Here's Where Atlanta Stands Among Best State Capitals In U.S.

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia's capital is one of the most prosperous towns in the U.S., experts recently found.

Atlanta, home to the historical Fox Theatre and Piedmont Park, is the fifth-best state capital in the U.S., WalletHub experts say.

The nucleus of Georgia, Atlanta scored high in all four of WalletHub's categories for an overall 59.22 tally.

The score breakdown was as follows: 15 in affordability, 13 in economic well-being, 11 in quality of education and health and six in quality of life.

“A state’s capital city is more than just the seat of its government – it’s also often the center of its economic activity. Some state capitals boast incredible job markets, high average salaries, world-class universities and an abundance of attractions," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a news release.

"Unfortunately, others have populations that are struggling financially, failing public education systems and poor public health systems. States should aim to make their capital city a shining example of the best they have to offer.”

Georgia economic officials, in December, touted the state's booming film and TV industry. Across the state, including in Atlanta, attractions continue to be appealing to production companies.

Atlanta is also home to multiple top-tier headquarters, adding to Georgia's overall economy. Forbes recently listed some of these companies as the state's best employers.

Several new restaurants have decided to plant seeds in metro Atlanta, while some existing eateries are expanding their footprints in the area.

With a seemingly flourishing sports market, Atlanta houses national sports teams Falcons, Hawks, Braves and the United.

In October 2024, officials at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium announced that Atlanta was chosen to host Super Bowl 62 in February 2028.

Additionally, the stadium will host eight matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Atlanta United previously announced.

The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will return on July 15 to Atlanta for the first time in 25 years, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in November 2023.

The U.S. Soccer Federation also plans to open its new headquarters and national training center in metro Atlanta.

While Atlanta did not best Austin, Texas, which claimed the top spot on the WalletHub list, Atlanta did outperform other known U.S. towns such as Boston, Massachusetts; Sacramento, California; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Other Southeast capitals ranked as follows: Raleigh (No. 3, North Carolina), Nashville (No. 12, Tennessee), Tallahassee (No. 25, Florida), Columbia (No. 32, South Carolina), Juneau (No. 38, Arkansas), Frankfort (No. 41, Kentucky), Montgomery (No. 44, Alabama), Baton Rouge (No. 47, Louisiana) and Jackson (No. 48, Mississippi).

Here are the top 10 best state capitals, per WalletHub:

1. Austin, Texas
2. Madison, Wisconsin
3. Raleigh, North Carolina
4. Boise, Idaho
5. Atlanta, Georgia
6. Lincoln, Nebraska
7. Salt Lake City, Utah
8. Denver, Colorado
9. St. Paul, Minnesota
10. Columbus, Ohio

See the full WalletHub survey.