What is Dunwoody Like? (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: low crime, house, neighborhoods)

[nite777]

Hi. Considering a move to ATL in a year or two with my wife and baby from the DC area. I have visited a number of times staying and spending time in Buckhead, Gwinnett, and Cobb. The key things I'm looking for not in order of priority are 1. safe low crime area, 2. good schools, 3. commute to common parts of the metro area within 45 minutes during rush hour, 4. diverse area (not once race making up over 75% of the population). I came across Dunwoody based on my criteria. Is my assessment correct? What are other areas that would match all or most of my criteria? Thanks.

[chalvey]

Originally Posted by nite777

Hi. Considering a move to ATL in a year or two with my wife and baby from the DC area. I have visited a number of times staying and spending time in Buckhead, Gwinnett, and Cobb. The key things I'm looking for not in order of priority are 1. safe low crime area, 2. good schools, 3. commute to common parts of the metro area within 45 minutes during rush hour, 4. diverse area (not once race making up over 75% of the population). I came across Dunwoody based on my criteria. Is my assessment correct? What are other areas that would match all or most of my criteria? Thanks.

Dunwoody is nice part of town. To answer you questions.

1. Yes

2. The elementary schools are good. Austin and Vanderlyn are some of the best in the state. The middle school is a bit dodgey, since one of the feeder schools is from Doraville. The high school is good as well.

3. Location is good. It is central to most things on the northern side. You can also take MARTA to work in Buckhead, Midtown, and Downtown.

4. Not that diverse. It is about 70% white.

What is your budget? Also, everything will depend on where you are working. Other places to check out will be Sandy Springs, E. Cobb, & Peachtree Corners.

[nite777]

I'd be searching for a 3 or 4 bedroom home, preferably something that doesn't require much lawn maintenance. My target price range is under 400, and I'm willing to pay a premium for a better location. I work in finance/IT...not sure where the bulk of the jobs in these fields are located there, but I figure being in a central location will give me the flexibility to consider different geographic areas for the job.

[chalvey]

If you want a smaller yard, you should be able to get a newer home (1994+) which is around 2400-2600 sq. Dunwoody itself is a jobs center (Perimeter center) and has has a mixture of finance/IT jobs. Buckhead/Midtown/Downtown lean more toward finance, but still have IT. Cumberland is similar to Perimeter Center. IT jobs tend to be concentrated in the 400 corridor. Dunwoody is central, but do keep your options open.

[lastminutemom]

Find your job first. That should determine where you live. Just because a location is central, doesn't mean it offers access at all. There are nice areas all over metro Atlanta so to assure a good quality of life, you need to minimize your commute when possible.

[nite777]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Find your job first. That should determine where you live. Just because a location is central, doesn't mean it offers access at all. There are nice areas all over metro Atlanta so to assure a good quality of life, you need to minimize your commute when possible.

i would mostly agree with finding the job first, although nowadays it's common for people to change jobs every few yrs, which has been my case. not that that's what i plan on doing, but just in case that is the case, i want to strategically be situated close to multiple geographic areas where office jobs are concentrated in.

a drive from dunwoody to midtown at 8 am on a wednesday morning - how many minutes would this be? and from sandy spring?

[cqholt]

a drive from dunwoody to midtown at 8 am on a wednesday morning - how many minutes would this be? and from sandy spring?

That would be quicker using MARTA, since both areas are served by multiple stations. 15 minutes by by of subway.

[spacelord75]

I live in Dunwoody and commute to downtown...if I leave the house by 7am, I am at work no later than 7:30 (or course, if there is a big accident on 400 or the connector, that goes out the window). I try to leave work by 4:30, which usually means getting home in 45 minutes or so. Afternoon commute is much more variable, however, based on whatever bone-headed thing some idiot decides to do on the connector/85...and there is more volume. The nice thing about Dunwoody is you can get off 400 at the Glenridge exit before 285 and take back roads home if things are terribly backed up.

I am a Dunwoody townie since I grew up here and moved back once I had a wife and kid. It is very family friendly and very safe. In most cases, all the neighborhoods are interconnected, and I feel that brings a lot of cohesion. The schools used to be really great, and as mentioned above, the elementary schools are still very highly rated. As is the case with a lot of the metro area, MS and HS can be dicey, but Dunwoody is still above average there and the programs exist for your kids to excel if they want to. The MS and HS have a great deal of diversity which I think is good for life after high school.

[DunwoodyPanhandle]

I would sincerely hope this move is dependent on a job offer. Please realize that Atlanta's economy is in free fall, and moving here without a job would be completely irrational.

By the way, Dunwoody is not diverse.

[cqholt]

By the way, Dunwoody is not diverse.

True that! Check out "Straight Outta Dunwoody" on Youtube.