Where to live- Cumming, Alpharetta, Roswell or Duluth? (Atlanta, Gainesville: condos, crime)

[SeminoleTom]

Hello all,
Can use some input here. I'm going through a divorce and have narrowed down to where I want to live to Cumming, Alpharetta, Roswell or Duluth. I currently live in north Cumming.

First some background I plan to really downsize with this new place-- I would prefer it to be a townhome / or small home condo. I'm looking at some sites online and it's in my range.
Believe it or not it seems like Roswell, Duluth has plenty within my range... mostly townhomes.

Which of these areas would be best given the criteria below:
A. The (property) taxes and other cost of living is more expensive in Fulton county buy how much more and what does it mean (that would eliminate Roswell and Alpharetta if it's too much).
B. Safety of the town/area. I don't want to live in a crime ridden area, plain and simple....no one does.
C. I also want to live within driving range to Atlanta when I decide to venture into the city for things to do sometimes (sports, restaurants, theatre, etc)
D. I don't want the area to be too overly congested
*
I would say Cumming would be my first choice. I go to church in the area, play soccer, close to Alpharetta (tech hub- which is my industry). I currently work from home.
Schools are not a concern as my kids are older except my youngest daughter - we've figured that out (she will be in west Gainesville with her mom).

One last thought, places like Dawsonville or Canton always come into the back of my mind. Which are further north. You can get more for the money there. Which means I could spend less on the type of place I'm looking for. I don't know just throwing that out there.... it's a longshot because of the commute time if I ever need.

Would love to hear your thoughts. Please keep the criteria in mind, and would love to hear what you think about the outlier area (Dawsonville or Canton).

[Mattie]

Do you actually work in Alpharetta? If so, don't consider Canton. The west to east commute is miserable due to lack of road options. My husband is pressing me to downsize out of our home in Milton, and while I would love to, I won't consider anything west of here while I'm working in Roswell. Arnold Mill, 92, Batesville Rd, all miserable.

[Citykid3785]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Stay in cumming given need to be near Alpharetta jobs, lower COL, and daughter. I see no reason to look outside that.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by SeminoleTom

Hello all,
Can use some input here. I'm going through a divorce and have narrowed down to where I want to live to Cumming, Alpharetta, Roswell or Duluth. I currently live in north Cumming.

First some background I plan to really downsize with this new place-- I would prefer it to be a townhome / or small home condo. I'm looking at some sites online and it's in my range.
Believe it or not it seems like Roswell, Duluth has plenty within my range... mostly townhomes.

Which of these areas would be best given the criteria below:
A. The (property) taxes and other cost of living is more expensive in Fulton county buy how much more and what does it mean (that would eliminate Roswell and Alpharetta if it's too much).
B. Safety of the town/area. I don't want to live in a crime ridden area, plain and simple....no one does.
C. I also want to live within driving range to Atlanta when I decide to venture into the city for things to do sometimes (sports, restaurants, theatre, etc)
D. I don't want the area to be too overly congested
*
I would say Cumming would be my first choice. I go to church in the area, play soccer, close to Alpharetta (tech hub- which is my industry). I currently work from home.
Schools are not a concern as my kids are older except my youngest daughter - we've figured that out (she will be in west Gainesville with her mom).

One last thought, places like Dawsonville or Canton always come into the back of my mind. Which are further north. You can get more for the money there. Which means I could spend less on the type of place I'm looking for. I don't know just throwing that out there.... it's a longshot because of the commute time if I ever need.

Would love to hear your thoughts. Please keep the criteria in mind, and would love to hear what you think about the outlier area (Dawsonville or Canton).

Dawsonville would be a good choice if one seeks to live an exurban lifestyle.

Canton could be a good choice if one seeks to live an outer-suburban/exurban lifestyle.

Alpharetta, Roswell and Duluth are good/great choices if one seeks to live a highly socially active suburban metropolitan lifestyle but also will feature the most traffic congestion.

If you are as comfortable with the area as you appear to be, it seems like remaining in the Cumming area might would be an excellent, if not the best choice for you to consider… That’s especially since Cumming provides great access to a quality outer-suburban lifestyle in its area as well as to both the more exurban/rural recreational lifestyle of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains region to the north and the more core suburban and urban metropolitan lifestyle of the Atlanta metropolitan area to the south.

And while there is some crime in Northside suburban metro Atlanta areas like North Fulton and Gwinnett counties, there seems to be nowhere remotely near enough crime for it to really truly factor into a potential search for housing in communities like Alpharetta, Roswell or Duluth.

[SeminoleTom]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Stay in cumming given need to be near Alpharetta jobs, lower COL, and daughter. I see no reason to look outside that.

I'm probably with you. Trying to find a place in my range has been tough. Also close to Gainesville. Will keep looking.... Its all about timing.

[blue_line]

Sugarhill is a good option.
Smithdouglas opened a new townhome community (called Ellison square) and price range is about 400k. It is much more affordable than alpharetta, roswell.
It is walkable to nice little downtown of sugarhill, close to all ameniries, close to 85 to get to Atlanta and close to your daughter in gainesville.

[ShenardL]

What about John's Creek? Right next to Alpharetta and should have some condos or townhomes around your price range.