attainable purchases there compared to the rest of the United States. Let’s use some numbers to better frame the housing market in Lithonia. The median price for a new home in the United States is currently at $231,000. House prices in Georgia are actually lower than average. They are at about $187,000.

$187,000 is already quite an appealing price, but the median cost of a home goes down further in Lithonia. In the City of Granite, you can purchase a new home for $128,000. That’s a very low number and it gives you a good idea of how attainable homes are in the city.

If you don’t want to move before purchasing a new home, check out what Lithonia has to offer. Don’t let the low prices fool you as the homes available for purchase in the city are still of high quality.

Homes in Lithonia Are Great Investments

Buying a new home in Lithonia makes a lot of sense not just if you’re moving there. It could also be a great investment opportunity for you. Homes in Lithonia have been appreciating in value at a very solid rate in recent years. Most recently, home values there went up by about 11 percent.

Given the current price of a new Lithonia home, one would make for a terrific investment. Secure a home on the cheap now and flip it for a profit down the line. If you’re able to remain patient, you could end up making a ton of money in the Lithonia real estate market.

Close Proximity to Atlanta

Lithonia’s location is yet another reason to take an interest in living there. Although Lithonia itself does not have much to offer in terms of scenic destinations, it’s still a conveniently located city. The city of Lithonia is located close to Atlanta. Driving to Atlanta every day for work even while you stay in Lithonia is a feasible arrangement. Dealing with the traffic all the time may grate on you though.

In any case, living close to a big metropolis such as Atlanta is almost always a good thing. Apart from work opportunities, you can also enjoy all kinds of recreational activities there.

Living in Lithonia is a good alternative if you’d prefer not to deal with the hassle of being an Atlanta resident. The drives to and from the big city won’t be fun, but at least you’re still enjoying the perks of Lithonia.

What Are the Pitfalls of Living in Lithonia?

Affordable homes, investment opportunities, and close proximity to Atlanta make Lithonia a great place to live in. It’s not all about the positives though. There are also negative aspects to living in Lithonia you must know about.

Long Commute Times

We hinted at this a bit in the section before, but traffic is an issue in Lithonia. Truthfully, it’s a significant issue that consistently weighs down on residents of the city. It’s the major downside to living so close to Atlanta.

The drive from Lithonia to Atlanta can probably be completed in around 20 to 30 minutes with light traffic. With normal traffic, the drive to Atlanta will take closer to 40 minutes although it can easily go longer than that.

Leaving early is practically a prerequisite if you have a conventional working schedule. Otherwise, the traffic is often going to be the cause of you showing up late to the office.

High Crime Rates

Lithonia is on the smaller side for a city. It’s easy to assume that crime is not a big issue for smaller cities, but that’s not the case in Lithonia.

The site Neighborhood Scout has some of the latest crime statistics for Lithonia. According to the statistics they provided, the property crime rate in the city is at 37.32 per 1,000 residents. The violent crime is at 5.15 per 1,000 residents. Taking all those numbers into account, the site has Lithonia as safer than only seven percent of American cities. It’s certainly not among the safest places that Georgia has to offer.

As a homeowner in the city, you must do what you can to safeguard your property. Use security cameras to keep a close watch over your property. Install alarms, fences, and other features to keep any nefarious individuals away.

Living in Lithonia can be fun in a lot of ways, but the threat of crime is concerning. You’ll have to decide if the crime rates in the city are enough deterrents for you to stay away from there.

Quality of Public Education

Parents in Lithonia have numerous options to consider when it comes to finding a school for their children. It’s always good to have options, but the quality of public education in the city leaves a lot to be desired.

Public schools in the city have consistently received low ratings from the students and parents. Private schools do operate in Lithonia, but the additional cost makes them an impractical solution for many families.

There are good public schools in Lithonia, but you’ll have to seek them out purposefully. Remember where they are located before you make plans to move to the city.

What Is the Cost of Living in Lithonia?

You already know that homes in Lithonia are very affordable, but what about the other cost of living expenses there? We can find out more about those other expenses by going through the upcoming bullet points:

  • Utilities – The cost of utilities in Lithonia is right about what you’d expect in the state of Georgia. They are slightly more expensive than what you’ll find throughout the rest of the country.
  • Transportation – Lithonia rates poorly in terms of transportation expenses. Ride a bike or walk whenever possible to avoid those exorbitant costs.
  • Healthcare – You can find affordable healthcare options in Lithonia. It won’t take long before you spot a provider with options that easily fit into your budget.
  • Groceries – The basic necessities are also quite affordable in the city. There’s no need to head out of town just to find better prices.

Do You Need to Hire Movers?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.


Related Questions

What Is the Climate Like in Lithonia?

Lithonia gets a lot of rain. The city averages about 52 inches of rainfall every year. July in particular gets a lot of rain so adjust your summer plans accordingly.Although dealing with that much rain is not always pleasant, it does create a more comfortable climate in the city. The weather still gets warm in Lithonia, but you can avoid the sweltering temperatures.Overall, the climate in Lithonia is comfortable most of the year. You don’t have to worry about that negatively affecting your stay in the city.


What Are Future Projections Saying about Lithonia’s Economy?

Many cities throughout Georgia have rapidly growing economies. Lithonia is not at the top of that list, but its economy still has a very promising outlook.Projections indicate that job growth in the city will climb to nearly 45 percent over the next decade. That is well over what projections say about the average American city. Consider Lithonia’s growing economy as yet another reason why staying there can turn out well for you.

More Related Guides

Gary Evans
Gary Evans

Gary Evans is passionate about home improvement. He loves finding out how to make improvements in the easiest, most practical, and most affordable ways. Upgrading his home kitchen is one of his ongoing hobbies. Gary is also a long-time content creator and enjoys spending his free time tending to his hydroponic vegetable garden.

More by Gary Evans

Next