Commute/Place to Live if working near 20 West (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: school district, price)

[ckoenigshof]

There is a possibility that my husband would be working near Charlie Brown Airport near 20 West. What areas of town are best for a commute that will not kill him. Also, I work in Buckhead so have to take that into account too. AND....we have an 18 month old and want a good school district. Thanks for any help

[lorilove]

Smyrna/Vinings would be a good area. Easy commute to 20 West and not bad to Buckhead once you learn the back roads (lots of routes available on average 20 minutes).

What is your budget?

[ckoenigshof]

300k-400k is the budget. How are the schools?

[Sound of Reason]

To be honest, you're going to have to live a little farther away than you like in order to get into a good school district. I know the area very well, I'll provide some recommendations that I think will try to minimize the negatives while accentuating the positives.

One poster did mention Smyrna, and certainly there are some nice areas of Smyrna, particularly the area closest to I-285 along Atlanta Road, the East West Connector, Concord Road, and Cooperlake Road. However, the schools in this area aren't really great. Some are decent at the elementary level, but the middle and high school levels leave something to be desired.

Commutes from Smyrna to Charlie Brown and Buckhead are not bad at all. The commute from Atlanta Road to Charlie Brown might take at most ten to fifteen minutes, twenty minutes when the traffic is the worst. This is because it is a reverse commute from the direction of most of the traffic. The commute to Buckhead is about twenty to twenty five minutes, by way of West Paces Ferry Road.

Smyrna does have a lot of good things, from shopping, to the Silver Comet Walking Trail, to a lot of other things. However, the schools aren't the best.

If you're willing to drive farther, you can get into some better schools. Thinking about areas with good schools, that will be good schools for some time to come, and are the closest commutes to the areasyou mentioned:

- Riverwood School district area of west Sandy Springs (near New Northside Drive). Twenty minute drive to Buckhead, twenty-five to thirty minute drive to Charlie Brown. This would be at the top range of your price limit.

- Dallas Highway area of Cobb County (Harrison or Hillgrove district). Your husband would likely have a thirty to forty minute commute, and you would have something similar. You'd likely have a little money to spare with this location.

[ckoenigshof]

Thank you! Perfect answer I was looking for. I grew up in Lawrenceville, went to Duluth High School and now am in Alpharetta. I know nothing west of 400