Need Relocation Advise for Atlanta - Work in Stone Mountain (Tucker: best cities, 2010)

[cetiedeman]

My family and I will be relocating to the Atlanta area at the first of 2010 and will be working in Stone Mountain. I am not real familiar with Atlanta, but have been trying to gain some insight from everyone's posts as to the best areas to live. We have two children, 1.5 and 5 years old, and want to live in an area that is family friendly, safe, good schools, good shopping/dining that will have a minimal commute for me (I guess we want it all!). I appreciate any recommendations that you can give as far as the best cities for us to live and any neighborhoods/subdivisions in these cities. Our housing cost range would be between $500 - 650K. Thank you in advance for your help!

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by cetiedeman

My family and I will be relocating to the Atlanta area at the first of 2010 and will be working in Stone Mountain. I am not real familiar with Atlanta, but have been trying to gain some insight from everyone's posts as to the best areas to live. We have two children, 1.5 and 5 years old, and want to live in an area that is family friendly, safe, good schools, good shopping/dining that will have a minimal commute for me (I guess we want it all!). I appreciate any recommendations that you can give as far as the best cities for us to live and any neighborhoods/subdivisions in these cities. Our housing cost range would be between $500 - 650K. Thank you in advance for your help!

Check out the city of Decatur...it's between Atlanta and Stone Mountain, so your commute would be against rush hour traffic. Decatur City Schools are some of the best in Metro Atlanta.

Be careful of the difference in a "Decatur address" and actual city of Decatur locations. Although there are nice neighborhoods outside of the city of Decatur, to get Decatur schools you would need to be in the city limits.

[Eunomia]

City of Decatur is a great choice.

Here's a good local blog: Decatur Metro


If good shopping/dining to you means more upscale and/or unique offerings, and you're willing to sacrifice that, then I'd recommend the Mountain Park area in Gwinnett County.

[cetiedeman]

Thanks for the feedback on Decatur. Are there any specific neighborhoods in Decatur that you recommend that are in the good school district? Also, how is the commute from Duluth/Sugarloaf area to Stone Mountain?

[Eunomia]

The people I know who live in Decatur are in condos in the downtown area and in a house in the Westchester neighborhood. I'm not very familiar with specific neighborhood names, but the areas along and near Ponce De Leon are all very nice. The area around Agnes Scott is also nice. I believe anything inside the city limits is also in the City Schools of Decatur. I think there are people who live in Decatur who frequent this form, so maybe one of them will be able to give you more details on specific neighborhoods.

Duluth to Stone Mountain would involve I-85 to I-285, or I-85 to Jimmy Carter/Mountain Industrial/Hairston. Going 85 South in the morning and 85 North in the evening would be terrible. If you're going to do a typical morning/evening commute, I would estimate one hour each way.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by cetiedeman

My family and I will be relocating to the Atlanta area at the first of 2010 and will be working in Stone Mountain. I am not real familiar with Atlanta, but have been trying to gain some insight from everyone's posts as to the best areas to live. We have two children, 1.5 and 5 years old, and want to live in an area that is family friendly, safe, good schools, good shopping/dining that will have a minimal commute for me (I guess we want it all!). I appreciate any recommendations that you can give as far as the best cities for us to live and any neighborhoods/subdivisions in these cities. Our housing cost range would be between $500 - 650K. Thank you in advance for your help!

Considering your criteria, I highly recommend that you look in the Parkview or Brookwood Clusters of Gwinnett County. These areas are just to the north/northeast of Stone Mountain. Very, very close. Nice homes, family friendly, shopping, great schools, convenient, easy commute, etc. Great area.

