Moving to TN (Chattanooga, Cleveland, East Brainerd: house, rent, income)

[pbnj97]

My husband just got a job in Chattanooga TN. We are looking for a small town with good, clean people and great schools, especially High Schools. We've looked in Cleveland and although it looks great hubby says the drive is quite far. Any idea's of really great places between there, or on the other side. I need an insiders opinion. Realtors just tell me what I want to hear. I need good and bad. Thanks Moving soon

[jkmewright]

I would say Soddy Daisy, North Chattanooga or Ooltewah. Ooltewah and North Chattanooga will be more expensive as those areas are being developed in major ways. Soddy Daisy is more rural but still has 2-3 groceries and a Walmart with a nice interstate for the drive downtown. I like Red Bank as well. All areas have good schools if you have kids. Good luck!

[CLEVELAND MOVING]

I have lived in Cleveland for about ten years and its a really nice place to live the people are friendly and the school system is good too and its only about a 30-45 min. drive to Chatt depending on where in Chatt.
Brandon

[Screenplayer]

We're considering a move to Tennessee. Our search has begun on the Net and the homes we like are in Decatur, Birchwood, Pikeville and Whitwell. We have not physically visited any of them yet. A trip is in the planning stage.

Can anyone give us the scoop on any of these towns? Also, what's the terrain like? Mountainous...hilly?

We sure like the no state income tax but we sure were'nt aware of the 9+% sales tax.

Any responses would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Screenplayer

We're considering a move to Tennessee. Our search has begun on the Net and the homes we like are in Decatur, Birchwood, Pikeville and Whitwell. We have not physically visited any of them yet. A trip is in the planning stage.

Can anyone give us the scoop on any of these towns? Also, what's the terrain like? Mountainous...hilly?

We sure like the no state income tax but we sure were'nt aware of the 9+% sales tax.

Any responses would be appreciated.

Thank you.

I've never been to (nor heard of) Birchwood or Whitwell. But I've been to Decatur and Pikeville. Decatur is nice, right on the Tennessee River, but it's pretty isolated, and there ain't much there.

I like Pikeville better. It's not too far from Chattanooga, and it's really close to Fall Creek Falls--the most popular of Tennessee's beautiful state parks. It's got the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies. The area around Pikeville is pretty hilly, and it's beautiful.

The sales tax isn't much of an issue for most of us here. For starters, you always have the option of buying something cheaper if you want. Plus the sales tax can be deducted from your federal income taxes. I was able to deduct $1,000 from my federal taxes this past year because of it.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by pbnj97

My husband just got a job in Chattanooga TN. We are looking for a small town with good, clean people

Would this be of the soap and water kind, the no drugs/criminal record kind or the no sin kind?

I'm just kidding you. You know how words mean different things in different parts of the country? I'm used to hearing "clean" on TV cop shows meaning no criminal record or "We just frisked him and there's no gun/drugs on his person" (Law & Order: "He's clean, Lenny") but I've never actually heard a person, where I live, use the expression "clean" except when they mean the person bathes regularly. In these city data forums, I've seen "clean" used to indicate high moral standards.

I could see people not wanting to live near, for example, a smelly guy, a criminal, or a floozie. I'm just not sure, sometimes, which class of "clean" they mean.

[hiknapster]

LauraC, you kill me!

[Screenplayer]

Thanks for the information.

I did a search on mapquest.

Decatur seems to be close to Pikeville on hwy 58.

Whitwell is just north of the Georgia line in between Jasper and Chatanooga.

Birchwood is east of Bakewell on hwy 60.

We can't wait to see the area.

Take care.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Screenplayer

Thanks for the information.

I did a search on mapquest.

Decatur seems to be close to Pikeville on hwy 58.

Whitwell is just north of the Georgia line in between Jasper and Chatanooga.

Birchwood is east of Bakewell on hwy 60.

We can't wait to see the area.

Take care.

Oops! I'm so sorry, I was thinking Decaturville, not Decatur. Decaturville is in Decatur County which is in West Tennessee along the Tennessee River. Not to be confused with the town of Decatur which is in Meigs County in East Tennessee. Sorry about that!

[Kerry322]

My husband grew up in Chattanooga and we have lived here 10 yrs. We actually live just over the Georgia state line, in Catoosa county. There are alot of issues in the Hamilton County(Chattanooga area) schools. Most families with any money send their kids to Private schools. There are sooo many private schools in this area! We chose to live in Catoosa county,Georgia, because the schools are so much better than Chattanooga. I work in Chattanooga and my drive to work is 10 minutes. There are some good Magnet schools in Hamilton County. Where will your husband be working? What price range are you looking for? I have friends who live in a great house North of Soddy Daisy, but they do have their kids in private and magnet schools. They drive at least 30 minutes to work and have to drop off kids at two different schools. Areas like Pikeville, Whitwell(pronounced "whi-wholl"), Birchwood are far away from everything. Schools in these areas are not so good, from what I have heard. You would have to drive everywhere. Do you want to be close to stores, library, video, pizza delivery?

There is a brand new middle school near us, with a high school being built. I would recommend looking at the Ringgold, GA area. Catoosa, Walker county. We have a Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, restaurants. Much of that is near Fort Oglethorpe. Unless your hubby is going to be working North of Chattanooga, I would recommend North-West Georgia as a location. You do pay income tax, but sales taxes are around 7%. I am kind of partial to my area.

Many of my friends at church live in East Brainerd, in Hamilton County, Tenn., that is a good area, building a new Middle/High School. Many nice homes there. Please let me know where he will be working, that gives a better idea of which direction to send you.

Regards,
Kerry