Places to live in the Atlanta area?

[RadioClash]

Where are some nice areas in the Atlanta area to live? Looking for good schools for the kids, a place where they are safe to play in the front yard, reasonable housing prices, etc. I am only familiar with the area around the airport. Would like to live on the north side. Some people have mentioned Marietta, Acworth, Woodstock. I have been told that Cobb county has the best schools in the state?

Any help is appreciated. My commute is getting to be pretty difficult so I think it is time to move.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SeaLord]

I'm new to the ATL but I'm staying with some friends in Smyrna and it's very nice. People ususally like Smyrna, Vinings, Peachtree City, or Newnan just to name the bigger/more well known names.

 

[puddlejumper101]

If you like a quiet neighborhood that is affordable and reasonably close to ATL then try the Newnan, Tyrone, Peachtree City area. It is infested with DAL, and ASA pilots since its as close as you can get to the airport and be in a residential area...not the hood or downtown. Smyrna, Vinnings is nice too but if you want to buy its more expensive and not as kid friendly. Smyrna/Vinnings is the perfect place if you are single or just married...no kids. Marrietta is good too but now you are getting far from the airport...but lots of guys live there too.

 

[schoolio]

Any ATL-based pilots live in Douglasville? Is that too far from the airport?

 

[jball2]

I Live in Villa Rica. It is the next town past Douglasville. D-ville is nice and has everything you need. It is very affordable. Villa Rica is small town America. Low cost of living, decent schools and low taxes. Lots of growth here all of the sudden though! 35 miles to KATL

 

[WorldOnTime]

East Cobb

East Cobb county schools are supposed to be good and it seems like a real nice area. I am currently in North Cobb on the Kennesaw/Acworth border and it's pretty decent up there too. The traffic north of Atlanta is a lot worse than going south. Cobb county has (or at least had last year) the longest average commute time. It's not bad if you are only doing it a few times a month, but if you have a 9-5 it would be rough. I would throw a vote in for Marietta if I had to do it again. There is a neighborhood in Kennesaw called Legacy Park that I would check out. A big wooded green area with lots of trails and paths, pools, tennis courts, baseball field. Lots of events going on for families. If you are single I would second the Vinings area.

 

[tuna pimp]

If you like a quiet neighborhood that is affordable and reasonably close to ATL then try the Newnan, Tyrone, Peachtree City area. It is infested with DAL, and ASA pilots since its as close as you can get to the airport and be in a residential area...not the hood or downtown. Smyrna, Vinnings is nice too but if you want to buy its more expensive and not as kid friendly. Smyrna/Vinnings is the perfect place if you are single or just married...no kids. Marrietta is good too but now you are getting far from the airport...but lots of guys live there too.

Flyhigh pretty much nailed it on the head. When I first moved to ATL I lived in Peachtree City. Very nice, quiet & safe town. I think it was voted one of the top ten places to live in the USA (#8 I think). We moved away because it was too quiet - but would certainly moving back if/when we start to have kids.

Currently live in Smyrna. Just outside the I285 perimeter. A bit more expensive but the area is growing fast with lots of new developments and places to eat/shop, etc. 20 minutes to downtown, buckhead, north perimeter area. Very well located. Also about 20 minutes to the airport and virtually no stop and go rush hour traffic. I love living in Smyrna.

Decatur/Virginia Highlands might be a good place to live inside the perimeter (ITP) if you're more of the upscale sort who wants to live in a nice, trendy part of town truly inside the city. Buckhead and Midtown also would fit this description but are a bit more urban still (both are directly on Peachtree Street). Home prices adjust accordingly.

East Point and College Park areas are right close to Hartsfield. Still a bit sketchy but might be worth a look if you wish to buy a property in a neighbourhood close to the airport that's likely to see more gentrification/ improvement in coming years.

 

[PCL_128]

If you're willing to consider the south side, then there are plenty of good places. If schools are your top priority, then Fayetteville or Peachtree City would be your best bet. Fayette County schools are hard to beat. If you are more concerned with getting a good deal on the house, then I would recommend Newnan or Senoia. I'm looking at houses in Senoia right now, and you can get a great deal in an extremely nice neighborhood. A house that would cost $500k in PTC can be had for less than half that in Senoia. The houses in Newnan are similarly priced, but the traffic in Newnan is just getting to be unbearable in my opinion.

 

[General Lee]

I live on the North side, near Alpharetta, and the traffic suks. But, that isn't the case all of the time, as long as your duty in isn't during rush hour.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[twepilot]

Marietta is where its at bro. 40 minutes to the ATL...Reasonable taxes...great schools...Just whatever you do stay away from the 75North/285 interchange. I get on 285 just south of Atlanta road and its clear sailing...unless you like afternoon trips then the I20 West traffic backs up in that area.
RV

 

[RadioClash]

Thanks for the help you all. I appreciate it.

