More information on Lilburn please... (Atlanta, Tucker: high crime, house, safe area)

[erinbearin]

Hi. My husband has a couple of job interviews coming up this fall. One is for Shreveport, and the other is in Atlanta-near 285/85. I have been doing research on surrounding areas of each, trying to come up with as much information as possible, to help us make a decision. If he gets the job in Atlanta, I was looking at the city of Lilburn, as it is small and really close to his potential new job. We have young kids, so schools are important, as well as affordable homes.
We're coming from a suburb in Houston (Pearland), and we strongly dislike the commute, as well as the area (Houston that is, Pearland is okay) in general. (We're originally from a coastal community in FL). Atlanta is looking good, as it puts us closer to family, but the job isn't quite as good as Shreveport.
Please give me the good and bad on Lilburn, and feel free to suggest other cities close by (under 15 miles) that might be better options. We are looking to buy a house under $200,000. Need excellent schools. Desire a relatively safe area. Short-ish commute to the 285/85 interchange. A huge thank you to all who give me the time of day!

[TakeAhike]

The area in Lilburn around Parkview High School and its feeder elementary and middle schools should be safe and family-oriented.

The part of Lilburn around Jimmy Carter Blvd is transient and a high crime area.

There have been a number of posts recommending Dacula, GA which is not far from Lilburn.

Suwaneee, GA is further north in Gwinnett/Forsyth counties but it is often mentioned on the Best Places to Live lists. The commute might not be too bad to Lilburn.
http://www.suwanee.com/

http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlan...a-suwanee.html

[erinbearin]

TakeAhike, Thanks so much for your help... Any other lurkers? Feel free to give me nice and useful advice.
I am trying to keep our commute under 15 miles...currently we have a 19 mile (40-45min) one in the Houston area, and it's longer than we would like. Dacula and Suwanee seem like really good options- that I would love (but I'm not commuting), but those do seem further away???

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by erinbearin

TakeAhike, Thanks so much for your help... Any other lurkers? Feel free to give me nice and useful advice.
I am trying to keep our commute under 15 miles...currently we have a 19 mile (40-45min) one in the Houston area, and it's longer than we would like. Dacula and Suwanee seem like really good options- that I would love (but I'm not commuting), but those do seem further away???

Dacula is just outside of Lawrenceville. When I drive through this area it seems that these communities are within minutes of each other?

Suwanee is further away but a good place for young families which might make it worth the extra distance?

~~~
Snellville might be another option.

[CMMom]

You might also consider Tucker, which is right at the intersection of I-85 and I-285 (DeKalb County). There are a number of neighborhoods transitioning "upward," and some of the schools are apparently good. You'd have to get more specifics from another poster, or check greatschools.net. I've heard that Livesey Elem. is supposed to be good.

[CMMom]

Also, there are some very sketchy areas in Lilburn (and I get the feel that several neighborhoods are trending downward). You'd better visit and look for yourself, as I suspect some places might look good on paper, but not very good in person.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by CMMom

Also, there are some very sketchy areas in Lilburn (and I get the feel that several neighborhoods are trending downward). You'd better visit and look for yourself, as I suspect some places might look good on paper, but not very good in person.

I agree.

The area around Jimmy Carter Blvd-Indian Trail-Beaver Ruin Rd-Pleasant Hill has too many reports of serious crimes. I believe the Mexican drug cartel bust reported in the AJC last week took place in Lilburn.
Cracking the cartel: 43 arrested in huge drug ring | ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/...7/20/drug.html

[erinbearin]

Awesome help, thank you! I think I'll start looking at Tucker. Feel free to throw your 2 cents in on that place! :-)
Thank you, everyone!

[TakeAhike]

Wembley Chase subdivision has been suggested to several posters interested in homes in your price range/school district.

Tucker is 'next door' to Lilburn. Although each started out as a small town the entire area is a suburb complete with strip malls, an industrial area and numerous cookie cutter subdivisions, many built during a boom period in the early 80's. Stone Mountain is a few miles away. Nothing like more traditional small Southern towns in central or south Georgia. FWIW.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlan...on-tucker.html

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by erinbearin

Awesome help, thank you! I think I'll start looking at Tucker. Feel free to throw your 2 cents in on that place! :-)
Thank you, everyone!

Tucker and the DeKalb schools are a big step down from the good areas in Lilburn.

Tucker High School

Parkview High School