Hi there, I am Brandie Parton, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Atlanta, GA. I love this bustling city that never seems to quit, rest, or become boring! I look forward to sharing some of the best neighborhoods near the city’s largest employers. If you are considering a move to what is known by the locals as “the ATL”, you want to know all about not only the best places to work, but the best neighbors to reside near those businesses.

About Atlanta

As I already stated, this city is my favorite! It is not only the capital of Georgia, but is a huge transportation hub and a giant in the media industries as well as boasting its own NFL and MLB teams. This city is diverse with all demographics of individuals calling it home. It has some of the best hospitals and schools in the nation and has a lot to offer anyone moving into the area. [As an aside, don’t say “hotlanta” no one uses this phrase, and it will instantly have you identified as an outsider.] Now, back to the topic at hand…the following are some of the largest employers in this fine city and the neighborhoods that surround them you might want to consider if you plan to move into the area:

Current Pricing for Apartments in Atlanta

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is Atlanta’s largest employer. Interestingly enough, it is also the largest employer in the entire state of Georgia. Suffice it to say that Delta is a powerhouse not only in Atlanta but throughout the state and even the nation. Delta Air Lines has its headquarters at Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (the world’s busiest). The full-time employee count for Delta Air Lines globally is nearly 80,000. Those in Atlanta at headquarters number more than 30,000. These are insane numbers that are continuing to steadily grow.

Neighborhoods Near Delta Air Lines

College Park

College Park is conveniently located adjacent to the airport, which houses the Delta headquarters. This area offers a mixture of businesses and residential areas. This is a deeply rooted neighborhood with local restaurants, community events, and parks and recreation. It also makes a great home base to get to the rest of Atlanta. Even downtown Atlanta is easily accessible from various points in College Park thanks to the MARTA train.

East Point

With a mission to be one of the most sought-after, diverse, and safe communities in all of Georgia, the East Point neighborhood aims to offer small city charm with big city amenities. It is a historic city with a revitalized downtown. East Point is known for being affordable and accessible and is situated to the northeast of the airport, making it ideal for Delta employees as it is a mere five minutes from the airport and another 10 from downtown Atlanta.

Hapeville

Known for its vibrant art culture and proximity to the airport, Hapeville is another good option for Delta employees. Hapeville boasts a sprawling park, restaurants, renovated theater and various displays of art all over, including murals, sculptures, and the city-themed butterflies. This has led to it earning the moniker of “A Home For The Arts.” It is also a very walkable neighborhood with plenty of community events like art walks, concert series, and cycling races.

Emory University

Another powerhouse company in Atlanta is Emory University. In fact, according to a list published by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Emory University is actually the largest employer in the metro Atlanta area (since Delta’s headquarters are slightly outside). In fact, in some lists, Emory tops Delta in sheer numbers of employees. So, you could safely have Delta and Emory fighting it out for top billing in Atlanta as the number one employer. Emory University employs a full-time workforce of 37,716 employees. Emory has also been recognized as one of “America’s Best Employers for Women” by Forbes.

Neighborhoods Near Emory University

Druid Hills

Druid Hills is the closest neighborhood to employer giant Emory University. The neighborhood and local park system was designed by Fredick Law Olmstead, who gained notoriety when he designed New York’s famed Central Park. Druid Hills features elegant stately homes and curvilinear tree-lined streets. It is also one of Atlanta’s first suburbs and has come to be known as “Atlanta’s historic gem”.

Virginia-Highland

Perhaps best known for its abundance of bungalows and historic houses, Virginia-Highland is another nearby neighborhood for Emory employees. Getting from Emory to the iconic Virginia-Highland neighborhood takes about 10 minutes as it is only about three miles away. This unique neighborhood is known as the cool place to live in Atlanta. Local restaurants feature tables lining the streets and clothing racks are displayed outside local boutiques. Throughout the day, the area is hopping, but even at night, Virginia-Highland is known for having the best bars in the city.

Little Five Points

Called the Little Five or simply the L5P, Little Five Points is an eclectic, bohemian-style neighborhood known for its funky, fun flare. It is close to Emory, situated a mere three miles away, so it’s a great option for employees. The L5P boasts vintage clothing stores, colorful street art, the embracement of alternative cultures, tattoo parlors, record shops, and enjoys a strong sense of community.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

As the single largest pediatric care provider in the state, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is the third-largest employer in the city. Known as the CHOA, this facility employs nearly 15,000 Atlanta residents, which includes medical staff, support personnel, and leadership personnel. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta was founded in 1915 and although the hospital has grown immensely, its mission remains rooted in its history: “to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow.”

Neighborhoods Near Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Sandy Springs and Perimeter Center

Located a mere 5 to 10 miles from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Sandy Springs is a good option for CHOA employees. This vibrant neighborhood is situated just north of the city and is known for its good schools, walkable shop/dine/live format. Family life and an overall laid-back approach to life, make Sandy Springs, as part of the larger Perimeter Center location, a great place to live.