 

[FCPhotography]

I lived there for about a year in 98-99. All true about the family vs. single stuff. If you have kids a little out will be better for you.

Up north you can get a lake house with a dock for $350-$450,000. I think it would be about 1 to 2 hour drive. Do a google search around the Cartersville area if you are in to affordable lake houses.

PeachTree city is great for family.

Good luck.

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

I'm also from Alpharetta/Roswell area. By far the best area in Atlanta. The best schools, the best class of people to be around on a daily basis, the best shopping and eateries in the metro area, want be to keep going? I have lived on the southside before Newnan/Fayetteville, Coweta County, PTC, etc does not compare to the northside. If you want cheap checkout the the southside. If you want a very nice area to live checkout the northside.

 

[airline#5]

Do yourself a favor and commute to Atlanta. It is strip mall hell. Unless you now live in a New York City slum, you will hate Atlanta. And if you have kids, do not subject them to the worst educational system in the country.

 

[fareview]

Do yourself a favor and commute to Atlanta. It is strip mall hell. Unless you now live in a New York City slum, you will hate Atlanta. And if you have kids, do not subject them to the worst educational system in the country.

Do you mean worst 'education system' in the country there chief?

 

[Atlanta Vicks]

Everyone has pretty much hit the nails on their proverbial heads. Having grown up in Atlanta, (Riverdale, actually before it was Ghettodale) there are a lot of places that would be good for both the single and family types.

If you're single and want a really QUICK commute to ATL, then I would suggest living in Riverdale in the area between Riverdale Rd. and Hwy. 314. There are some new developments that are nice and the drive to the airport is only about 5-10 minutes on a bad day. My parents still live in that area and it's still nice and quiet and not ghetto like the other side of R-dale. Good shopping in North Fayette only 15 minutes away.

For families, I would reccommend Peachtree City/South Fayette County. Very good schools in this area, (Mcintosh, FCHS, Sandy Creek, etc.) Commute is about 30-45 minutes tops.

Even though it's nice, I would stay away from Henry County due to all of the congestion from having 20 years of growth crammed into the time span of 5 years. There is, however, a uber-nice new development called Heron Bay in south Henry that would be about an hour drive to the airport due to traffic. It's super nice and have homes from about 200k all the way up to 1 mil+.

The Newnan/Sharpsburg area is nice and about a 45 minute drive to ATL. This is actually the area my parents will move to if they decide not to retire to FL.

I'm not as familiar with the north side of town these days, but when I left, Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, and Cobb Co. in general were nice. Horrible traffic, but nice nonetheless. Also, Gwinnett Co. north of Norcross (around Discover Mills) was getting nice. My brother-in-law just bought a place in Canton and loves it.

 

[matchthehatch]

Alpharetta is a fantastic place for families. Lots of parks, playgrounds, and a very wide variety of dining and recreational opportunities. I moved my family here from our home (where both my wife and I grew up) in Tampa, and we hope to stay. If you want to research schools, the Atlanta Journal Constitution has a book for sale on it's web site that reviews > 750 schools in the metro area. The cost is around $25, but is worth it.

 

[800Dog]

Alpharetta is a fantastic place for families. Lots of parks, playgrounds, and a very wide variety of dining and recreational opportunities. I moved my family here from our home (where both my wife and I grew up) in Tampa, and we hope to stay. If you want to research schools, the Atlanta Journal Constitution has a book for sale on it's web site that reviews > 750 schools in the metro area. The cost is around $25, but is worth it.

Ditto, born and raised on the north side. Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Roswell and Alpharetta are great places with excellent schools. East Cobb is great if you are in the Walton school district. Peachtree City has great schools but, I would never live there. Resale is much better on the north side as well.

 

[Citrus531]

Having grown up in East Cobb, I can say it's excellent even if it's not the Walton high district. 12 High schools I believe in Cobb and most are very good. Area is great also....plenty of stuff to do....About 45 min with no traffic

Vinings/Smyrna area is a nice area as well that's north of the city....a quick 20 min drive....numerous condo's, townehomes, etc....

 

[800Dog]

Having grown up in East Cobb, I can say it's excellent even if it's not the Walton high district. 12 High schools I believe in Cobb and most are very good. Area is great also....plenty of stuff to do....About 45 min with no traffic

Vinings/Smyrna area is a nice area as well that's north of the city....a quick 20 min drive....numerous condo's, townehomes, etc....

Vinings/Smyrna is great but the schools stink! Lovett is the only good school and I believe it costs around 14k a year. My vote is Alpharetta.

