Best out of three (Atlanta, Marietta: houses, to buy, school district)

[Cooper6]

Out of Woodstock,Kennesaw, and Powder Spring (GA)which area is the best to live in as far as schools and houses to buy?

[BobKovacs]

Those two items will typically be mutually exclusive- the better the schools, the higher the home prices. You'll also have to consider commute. Of the three, Woodstock would be my choice, but it's also the furthest from downtown, if you need to commute to Atlanta. The majority opinion around here seems to be that Powder Springs has seen better days.

[atlantagreg30127]

Of the three, Kennesaw has the overall best "image" in terms of upper-middle income subdivisions with decent schools, and an abundance of shopping/restaurants (and traffic). Until not long ago, the stereotypical (yet somewhat accurate) Kennesaw image was a White married couple, religious, conservative, two SUVs, two biological children, one adopted Asian child, two pets, $350-$425k Craftsman home...etc etc. etc. That's still a common image to see, but it's a bit more mixed now, as you can go to the local Costco up there and hear no less than 6 different languages spoken throughout the store by shoppers on any given weekend. So it's more diverse now than it was just a few years ago.

Woodstock used to be considered "boonies" when I moved here in 1984. Today it's pretty much a standard suburb, though still considered a bit far out. More traditional-family than Kennesaw, though not quite as much yuppie money. Mixed areas from slightly run down to higher-end, but overall good, though I can't comment on the schools in the area.

Powder Springs (where I live) as Bob said above "has seen better days", but it's still not "bad" compared to any number of other areas I won't list to avoid stirring suburban wars up. The only thing about Powder Springs is that it's relatively out there being roughly 25 miles West of the City, and you would be literally driving into the sun in the AM commute if you work downtown. Also, the local schools while still not terrible, are not what they used to be, and some of the locals with kids have moved 3-5 miles North of the actually town limits of Powder Springs to get into a better school district. You could do worse than Powder Springs for sure, and of the three it probably has the most affordable homes - but it's just not what it used to be. I guess it's all relative. Someone moving here NOW might think it's ok, but someone like me who's been in the town 16 years has a frame of past reference, so I can compared "now to then" more. I wouldn't tell someone "no", but would need to know more about the people before I'd recommend it, too.

[Cooper6]

So if Powder Springs is not what it uses to be. So what I hear is going out towards Woodstock would be better. How about a little more beyond like Acworth or some of those other small townships up that way? It seems like that side of ATL is easier to get around in. I won't be going into ATL for work. I'll be going into Marietta. If that makes a difference. Thanks for the help!

[BobKovacs]

If you head out past Acworth, the challenge will be getting to Marietta- unless you stay close to 75, you've got no easy route to work.