Where to move? Help!!! (Atlanta, North Atlanta: jobs, subdivision, cost of living)

[serenity911]

I am considering accepting a job offer in the Duluth area. I would like to live in ATL but the commute would be too much. What cities in Gwinnett county or close to it would be good for a single AA woman? (By the way, I'm deciding between job offers in Maryland and GA - but I think that I will go with GA because the cost of living is cheaper) Thanks!!!

[j0ja]

AA woman means African American? - Most of Gwinnett would be fine for you if that is the case. Most any Gwinnett city would be fine: Lilburn, Snellville, Duluth or Lawrenceville.

If I were single, I would prefer to live more intown like ITP (inside the perimeter, I-285) because the further you go out, the more families are concentrated and there are fewer single people. I would consider living more intown areas such as Tucker, Stone Mountain or Decatur if I were single.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[serenity911]

Thanks for your help. Oh, AA does mean African American I guess I should have spelled it out. You mentioned living in Decatur. How long would a commute be from Decatur to Duluth?

This move is a big decision. I would be moving from the midwest where there are no jobs. I have an offer in Duluth and one in Maryland. I've heard so many positive things about the Atlanta area. I recently visited the Duluth area and I was not impressed. The area had a RURAL feel to me. Here in the midwest, I currently live in a suburb that has a cosmopolitan feel. There are a lot of conveniences around like wine bars, Whole Foods, a Starbucks every 1/2 a mile, people walking/biking everywhere, etc... Overall, as I drove around, I was not impressed with Gwinnett County (the parts I saw). So I want to move to a city that would be a little more cosmopolitan but with a reasonable commute to Duluth.

[martarider]

Duluth is a dump and Gwinnett county is a cesspool

[rxlynn]

Originally Posted by serenity911

Thanks for your help. Oh, AA does mean African American I guess I should have spelled it out. You mentioned living in Decatur. How long would a commute be from Decatur to Duluth?

This move is a big decision. I would be moving from the midwest where there are no jobs. I have an offer in Duluth and one in Maryland. I've heard so many positive things about the Atlanta area. I recently visited the Duluth area and I was not impressed. The area had a RURAL feel to me. Here in the midwest, I currently live in a suburb that has a cosmopolitan feel. There are a lot of conveniences around like wine bars, Whole Foods, a Starbucks every 1/2 a mile, people walking/biking everywhere, etc... Overall, as I drove around, I was not impressed with Gwinnett County (the parts I saw). So I want to move to a city that would be a little more cosmopolitan but with a reasonable commute to Duluth.

Not sure what part of Duluth you saw, but we do have a Whole Foods (State Bridge Rd.) and several Starbucks. However, you really won't see anybody biking or walking in this area unless they are immigrants without a car, and there's nothing the least bit rural about this part of the county. There are areas where sidewalks and bike paths are being retrofitted, but it's sort of too little, too late because the area has sprawled so much. I'm not really sure there's anything like you describe (more cosmopolitan) in Gwinnett County - closest thing I've seen is the Peachtree Corners area near the Forum shopping center. People who live close by do seem to bike/walk there some to shop or eat.

[dlh891]

I agree about Peachtree Corners. I just started working there and am completely impressed by the area.

BTW, I live in Snellville but it's probably not for someone single.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by serenity911

You mentioned living in Decatur. How long would a commute be from Decatur to Duluth?

I recently visited the Duluth area and I was not impressed. The area had a RURAL feel to me.

Decatur to Duluth? You would lose your mind very quickly.

What part of Duluth were you in that it felt rural? Duluth is quite suburban, but rural? Not IMO.

Frankly, if you're looking for 'urban sophistication', I don't think Gwinnett is the place for you. The vibe there is decidedly suburban...malls, strip centers and subdivisions are what comprise the landscape there.
It's not to say that there aren't any appealing areas in Duluth...there are. But when you describe your 'likes' with regards to a place to live, I'm hard pressed to think of a place in Gwinnett that fits.

[asr]

I also work in Gwinnett county, in Lilburn, but I live in the North Atlanta/Chamblee area. I am about five minutes inside the perimeter, so I can enjoy the benefits of being ITP, like Lenox Mall is about 10 minutes away, going out in Midtown, about 20 minutes. Work is about 20 minutes away, but its not a bad drive at all.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by asr

I also work in Gwinnett county, in Lilburn, but I live in the North Atlanta/Chamblee area. I am about five minutes inside the perimeter, so I can enjoy the benefits of being ITP, like Lenox Mall is about 10 minutes away, going out in Midtown, about 20 minutes. Work is about 20 minutes away, but its not a bad drive at all.

A lot of posters in this forum (myself included) are pegging Chamblee to be the next hot community...it's just a matter of time