Homes and neighborhoods in the Parkview and Brookwood Clusters (named for the high schools that serve the area) would have Lilburn and Stone Mountain addresses (for Parkview), or Snellville and Lawrenceville addresses (for Brookwood). {There may be some blending with some of the addresses and I may have left out a few addresses [some of Parkview may have a Tucker address, for example]...just go with schools when looking at homes/neighborhoods!}

Here are some helpful links:

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-m...w&0~QuickLinks

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-m...HS_650x450.jpg

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-m...w&0~QuickLinks

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-m...HS_650x450.jpg

Gwinnett County Public Schools Cluster Boundaries


*All of the elementary schools that feed into the middle and high schools in the Parkview and Brookwood clusters are great. You really can't go wrong. Consider yourself fortunate that you have such a well-suited area so close to where you work.

I hope this helps. Good Luck!

[IntownHomes247]

Originally Posted by cetiedeman

Thanks for the feedback on Decatur. Are there any specific neighborhoods in Decatur that you recommend that are in the good school district? Also, how is the commute from Duluth/Sugarloaf area to Stone Mountain?

The City of Decatur is tiny and only has 3 elementary schools. You can check them out at: Schools to see if any one strikes your fancy over the others. Make sure homes you're looking at are zoned for one of those schools and you'll know you're inside the City of Decatur limits. Decatur also has a fabulous official web site: City of Decatur, GA . Check it out for lots of information about the city. Decatur has a very small town/college town vibe. It's quite unique for an intown neighborhood. Very walkable. Very livable. In Decatur, your budget will buy a beautiful 4 bedroom home (possibly a new home or a fully renovated historic home).

If you have any questions about Decatur, feel free to DM me. (I'm a native. )

[ericsonga]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Considering your criteria, I highly recommend that you look in the Parkview or Brookwood Clusters of Gwinnett County. These areas are just to the north/northeast of Stone Mountain. Very, very close. Nice homes, family friendly, shopping, great schools, convenient, easy commute, etc. Great area.

Homes and neighborhoods in the Parkview and Brookwood Clusters (named for the high schools that serve the area) would have Lilburn and Stone Mountain addresses (for Parkview), or Snellville and Lawrenceville addresses (for Brookwood). {There may be some blending with some of the addresses and I may have left out a few addresses [some of Parkview may have a Tucker address, for example]...just go with schools when looking at homes/neighborhoods!}

Here are some helpful links:

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/GCPSParkview?OpenView&0~QuickLinks

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-m...HS_650x450.jpg

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/GCPSBrookwood?OpenView&0~QuickLinks

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-m...HS_650x450.jpg

Gwinnett County Public Schools Cluster Boundaries


*All of the elementary schools that feed into the middle and high schools in the Parkview and Brookwood clusters are great. You really can't go wrong. Consider yourself fortunate that you have such a well-suited area so close to where you work.

I hope this helps. Good Luck!

I can't give more rep to aries, however that was an awesome post!

It is exactly what I was going to say. I live in the small part of Lawrenceville that feeds into Brookwood. It's a great area. I am probably the furthest from Stone Mountain you could get within the two school clusters listed, and I am only around 20 minutes from Stone Mountain. It's a short trip down Five Forks Trickum Rd. The further you get into Lilburn and Snellville, the closer you are.

The commute from Sugarloaf wouldn't be something that I would enjoy, but to each their own. It's a great area as well.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by ericsonga

I can't give more rep to aries, however that was an awesome post!

It is exactly what I was going to say. I live in the small part of Lawrenceville that feeds into Brookwood. It's a great area. I am probably the furthest from Stone Mountain you could get within the two school clusters listed, and I am only around 20 minutes from Stone Mountain. It's a short trip down Five Forks Trickum Rd. The further you get into Lilburn and Snellville, the closer you are.

The commute from Sugarloaf wouldn't be something that I would enjoy, but to each their own. It's a great area as well.

Thanks, ericson...

It's good for the poster to know that if they consider the Parkview/Brookwood area, their maximum commute would be roughly 20 minutes!

[martyogelvie]

I live in Lilburn, about 10 minutes from Stone Mtn. My kids go to Brookwood schools. There are many family oritented communities in Lilburn and surrounding areas. This is a great area to live and I know you will enjoy it! congrats and welcome!