 

[ultrapilot]

West Cobb is best!

I have been in the West Cobb area of Atlanta since the military moved me here in 96'. It is great but growing fast. The housing prices are steadily rising but there are plenty of nice homes in whatever price range you are willing to spend.
Most of the newer subdivision are "swim - tennis" neighborhoods with protective covenants that can help keep your neighbor from opening a diesel truck repair shop next door to you. Those same covenants also do not allow you to let your house or yard fall down or go to seed so you have to do your part.
West Cobb, which includes the Marietta, Powder Springs, Kennesaw Acworth area, is growing quickly and is prized for some of the best schools in Georgia. Notice to all that I did not say they were the best, after all, it is government education. But with the new subdivisions come new schools, new business' and plenty of resturants.
East Cobb is beautiful, crowded, overpriced and the place to be if you care about what other people think of your address. (Sorry General!)
My current house sold in the mid $250's five years ago and now is worth over $325k. Not a bad return on investment money. It takes me between 35 - 55 minutes to get to ATL going the back way down Hwy 278 which runs right into Hartsfield Atlanta Airport. It all depends on the day and time of day you are going. It is still not bad since I only do it four times a month. There are two other pilots in my neighborhood that agree we live as close to ATL as we need to but also far enough away that we still consider it the "country".
Douglasville and Hiram are in different counties but both offer nice housing, fair schools and a good price for value.
Best of luck on your decision.......

 

[cw4chuck]

What?

I have been in the West Cobb area of Atlanta since the military moved me here in 96'. It is great but growing fast. The housing prices are steadily rising but there are plenty of nice homes in whatever price range you are willing to spend.
Most of the newer subdivision are "swim - tennis" neighborhoods with protective covenants that can help keep your neighbor from opening a diesel truck repair shop next door to you. Those same covenants also do not allow you to let your house or yard fall down or go to seed so you have to do your part.
West Cobb, which includes the Marietta, Powder Springs, Kennesaw Acworth area, is growing quickly and is prized for some of the best schools in Georgia. Notice to all that I did not say they were the best, after all, it is government education. But with the new subdivisions come new schools, new business' and plenty of resturants.
East Cobb is beautiful, crowded, overpriced and the place to be if you care about what other people think of your address. (Sorry General!)
My current house sold in the mid $250's five years ago and now is worth over $325k. Not a bad return on investment money. It takes me between 35 - 55 minutes to get to ATL going the back way down Hwy 278 which runs right into Hartsfield Atlanta Airport. It all depends on the day and time of day you are going. It is still not bad since I only do it four times a month. There are two other pilots in my neighborhood that agree we live as close to ATL as we need to but also far enough away that we still consider it the "country".
Douglasville and Hiram are in different counties but both offer nice housing, fair schools and a good price for value.
Best of luck on your decision.......

Ross and I want to know what you have against diesel repair shops? We are planning to open one right across the street from your West Cobb crib. And don't try to relocate to Brookstone with us. We have covenants prohibiting Texans. Yep, you guessed it. I moved down the hall and now I have too much time on my hands. CT and RT

 

[smfav8r]

There are many area's in Metro Atlanta that are great places to live. Pretty much everyone hit the best areas. One thing to look at is the elementary school districts...(if your kids are that young). Roswell, voted in the top 20 best towns to live in anually has several elementary schools. Mountain Park is the best hands down. Some of the others aren't all that great. Funny part about this is, the most expensive area of Roswell is "Country Club of the South" and it is not in the Mountain Park district.

My point being, do some research. Most of the replies have been pretty accurate, but you will want to do some of your own research.

 

[ultrapilot]

CT and RT

Ross and I want to know what you have against diesel repair shops? We are planning to open one right across the street from your West Cobb crib. And don't try to relocate to Brookstone with us. We have covenants prohibiting Texans. Yep, you guessed it. I moved down the hall and now I have too much time on my hands. CT and RT

Brookstone... are you kidding. You can get lost in a place that big. Brookstone, for those of you that don't know ATL, is a HUGE planned community in the West Cobb area. When you say "Brookstone" you have to say which numbered section (1, 2, 3, 4,,,,, I think they are up to about 40 sections now) you live in. Plus you have to pay big bucks like CT to become a MEMBER of the golf course, tennis, pool, etc.... I hope you did not talk RT into paying that kind of money just so you would have someone to play with you.

Did you move down the hall so that you would not have to make a trip to the "sandbox" to play with the ultimate sand wedge?

Since this is the "aviation interview board" page I will ask you if you have your app into SWA yet? AT? JB? Don't tell me CT and RT and going to fly those little white things until you turn 60!