Where Should We Go? (Memphis, Chattanooga: house, rent, lease)

[bd465]

Can anyone please help?
I currently live in Memphis,TN and want out. The crime rate is simply too high.
I need suggestions for places to move my family. We recently visited downtown Chattanooga and LOVED it! Currently, that is our 1st pick, but I just want to make sure its "the" place before we pack up our things.
Here is what we are looking for:
1. family friendly-parks, playgrounds, bookstores, good schools.
2. affordable (ie. a nice home for $250,00 or less)
3. SAFE!!!!
4. walkable. by this I mean that I love the idea of putting the baby in the stroller and walking to the grocery, the park, bookstore, ice cream shop, school, etc.
I want to get out of the car!!
I really loved the feel of downtown Chattanooga-family friendly and safe but also sort of urban and artsy while also having that small town feel. Looking for similar towns.
5. prefer to stay in the south east but open to other suggestions

I don't mind living in a small town as long as A.it is withing 10/15 mins of a decent sized city and B.as long as there are some interesting things to do in the small town (bookstores, children's museums, etc). BUT would prefer to actually live in the midst of all the neat stuff

Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated! I am exhausting myself always researching and exhausting our wallet visiting places that aren't what they appeared on the internet.
Please help us find our "Leave It To Beaver" town!
Thanks again!

[alleycat]

Franklin, just south of Nashville, might be one option.

[McMar]

Chattanooga is exactly what you're looking for, though I will say that the job market isn't so great for some professions. If you can live with reasonable square footage and like older homes, the North Chattanooga neighborhood would be perfect for you. Expect to pay around $150 per square foot for a house in good condition, so you could find a 1700 sf 3 bedroom 2 bath in that price range. There are a lot of homes listed for more than that, but many have been on the market a while because they are a bit overpriced, so it is really a great time to buy in this area. North Chattanooga is extremely walkable (to the riverfront and downtown), neighbors are very active in the community, and here's the best part: one of the best elementary schools in the state - Normal Park Elementary (link posted below). It won an award for the best museum magnet school in the country. The middle school is also becoming part of the Normal Park School, so over the next couple of years it should transform into a really good school as well.

Normal Park Museum Magnet

[akm4]

I agree with Alleycat. Take a look at Franklin. You can search for homes in your range at Middle Tennessee Property Finder

Good luck!