relocating to Memphis (Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville: for rent, crime, hotel)

[Lucylocket]

I am a single mom who has been offered a job in the hotel industry in Memphis at a downtown location. I have a 16 year old daughter and a 10 year old daughter. Neither wish to move and are both very actiive in our small town in Arkansas. SO my question is. Good place to live for a downtown daily commute, cost of living, schools. I am hearing private? Advice in general as to why i should accept this job offer. Thanks.

[Pearlbob]

Well, I don't think anyone else could tell you why or why not to accept a job offer. If you are happy where you are in a small town in rural AR....I imagine you would not be happy in Memphis. Memphis is the complete opposite of rural small town. It's very urban. Schools are terrible here, you have to send your kids to private or live way out in the burbs and hope for the best sending them to public county schools. Especially the 16 year old...high schools are rough here. Living way out there, you could have a very long commute to downtown.

Another option would be for you to stay living in AR and commute from there. I don't know where you live now, or yu could move to Marion, AR and commute. Tons of people do that.

[Lucylocket]

Thanks. I do not live in total small town but yes around $130,000. I know big city. I hear that Cordova is good? Any idea on the cost of private schools? Any idea the commute time to downtown from Cordova?

[MrsMichelle]

I'd say move to Tipton County. Atoka would not be a bad commute downtown. The schools are excellent and you can get a home in that range.

[Lucylocket]

What is in Tipton county?

[Pearlbob]

Cordova is part of Memphis now. it is not a suburb. So, your kids would go to memphis city schools. The commue during traffic could be...30-45 min? Depends on exactly where in Cordova. 130k people isn't a small town...you might want to consider getting a small house in Germantown or Collierville if possible.

Private schools have a huge range. You can pay $3000 a year for kindergarten and on up for some. Some are much more expensive than the U of Memphis even. So it really depends on which school you're talking about. Private for high school can get extremely expensive, but there's not much else y ou can do here.

Tipton Co is even further east. There's not much to it..rural country.

It really depends on what you are looking for....good schools is obvious, but what else? Big house? Price range? Urban, rural? Near downtown? TN, MS, AR?

[Lucylocket]

Looking to rent a home and price would be up to about 1500? Yes i have looked at Germantown and Collierville. Also looking to not commute to downtown taking 45 minutes. Just want safe area and knowing that children will be able to adjust to a move from a town they have lived in all of their lives.

[Pearlbob]

Unfortunately, if you want your children to have a life that resembles a smaller town atmosphere, you'll have to live further outside of town and the commute will be long. Or as I mentioned, you might want to look into living across the bridge in AR, such as Marion. Small town but is closer to downtown than any of the TN suburbs would be. You could rent a house for that price there; $1500 for a 3 bedroom home in Germantown or Collierville would be pushing it. If you could even find that....I am not sure if there are very many homes for rent in those areas. You might want to look at Bartlett..it's an older suburbs, more middle class than Gtown or Cville would be, and thus you could probably find more of a home for your price range. Plus, they are Bartlett schools, not Memphis city.

[MrsMichelle]

Tipton county is small town and has the rural country aspect that you might find appealing. It is a straight shot down Hwy 51 which will take you downtown. Atoka is on the east and west side of the highway. It would be maybe a 40 min drive.

try: Tipton County Tennessee

[Lucylocket]

Wow I was excited about the job offer. Now i think i am passing as everything i have read, heard has done nothing but portray Memphis as a crime filled city and politics are corrupt. What a shame for what i thought was an exciting new opportunity.