5 best and 5 worst places to live in GA? (Atlanta, Columbus: teaching jobs, schools)

[mesogirly]

Originally Posted by Tzman

Worst in Georgia: 1. Atlanta 2. Near Atlanta 3. Around Atlanta 4. Atlanta area 5. Anywhere close to Atlanta, all because of high violent crime rate, terrible traffic, rude drivers, no personality and half of the residents do not speak recognizable english.

You know I lived in Georgia for 2 years and absolutely hated it!!!! I worked at GP and lived in Stockbridge. I had early hours so the commute wasn't that bad (20-30 minutes). It was ok living in Stockbridge (rent was relatively affordable) $740 for a 3 br/2ba. I didn't do much because I didn't want to drive up to Lenox or Perimeter and into the city on the weekends. I don't think I gave the area a chance. In VA we pay property taxes on our cars so I'm accustomed to paying what is equivalent to Ad Valorem tax in Georgia. In VA we also have to have our cars inspected and emissions done on them so those things were ok with me.
I had sold my house here and for one year I couldn't find a job. My former line of work was an Administrative Assistant and I could not land a job anywhere. When I finally did it was as a reception-secretary for $26,500 a year!!! I was depressed for another year then decided to move back to the VA/DC area. I was born in Baltimore, raised in DC, then on to VA as I started having kids. My rent is currently $1675 for a 3 br/2ba with NO w/d and I work in DC. I am in the accounting field now and my salary (mid 40's) would be great for some place in Georgia so now I'm torn.
I hated ATL so much but now I'm thinking of trying Dawsonville, Alpharetta, or Roswell... I've even thought about the Tampa area. ATL like anyplace has its pros and cons. You just have to weigh them out for your particular circumstance. Do try areas north of Atlanta for better school systems though.

[darstar]

Just outside Atlanta , is a place called Georgia. That about says it all. Two different worlds. If you want to be around northerners , chose Atlanta, half the north has moved there. If you want laid back,good O' boy places, that are not hot and dusty, and flat ,try the Northeast Mountains., , you are only 2 hours or less from a city fix. A lot of Atlanta northerners have summer homes up there. the futher north you go , the better it gets. Once you cross the NC line, it realy gets better, say 4,000 ft. el., waterfalls, cliffs, rock outcrops, just beautiful !!

[Cam&Jan]

There is an arc in North Georgia full of small historic towns with a great sense of community. THis is where I would personally locate - some of the towns are Cartersville, Kennesaw, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, Hiawassee, Young Harris, Clayton, Cleveland. Just visit the towns and see which one grabs you. In the east, Madison and Greensboro are also a very nice towns.

The worst areas are Atlanta (unless you can afford Buckhead or Dunwoody); Conyers (totally industrial); Albany (tons of crime); Gainesville (foriegn, chicken plants everywhere); Macon (boring).

[rdw]

Too funny; too true, Tzman.

HWD, why're Dawson and Lumpkin so bad? I lived there so long I grew accustomed - like our smell. haha??? Ok, so they're small minded. OK so the taxes have trippled in the last few years. Is that all?

Pig farms and paper mills used to be more randomly placed than they are now. Yeehahha.
South Ga, below the "knat line" is much less expensive. But so very hot. And knatty.

[figueroa26]

What do you think about Douglasville?

[Hyun-Soo]

Originally Posted by MayorOfMacon2019

A couple pages back I recall people who asked about small towns not a huge town with great and beautiful ammenities. And as I recall the end of my name says 2019. I will admit that Macon is not the safest city in the world. You should think before you speak and do a little research while you at it. Macon is one of the greatest cities in the south, no the world, and I know there will be people who object to this but thats a matter of there opinion. Fact is that Macon is the Cherry Blossom Capital, has some of the largest ammenties in the U.S. such as the Sports Hall of Fame, largest copper roof, home to the second largest commercial mall in GA, is the heart of Central Georgia, not dogging other up and coming cities and counties such as Warner Robins, Twiggs County, Bonaire, Fort Valley, and Monroe County. I will happily answer any of your questions or anything you throw out pickleswanson.

You know what you are talking about! Don't forget Jones County and Crawford. They are both charming and growing fast! People from Atlanta are moving down to this area in droves. Macon has some very bad sides but also very unique sections. Downtown is beautiful! The neighborhoods with high crime and drugs are away from the rest of the town.

[Hyun-Soo]

5 best places to live in Georgia
1 Lawrenceville, Georgia
2 Norcross, Georgia
3 Canton
4 Warner Robins, Georgia-Good Schools, up and coming area, good location, great restaurants, and shopping
5 Cordele, Georgia- Charming town with a beautiful lake and resort in Lake Blackshear; Watermelon Capital of the World, Pecan groves surrounding the town, Verry Beautiful!

Worst Places to live in Georgia:

1 Albany
2 Augusta
3 Columbus [Military Base]
4 Athens, Georgia [College town]
5 Macon, Georgia [Not boring, but the leadership is horrible and is not using the money correctly. Some very rundown part's of town] The nice parts of town are North Macon with cheap, 5-6 room houses in the 350,000 range!, Lake Tobesofkee with many mansions, and Lizella. These nice areas are near upscale shopping malls, The Bass Pro Shop, easy access to Atlanta, The forests and High Falls State Park, Macon, Warner Robins, and much more.

Macon has a lot to offer, but I don't suggest living in South Macon and West Macon. The are the run-down sides of town. The up and coming, higher class parts of town are the North and East. Macon is growing fast with many distribution centers, computer technology, healthcare, and insurance businesses establishing in the area. These are high paying jobs. A Marriot is in the works for Downtown. Whoever said Macon was boring and in the decline? It definately is not. The population of the city of Macon is but not the county. It is actually growing rapidly.

[doog]

Originally Posted by Tzman

Worst in Georgia: 1. Atlanta 2. Near Atlanta 3. Around Atlanta 4. Atlanta area 5. Anywhere close to Atlanta, all because of high violent crime rate, terrible traffic, rude drivers, no personality and half of the residents do not speak recognizable english.

Been here 40 yrs. and I'd have to agree.Hope to leave the area soon.

[Michelle DeRepentigny]

Athens, Ga is great...of course I'm biased because I'm a native! the University of Georgia brings us great diversity and cultural activites but we enjoy a small town feel! Home prices are reasonable and so is the cost of living. Atlanta is convenient enough is you need or want to go to the "big city".

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by beth ng

Live in Forsyth County...Yes traffic is horrendous and we are grownig rapidly yet trying to catch up with the roads!
I love it here... mountains, lakes, I have 6 kids and school system is excellent... well most of the schools here but I will not go in to that. When you make a final choice and here is where it is... I would be happy to guide you with the schools! I moved up from Orlando around 8 years ago and I have a grip on that... That was one thing I did my research on because of my children! This community is incredible. People are very friendly and very caring. I am blessed to be here!

Forsyth has all of that that, but the only thing I knew about Forsyth County is the KKK.