Family moving to Decatur (McDonough: best city, real estate, townhomes)

[Nycsully]

We are a family of 4 moving to Decatur in the next 6 months. I’m looking for opinions on the best City of Decatur neighborhoods for walkability (to elementary schools, parks and shops), and community (friendly involved neighbors). Thanks!

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by Nycsully

We are a family of 4 moving to Decatur in the next 6 months. I’m looking for opinions on the best City of Decatur neighborhoods for walkability (to elementary schools, parks and shops), and community (friendly involved neighbors). Thanks!

Pretty much anything and everything within the corporate limits of the City of Decatur proper... A 4.27 square-mile area that is also the service area of the excellent Decatur City Schools system.

[red92s]

There isn't tons of measurable difference between the City of Decatur neighborhoods at this point. They are all pretty well fully matured and gentrified. Other than downtown decatur, Oakhurst is the next largest commercial node of shops and restaurants. Decatur has a sort of funky split for it's elementary schools (K-3, 4/5, middle, high) that is changing again before the 2019 school year starts to K-2, 3-5, middle, high. Some of the attendance zones are changing as part of that rollover, so you'll want to consider what schools you'd be attending in future years, which may differ from what is shown as part of current real estate listings. Being a block away from an elementary school doesn't hold a lot of value if your youngest will be in 3rd grade by the time you move, because they would never attend.

Also, when considering your budget, keep in mind that Decatur has the highest property taxes in the state. $10k property tax bills are not uncommon.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by red92s

There isn't tons of measurable difference between the City of Decatur neighborhoods at this point. They are all pretty well fully matured and gentrified. Other than downtown decatur, Oakhurst is the next largest commercial node of shops and restaurants. Decatur has a sort of funky split for it's elementary schools (K-3, 4/5, middle, high) that is changing again before the 2019 school year starts to K-2, 3-5, middle, high. Some of the attendance zones are changing as part of that rollover, so you'll want to consider what schools you'd be attending in future years, which may differ from what is shown as part of current real estate listings. Being a block away from an elementary school doesn't hold a lot of value if your youngest will be in 3rd grade by the time you move, because they would never attend.

Also, when considering your budget, keep in mind that Decatur has the highest property taxes in the state. $10k property tax bills are not uncommon.

If OP is coming from New York as his handle indicates, $10K isn't seen as a huge burden. In the outskirts of NYC (Westchester and Long Island) $10K would be seen as cheap for a lot less house.

[Forhall]

I recommend Oakhurst. Walkable, friendly, good schools. Easier to navigate and less traffic than Decatur's downtown neighborhood.

[este.eri]

Originally Posted by Forhall

I recommend Oakhurst. Walkable, friendly, good schools. Easier to navigate and less traffic than Decatur's downtown neighborhood.

Less traffic? Really? Not so sure about this. All of Decatur is not too bad, but I would not say Oakhurst has less traffic.

Pretty much everywhere in Decatur is walkable too.

[bu2]

Oakhurst and the area north of the tracks near downtown Decatur will be near shops. All of the city will be walkable to parks and schools (but as mentioned above, it does depend on the age level).

[Forhall]

Originally Posted by este.eri

Less traffic? Really? Not so sure about this. All of Decatur is not too bad, but I would not say Oakhurst has less traffic.

Pretty much everywhere in Decatur is walkable too.

Definitely. Traffic in Decatur is horrible during rush hour. Scott Blvd and Clairmont is a nightmare, especially turning left onto Clairmont. McDonough into downtown backs up quite a bit. Clairmont toward Decatur is horrible from 4-6pm.

Oakhurst? I never bump into any traffic there even during rush hour.

Oakhurst is more walkable because it's almost all residential aside from the little downtown village. Roads have less traffic and are safer. Downtown Decatur has many busy roads splitting it that are less safe for walking (Scott, Clairmont, Ponce)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Forhall

Definitely. Traffic in Decatur is horrible during rush hour. Scott Blvd and Clairmont is a nightmare, especially turning left onto Clairmont. McDonough into downtown backs up quite a bit. Clairmont toward Decatur is horrible from 4-6pm.

Oakhurst? I never bump into any traffic there even during rush hour.

Oakhurst is more walkable because it's almost all residential aside from the little downtown village. Roads have less traffic and are safer. Downtown Decatur has many busy roads splitting it that are less safe for walking (Scott, Clairmont, Ponce)

While I agree with you, I don't really consider those busy intersections "downtown." Ponce is fairly calm beyond where it splits off from Scott.

[Nycsully]

Thanks - this is all helpful information. Especially the details about traffic and safe areas for walking. We have a rising kindergartener and 3rd grader, so I have at least a few years of 2 separate school dropoffs/pickups which makes the southern Decatur neighborhoods of Oakhurst and Winona Park more attractive (since the K-2 & Talley/FAVE are closer together). But, those neighborhoods also seem to have fewer houses/townhomes under $500k. Does anyone do a westchester /clairemont + FAVE drop-off? I’m thinking it’s probably not feasible to walk/bike it?