Candler-McAfee, 2011
Candler-McAfee’s story
Candler-McAfee in pictures
Census counts: 27,306 in 1980, 22,468 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2011 and 5 maps from 1954 on.
Explore the history →Candler-McAfeeGA
20,905 people live in this town in Georgia.
Population
20,905
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$259K
Census ACS
Household income
$65K
median
Median age
43.0
years
Jobs based here
2,000
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#155 of 258 in GA
Is Candler-McAfee a good place to live?
The weak point is schools: its public schools trail 83% of Georgia towns on state tests and graduation. Candler-McAfee’s overall grade, C−, puts it better than 20% of U.S. towns. In the ranking it comes 155th of 258 in Georgia. It lags on incomes as well (C+): the median household income is $65K, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Homes run about $259K for a typical one, 2.9 times the Atlanta metro’s $90K median household income. Its strongest is walkability — it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 92% of U.S. towns.
Figures: schools, state test and graduation results · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow.
What makes Candler-McAfee stand out
Where Candler-McAfee beats most towns.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Candler-McAfee for work
Where Candler-McAfee’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,000jobs based in Candler-McAfee
1%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Candler-McAfee grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Candler-McAfee is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.7 of 20; 7.3% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsSchools are among the weakest comparedC−Open →Jobs & incomeBehind most towns comparedC+Open →HealthEmory University Hospital 5.6 miles awayC+Open →Cost of livingAbout average among the towns comparedC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 42% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 3% conserved landCOpen →HistoryLittle recorded history by comparisonDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 84 attractions →Mercedes-Benz Stadium and 68 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Candler-McAfee. Close and well known come first.
Big draw8 mi Stadium & arenaMercedes-Benz Stadium
Big draw9 mi MountainStone Mountain
Big draw8 mi Stadium & arenaState Farm Arena
8 mi Zoo & aquariumGeorgia Aquarium
Big draw16 mi Theme parkSix Flags Over Georgia
7 mi Stadium & arenaCenter Parc StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Atlanta Falcons, CC BY 3.0 · Stone Mountain: KyleAndMelissa22, Public domain · State Farm Arena: Hermann Luyken, CC0 · Georgia Aquarium: Diliff, CC BY 2.5 · Six Flags Over Georgia: hagerman, CC BY 2.0 · Center Parc Stadium: Southernkeith, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
Moving to Candler-McAfee: who provides what
Candler-McAfee is unincorporated, so DeKalb County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDekalb County water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesDeKalb CountyDeKalb County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Georgia you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDeKalb County Board of Registration and ElectionsDeKalb County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code3003230032 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Candler-McAfee.
Candler-McAfee is healthier than towns with similar incomes, has homes that are cheap against local pay and sends most of its workers to Atlanta and beyond.
SchoolsC−
Candler-McAfee earns a C− for schools
Its public schools are run by the DeKalb County school district. Two of its 10 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. The 6 public schools in Candler-McAfee teach 1,945 students between them.
17%of GA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNair Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 701 | D |
| Columbia High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 877 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within GA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in three of Candler-McAfee’s working residents commute to Atlanta
Candler-McAfee has 2,000 jobs for its 9,141 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Candler-McAfee rose by 98, to 2,000. For most workers, Candler-McAfee is a place to come home to: only 1% work in town. Its typical journey to work comes in at 33 minutes. Among workers locally, 21% work from home, where Georgia’s towns sit at 9.2% and U.S. towns at 11%.
1%work in town
| Candler-McAfee | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 21% | 9.2% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.8% | 9.2% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 15% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Candler-McAfee1%
Atlanta30%
Sandy Springs4%
College Park3%
Tucker2%
11 mi
median commute distance
2,000
jobs based in Candler-McAfee
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Candler-McAfee skews older than Georgia
Among residents in Candler-McAfee, 16% are under 18, against 24% in Georgia’s towns and 22% across U.S. towns. People 65 and older are nearly a quarter of residents (15% statewide); children under 18 are 16% of residents (23% statewide). The median age for Candler-McAfee comes to 43 years. College graduates make up 30% of adults 25 and older, against 35% across Georgia.
