Oakland or Arlington Tn (Memphis, Bartlett: crime, houses, private schools)

[wa irwin]

I am looking to relocate form the Chicago land area and I don't know much about the Memphis suburbs. I have been told to look at Oakland and Arlington Tn. Please give me some feedback on the two areas.
WA Irwin

[JoeCartpath]

Oakland is in Fayette County. Arlington is in Shelby County. Both are growing, small towns with their own independent governments. My understanding is that the public school system in Fayette County is pretty poor. The one in Shelby County is probably better, and I've heard that the Arlington schools are good - but I have no first hand knowledge.

Both are primarily bedroom communities without a great number of restaurants, etc. - but both are growing. Both have a Kroger for groceries.....Oakland has a Walmart.

Property taxes are cheaper in Fayette County.

Oakland is notorious as a speed trap as you enter the town from the west on Highway 64 - where the speed limit drops quickly from 65, to 55, to 45....on a downhill slope into the town.

Oakland has a golf course (Fair Oaks).

IMHO, most of the recent residential development in Arlington is more upscale than most of the recent development in Oakland.

Neither town has a town square like you see in larger towns. Oakland just has a commercial strip along Highway 64 similar to what you find along any major street in any city. Arlington has a bit more of a town center anchored by the S.Y. Wilson antique mall, with more typical commercial development along Highway 70 and Airline Road.

My preference would be Arlington since it's about 15 minutes or so closer to the much larger commercial/retail area around Wolfchase Galleria. Since Arlington is situated right on Highway 70, Highway 64, I-40 and Highway 385 you have easy access to Collierville, Bartlett, Memphis, Millington and Memphis. From Oakland you're pretty much on Highway 64 back to Arlington to get to those places.

Hopefully, this will help you. I'm sure others will chime in with more info and opinions. I'm probably a bit prejudiced since my son, his wife and my grandson live in Arlington

[tiforever]

It all depends on your family situation. Arlington schools are outstanding. I happen to love our tiny town square and the community is close-knit. You are far away enough from the city and the crime without being completely rural. Oakland is going to be quite a bit further away from the city. The taxes are better, but you can bank on putting your kids in private schools there. Eads is nice as well.

Both communities offer starter-type houses all the way to grand mansions. I honestly have never heard of anybody "hating" Arlington who lived here.

[eastmemphisguy]

Both are way, way out in the boonies. Plenty of peace and quiet, but don't expect much else.