Johns Creek landed at No. 5 on U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Places to Live list, making it the highest-ranked city in Georgia and one of only 10 communities nationwide to earn the distinction.

The ranking is separate from the publication's Safest Places to Live list, where Johns Creek already holds the No. 1 spot nationally. Together, the two honors give this Fulton County city of about 78,400 residents, per U.S. News estimates, a rare double recognition from the same outlet.

U.S. News evaluated cities on job market, value, quality of life, and desirability, drawing on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, FBI, FEMA, and NOAA, along with a public survey on what Americans prioritize in a hometown. The publication noted that affordability has become a top concern for Americans choosing where to live, with cost-of-living worries outweighing other aspirations for many households.

Johns Creek's median household income sits at $167,051, with a median home value of $588,835 and an unemployment rate of 2.86 percent, according to the U.S. News city profile.

The full national top 10: Carmel, Indiana; Fishers, Indiana; Flower Mound, Texas; Ankeny, Iowa; Johns Creek; Hoover, Alabama; Rochester Hills, Michigan; Leander, Texas; Frisco, Texas; and Sugar Land, Texas.

Mayor John Bradberry referenced the city's national rankings during a June 23 City Council discussion about purchasing land for future recreational amenities. "The needs of the community are only going to continue to grow," Bradberry said at that meeting. "It's short-sighted for us not to always be looking toward the future while there is still land available because land is disappearing."

City data cited in the same council session showed about 68 percent of residents have ranked adult fitness and wellness programs a priority. The city has responded in part with free outdoor classes at the Boardwalk at Town Center, the new park behind City Hall that received the 2025 MARS Award for Large Redevelopment Project of the Year, and at Newtown Park.