Moving to atlanta (Roswell, Marietta, Kennesaw: low crime, big house, neighborhood)

[tiredinNE]

HI,

My husband and I are thinking about moving to Atlanta from Connecticut. I am a teacher and my husband is a theater worker and cabinet maker. We have two daughters starting high school. We are trying to get some info on what it is like to live in the Atlanta area(schools, jobs, housing, commute, family activities). I have heard some really good and some really bad things. Can I hear from people who have relocated here? Is it easier to get buy and save? What would the experience be like for my daughters? We are a very close family that spend lots of time together. Thanks

[BobKovacs]

Well, a lot depends on what you're looking for- do you want a big house in the country, or a smaller in-town home? What do you think you'd be looking to spend for a home? Bear in mind that while you'll likely be around $40k/year as a teacher, your husband may take a pay cut being in a blue-collar field. There's plenty of great places here in the Atlanta metro- we moved from NJ last year to Cherokee County, and we love it.

Regarding your daughters, it depends on what type of school system/atmosphere they're coming from in CT- if they're in a high-end, prissy district up there, you're going to have to spend some decent $$ to live in high-end area down here too. If they're in a more rural district thats not so uppity, you'll have plenty of places here that you can live and that they'll fit right into.

[rswlguy]

Hey there, I live up in NE Cobb County (Intersection of Cobb, Fulton & Cherokee Counties) and although I no longer have children in school, we have one of the top rated school districts in Georgia.

HS here is Lassiter, Middle=Mabry, Elementary=Davis. I think this is one of the nicest areas in Metro Atlanta (NE Cobb or SW Cherokee) Counties. I've not priced houses up here in a long time (I bought in '92) so I'm a bit out of touch.

I will say that in 16 years in my neighborhood, NO crime, good people, decent stores to shop in, access to interstate (10mi in either direction) and of course good schools which seem to influence property values and such.

I've got cousins in Stratford, CT ... they like where I live. They weren't too fond of the City of Atlanta though. They are used to Manhattan and there is truly no comparision (in my mind also).

Best to you all ...

[Alansd]

I have been a teacher in NY and Fla before I lived here. Teaching in Fulton County has been great for us, my wife and I both work for the County. The cost of living is still reasonable here and the school system pays well, though not as much as in NY.
There are many affordable homes , and as the person abpve stated the area of N Fulton and East Cobb county offer a lot. Great schools. Nice parks. A good solid community with low crime also. We live in and love Roswell. Terrific area for yonger families all the way to seniors.

[itsallu]

If you move to the metro areas you'll obtain good savings, but it'll cost you in time/commuting. It was cheaper for us when we moved out of VA to GA and our salaries went up more. We were able to affod an all brick home and good size land lot instead of a shack and have plenty of career options. You could easily change job sectors here, so many options are available. There seems to be a share of violent crime on the evening news, and home invasions seem concentrated on the north side, around the airport and over in dekalb.

You'll have alot of family options around the area and can travel almost anywhere easily enough....just the traffic can take a toll on you.

[tiredinNE]

What are the houses like in Roswell? When we visited in June we looked at houses in Cherokee County, Acworth, Kennesaw, and Marietta. Beautiful houses!

[irishvanguard]

Houses in Roswell would be more expensive, being closer into city center. Probably about 15% more expensive than the areas you have already checked.