Macon, GA, United States

Capital City

Blunt as a two-by-four, Macon's population of 157,346 faces a serious crime problem, with the city setting a homicide record of 70 in 2022 and having the highest crime rate in Georgia in 2023. Bureaucracy is also a persistent headache, with the former county manager charged with fraud in 2019. On the plus side, Macon's central location makes it a transportation hub, and its musical heritage and cultural sites like the Ocmulgee Mounds offer plenty to enjoy. But between the heavy crime burden and officious bureaucrats, this city is only for the tough-minded.