43median age · GA 37.6
| Candler-McAfee | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 16% | 24% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 24% | 14% | 18% |
| Median age | 43 years | 36.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 25% | 29% |
Candler-McAfeeGeorgiaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma13%
High school26%
Some college24%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
56% women, 44% men
About 80 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.7 points). Across Georgia, 51.2% of residents are women.
| Candler-McAfee | GA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.5% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.2% | 11.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.3% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17.7% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.8% | 12.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.4% | 12.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.5% | 9.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.8% | 5.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 12.8% | 10.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.3% | 26.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.6% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7.8% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.3% | 21.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.2% | 13.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–55°
Spring50–73°
Summer68–88°
Fall51–73°
Nov 9
typical first frost
Mar 25
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC+
On CDC estimates, Candler-McAfee is less healthy than 62% of U.S. towns
Against the 9,877 U.S. towns with household incomes like Candler-McAfee’s, it is healthier than 53%, so its C+ isn’t only a matter of income.
In Candler-McAfee, 17% of adults have diabetes. Against the Georgia average, Candler-McAfee comes out ahead on 6 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 12. Among adults in the town, 41% feel lonely and 45% have high blood pressure.
38%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Candler-McAfee | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 12% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 20% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
6 better14 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Candler-McAfee | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.7% | 7% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 16.4% | 19% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 13.6% | 9.6% |
Emory University Hospital
5.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
56th
percentile among GA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Candler-McAfee, mostly inland flooding
Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 58% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in Candler-McAfee, 64% come from inland flooding and 10% from earthquakes. 38 flood insurance claims have been paid in the town since 1980.
42risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesTornadoes
38
paid flood claims since 1980
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsC
Conserved land covers 3.1% of Candler-McAfee
Parks and preserves in Candler-McAfee: one, of 10 acres.
3.1%conserved
3.1%
conserved · 139 of 4,446 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shoal Creek Park II | — | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C+
The median home in Candler-McAfee sells for about $278K
At 2.9 years of the Atlanta metro’s $90K median household income, the typical home costs less against local pay than in 75% of Georgia towns; that ratio is one input to its C+ for cost of living.
Candler-McAfee’s median rent is $1,498 a month. On the market here: a median 98 days to sell. Also worth knowing: among households in the town, 65% live in a home they own.
$278Kmedian sale price
| Candler-McAfee | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,498 a month | $1,152 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 65% | 58% | 73% |
Market temperature
98
days on market
96.9%
sale-to-list price
22
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Candler-McAfee
17pages on Candler-McAfee
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
25 within 15 miles of the center of Candler-McAfee
Columbia Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Decatur2.7 miGeorgia Piedmont Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Clarkston4.9 mi$3,386 in-state tuitionGeorgia State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Atlanta6.9 mi$8,664 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Candler-McAfee residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Georgia.
About Candler-McAfee
Place in Georgia, United States
Candler-McAfee neighborhood on the east side of Atlanta, Georgia, United States approximately 10 miles (16 km) east of Downtown Atlanta and to the south of Decatur, Georgia The population was 22,468 in 2020.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 7.0 sq mi
Candler-McAfee’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Candler-McAfee.
AtlantaPanthersvilleBelvedere ParkCandler-McAfee
How the neighbors grade
| Town | GA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candler-McAfee | #155 | C− | C+ | — | C− | C+ |
| Atlanta | #151 | C− | D | D | C+ | A− |
| Panthersville | #162 | C− | B− | — | C− | C− |
| Belvedere Park | #120 | C | C | — | C− | B |
Candler-McAfee, Panthersville and Belvedere Park report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Candler-McAfee with a neighbor →
Questions about Candler-McAfee
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Candler-McAfee, GA a good place to live?
Candler-McAfee grades C− overall, better than 20% of U.S. towns and #155 of 258 in Georgia. It grades C+ for health and C− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Candler-McAfee, GA expensive?
The typical home is worth about $259,000, 21% below the Georgia typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.