As a business center and many amenities, Midtown remains one of the most coveted areas in Atlanta. Its tree-lined streets, multi-unit small buildings, street-facing retail, green spaces (perfect for a dog!) and walkability are hard to beat.
Midtown is also a hub for the arts, fine dining, late-night bars and the LGBTQIA community in Atlanta. As a newcomer, it is often challenging to get to know the neighborhood and make sure it’s a good fit before you move. Get to know Midtown below.
Where is Midtown in Atlanta?
Nestled between Buckhead to the north and downtown Atlanta to the south, Midtown borders the connector’s east side. Midtown is one of the priciest neighborhoods in the city, thanks to its endless amenities.
The iconic Peachtree Street cuts through half of the neighborhood and follows a semi-grid pattern. All streets are numbered consecutively, with 10th street being a hub for most attractions. Midtown ZIP codes are 30308 and 30309.
Source: Rent.
Midtown’s main demographic skews younger, including young families, Georgia Tech students and business professionals. The neighborhood is home to several museums, several Fortune 500 companies like Turner Broadcasting and plenty of ways to reduce your commutes via bike and public transportation.
- Studio average rent: $1,519
- One-bedroom average rent: $2,205
- Two-bedroom average rent: $3,542
Living in Midtown
Living in Midtown is living in the heart of the city. In Atlanta, nightlife, the arts scene and dining all congregate in this 1.2-mile area. From festivals like Music Midtown to cultural events like the Dogwood Festival, you can easily immerse yourself in the neighborhood’s culture. Keep reading to get to know this neighborhood a bit more.
Demographics
Midtown is home to young families, business professionals and students heavily involved in their community — 79 percent have a strong sense of community. According to a report from the Midtown Alliance, two in three residents are millennials or Gen-Xers. The neighborhood has seen five times the population growth compared to the city of Atlanta as a whole.
Transportation
With four MARTA stops available to its residents and ample bike lanes, Midtown residents truly have an array of options to leave their car at home. The neighborhood street grid encourages walking. The Atlanta BeltLine connects to more than five miles of bike lanes as well across the neighborhood.
Economy
Midtown has over 20 million square feet of office space, with 96% of it being less than a six-minute walk from a MARTA stop. That kind of convenience is rare in Atlanta. Thanks to its proximity to Georgia Tech and its emerging talent, world-class startup incubators and accelerators live within the neighborhood.
Technology Square, a project sponsored by Georgia Tech, has nurtured innovation, research and venture funds within Midtown. Companies like Fortune 500 NCR Corporation are one of many that have moved their headquarters into the area.
Outdoor recreation
With more than 300 acres of green space between Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and nearby smaller parks, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Atlanta’s mild weather. You can also hop onto the BeltLine right on 10th Street to explore beyond Midtown, as the trail connects all 45 neighborhoods in the city of Atlanta.
Entertainment
From jazz nights at the Woodruff Arts Center and exhibitions at the High Museum of Art to plays at the 14th Street Playhouse and concerts at the Fox Theatre, there’s no lack of entertainment in Midtown. You can also find late-night entertainment at bars along Peachtree and 10th Street. On average, you can see more than 3,000 cultural events in Midtown.
Education
Top-ranked institutions like Georgia Tech and SCAD Atlanta have bred talent within Midtown. Corporate innovation centers like Coca-Cola’s and co-working spaces with workshops for entrepreneurs have helped keep Midtown the hub for all things tech in Atlanta.
10 things to do in Midtown
Thanks to its great walkability, Midtown feels like a real city neighborhood with many attractions that even locals enjoy. Thanks to Atlanta’s mild weather, you can enjoy the neighborhood mostly year-round. But it’s lovely during spring when the dogwoods bloom and in the fall as the tree-lined streets turn from yellow to orange.
Here are 10 out of the many things you can do in Midtown.
1. Alliance Theatre
In the heart of Midtown, you’ll find the Woodruff Arts Center complex and the core of the arts district. Catch a show at the Alliance Theatre, whether it’s the classic A Christmas Carol or one of their new shows that feature emerging Broadway stars.
2. Laughing Skull Lounge
Comedy and improv scene is alive and well in Atlanta. You can get a few laughs at the Laughing Skull Lounge in Midtown, a small, less than 75-seat venue inside burger joint, The Vortex.
3. Atlanta BeltLine Eastside trail
The Atlanta BeltLine has several sections, and the Eastside Trail, the first one to debut, comes right through Midtown. You can hop on the trail at Monroe Drive and 10th Street by foot or on your bike. The trail will connect you to other attractions in Old Fourth Ward, like Ponce City Market.
4. The High Museum of Art
Pay a visit (or better yet, become a member) of the Southeast’s leading museum, the High Museum of Art. Part of the Woodruff Arts Center complex, the museum holds more than 15,000 works of art in its permanent collection. Plus ongoing new, visiting exhibitions, like Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors.
5. Coffee at Café Intermezzo
For the past 40 years, Café Intermezzo has remained an afternoon beacon for long conversations and delicious cakes in Atlanta. At its Midtown outpost, you can quickly walk over after a long day at the office or on the weekends to enjoy a hot latte and a slice of one of their exquisite desserts.
6. Piedmont Park
One of Atlanta’s main green spaces, Piedmont Park transforms into a concert venue, festival site or just an excellent place to have a picnic depending on the time of year. Right in the middle of the city, the park is an incredible amenity to have nearby with a dog park, a community pool and, of course, plenty of walking trails to unwind at the end of the day.
7. Atlanta Botanical Garden
Attached to the back of Piedmont Park, the 30-acre Atlanta Botanical Garden changes from season to season. From lighting shows during the holidays to large, blooming sculptures during the spring, it’s worth visiting throughout the year.
8. Fox Theatre
The Moorish architecture of the Fox Theatre will take your breath away before you even go in through its doors. The historic landmark now functions as a venue for concerts, plays and musicals. You can also take a ghost tour of the facilities in the fall to learn more about the theatre.
9. Center of Puppetry Arts
Did you know that Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog cut the ribbon on the Center of Puppetry Arts‘ opening day? It is one of the only puppet museums in the world. While this family-friendly attraction offers exhibitions and workshops for children, it hosts after-hours adult-only events that are just as fun.
10. Orpheus Brewery
Atlanta has more breweries than you can count on two hands, all with their niche and personality. Orpheus Brewery, right next to Piedmont Park, hires local artists to illustrate their sour beers’ cans. Head to their beer garden tasting room with a beautiful view of the park.
Finding an apartment in Midtown
With a vibrant arts scene and walkability, Midtown is hard to beat. One of the many neighborhoods around town that are lucky to have access to MARTA trains and buses, plus the Atlanta BeltLine and a high walk score, is easy to get around within the neighborhood.
Get from work to your Midtown apartment by skipping traffic. On the weekends, enjoy the outdoors at Piedmont Park or ride your bike on one of its many bike lanes.
Interested in making Atlanta your home? Whether you settle on Midtown or another neighborhood, check out apartments for rent and homes to buy in Atlanta to find something that meets your needs.