Brookhaven

As another even closer option to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, I recommend considering the neighborhood of Brookhaven when looking for places to live. The distance between the healthcare facility and Brookhaven is between five and six miles, meaning your commute will likely take you between 10 and 15 minutes to get to work, depending on traffic. Brookhaven is known as a trendy and fashionable neighborhood. It is actually located north of Atlanta and is considered a vibrant and desirable neighborhood for young professionals and families alike.

Dunwoody

The Dunwoody neighborhood is tucked into DeKalb County’s northern border. It is known as a traditional suburban neighborhood with proximity to many corporate businesses and large employers like Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Due to its city ordinances, which include mandated greenspace expansion, Dunwoody has remained serene despite its immense growth. Dunwoody residents can easily access employers like CHOA via a vehicle or MARTA train.

The Home Depot

Another mammoth employer in the ATL is The Home Depot. Estimates state that The Home Depot employs over 10,000 individuals in their headquarters and more than 400,000 nationally. In fact, the sales numbers of $152 billion in revenue make it the largest in Georgia in terms of sales. This business is actually a bit more personal to me than the others due to the fact that one of my sisters was actually employed here herself for several years before she moved onto other endeavors. She worked at the headquarters and could have been counted in that more than 10,000 who were employed in the city itself. She worked for their media department, but the company overall employs many types of employees who provide services and goods for the ultra-successful home improvement retailer.

Neighborhoods Near The Home Depot Headquarters

Vinings

Vinings, which is part of Buckhead, is considered a charming, walkable unincorporated village-like neighborhood in Cobb County. Vinings offers access to Buckhead private schools, which are some of the best. There are a variety of developments and a wide range of homes and apartments to choose from in this neighborhood. It’s boarded by Cumberland Parkway and located just across the Chattahoochee River from the Paces neighborhood (another part of Buckhead). Vinings is a mere two miles from The Home Depot headquarters.

Cabbagetown

Situated within the same metropolitan area as the headquarters of The Home Depot, Cabbagetown is a great option for employees of this company. Of course, even though they are close, MARTA transportation or driving is likely necessary to get from point A to point B. Cabbagetown is located southeast of the city, and it abuts the historic Oakland Cemetery. Cabbagetown, also known as the Fulton Mill Village, is eight square blocks of former mills being made into upscale lofts and interesting historic backstories.

Old Fourth Ward

This intown neighborhood is situated on the east side of Atlanta and is more commonly known as the O4W. The Old Fourth Ward neighborhood is about 1.3 miles from downtown, making it a good option for The Home Depot headquarter employees. This historic neighborhood has quickly become one of the hippiest in the city. This neighborhood is perhaps best known for being the birthplace of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was the original location of Morris Brown College. Old Fourth Ward is also conveniently located to the Atlanta Beltline and Freedom Parkway. There is a hidden speakeasy located in a pizzeria on Edgewood, which is just one of the many hidden gems of this neighborhood.

The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company was founded in Atlanta, and even though it has expanded globally, its headquarters still remain in the ATL, and it is still one of the city’s largest employers. At the metro area headquarters in Atlanta alone, there are nearly 4,800 people employed by Coca-Cola. There is also a global workforce, of course, and the Coca-Cola Museum. The downtown Coca-Cola headquarters is a massive 29-story tower that has been a prominent part of the Atlanta skyline since its construction in 1979.

Neighborhoods Near the Coca-Cola Headquarters

Midtown

Known as the ideal blend of greenery and cityscapes, the nearby neighborhood of Midtown is perfect for Coca-Cola employees. The neighborhood itself is walkable and the local amenities include bars and even award-winning restaurants. It is also close to Piedmont Park which boasts over 200 acres of greenspace, with wide biking and walking paths. Midtown is known as the “heart of the arts” thanks to its visionary design and thriving art scene. It is a close 2.5 miles away from downtown Atlanta and is served by MARTA as well.

Downtown Atlanta

Due to Coca-Cola’s headquarter location, another viable option for employees in terms of living options is choosing to reside in Downtown Atlanta. This area is part of Fulton County and is considered a great place to live. It is known for its urban experience and access to diverse dining and cultural attractions. Walkability is also a big plus when living downtown. There are fewer housing options to be sure, when compared to the suburbs surrounding the city. However, the accessibility that residing downtown provides cannot be discounted. In addition, MARTA is a good option to reach surrounding areas or to better access the city itself.

Poncey-Highland

Another option for Coca-Cola employees, being just three miles away to the east of the city, is the historic Poncey-Highland neighborhood. Poncey-Highland boasts an urban setting surrounding the sprawling Freedom Park, the city’s largest linear park. The park includes museums, diners, movie theaters and more. This urban neighborhood of Poncey-Highland is known for historical buildings, a mixture of residential options, and its proximity to the Beltline.

There is Something For Everyone in the ATL

After reading through the top employers in the city and the many nearby neighborhoods that make great options for their employees, it’s easy to see there is something for everyone in Atlanta. Whether you want something modern and luxurious, or historic and renovated, there are options. The city itself is historic but the modern offerings for employment are anything but antiquated. Consider the information above when you begin planning your move to my favorite city. Let me be the first to say, welcome! Now, make yourself at home!