Chasing the American Dream to Atlanta...hopefully (Roswell, Marietta: section 8, apartment)

[DC4now]

Hello everyone. We will soon be moving to the Atlanta area, but can't decide where. Our situation may be all too familiar (based on previous forums)...a white man, a black wife, and a child on the way looking for the good life in the south.

Currently we stay in Maryland and can't stand it. We are very interested in suburban Atlanta life but can't find an “ideal area.” It seems in order to avoid alienating my wife and child we would be looking to move to the southern suburbs. Our concern is the rising crime in these areas. Can anyone suggest an area that would welcome us and is viewed as a good place to raise a family (low crime, good schools, ethnic diversity, etc.)? If possible we would like to stay within 20 miles of the city.

[Vampgrrl]

Do NOT move to Clayton County.

You would be welcomed anywhere in Fulton or Dekalb or Gwinnett.

I don't care much for Atlanta personally but stay away from Clayton.

[anilyn]

I can't really imagine anywhere in the greater Atlanta area that you and your wife and family wouldn't be welcomed. Interracial marriages are nothing new.

[sweettea1]

Price range is key here. Intown is the most diverse but it's also the most expensive. What is your budget?

[DC4now]

First off I would like to say that you all have surprised me! I did not expect to have any replies to my posting by this morning let alone last night. The enthusiasm is appreciated.

Addressing the question posted by Seettea1: We would probably rent a place in order to get a good feel for the area, so the budget really is not of great concern to us.

[Georgia]

To rent, look at the apartment and townhome complexes off of Mall of Georgia Blvd. Nice location to get a feel for the area. Now of course this is north east of Atlanta.

For South of Atlanta go to Peachtree City, as with the Vamp, stay away from Clayton County, what used to be a rather nice county is no longer. Schools on the border of losing its credentials, not to mention crime issues.

[sweettea1]

Do you currently have jobs set up?
Some suburbs to explore: Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Roswell, Peachtree Corners, Duluth

[plessthanpointohfive]

Where will you and your wife be working? That's key to the whole commute thing.

Also, do you want to rent a house or apartment? You can spend as little as $800 for a studio to as much as $5K for an executive home (and I am talking about with Atlanta city limits where I live).

Don't sweat the interracial thing. City of Atlanta and much of Metro Atlanta is full of interracial marriages (or interethnic). My son's favorite friend at school has a white dad and black mom. Another of his friends has an Indian dad and a white mom. Another has two moms. Your young family should be comfortable here.

[single mama]

hello I am planning to move to the Atlanta area in june. I wanted to know which parts of the city to move or not to move to because i am on section 8. also are there any 24 hour daycares and good nursing schools here. please let me know.

[netdragon]

Southern suburbs are not diverse, so why are you considering the South metro over the Northern metro? Most Southern suburbs (college park, east point, peachtree city, etc) are not very diverse except for Fairburn and are either almost completely white or completely black. Some northern suburbs like Norcross, Marietta, and Smyrna are very diverse and there are a few like Decatur (more central than Northern), Lawrenceville, Powder Springs, Duluth, Mableton, and Austell that are somewhat diverse. Northern suburbs are more progressive and have a higher population. Unfortunately, they are more expensive but some cities in Gwinnett and Cobb county like Mableton and Lawrenceville are still affordable.

The best counties in the North for diversity are Gwinnett and Cobb county. Fulton County isn't very diverse North of the perimeter.

20 miles is a LONG commute. Where are you planning to work? I would try to live within 10 miles of there. I wouldn't move here without a job with the rising cost of living.

Originally Posted by Vampgrrl

You would be welcomed anywhere in Fulton or Dekalb or Gwinnett.

I would stay away from Alpharetta -- it is still a little old-fashioned (not as much as Forsyth county). Cobb county is more diverse than Northern Fulton county.