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BackInATL2011 makes some excellent points in recommending an outer-suburban community like Woodstock.
Woodstock is a really nice outer-suburban area with a hot and popular walkable downtown village area built around a historic railroad stop that is adjacent to a popular and important recreational area in nearby Lake Allatoona (something that is crucial for a landlocked metro area like Atlanta) and that is relatively close to the scenic, recreational and tourist areas of the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian mountains of North Georgia, Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee via Interstate 575/Georgia Highway 515.
Though, Woodstock, with all of its positive attributes, potentially could pose some challenges for someone in your unique situation of moving more than 2,000 miles across the continent from Los Angeles to Atlanta with an interracial family.
One noticeable challenge that a community like Woodstock potentially could pose for you and your family are the potential times and costs of a potential twice-daily commute to and from a potential job in Central Atlanta.
Currently, one-way commute times between an outer-suburban community like Woodstock and an employment hub like Central Atlanta can range up to 2 hours (or more) each way during both morning and afternoon/evening rush hours on the worst traffic days.
BackInATL2011 makes an excellent point in noting that the now-under construction reversible toll lanes on Interstates 75 and 575 through Cobb and Cherokee counties outside of the I-285 Perimeter (along with the existing untolled carpool lanes along I-75 inside of the I-285 Perimeter) will help to reduce commute times dramatically along I-75.
...But the I-75/I-575 reversible toll lanes (which will flow southbound towards the city during morning rush hours and flow northbound away from the city during afternoon/evening rush hours) will largely only help to reduce rush hour commute times for the motorists using the lanes.
Also, the tolls on the I-75/I-575 reversible toll lanes will be variable, meaning that the toll rates to use the lanes are set to reach as high as $0.90 per-mile during the worst of the morning and afternoon/evening rush hours... Something which means that one could pay as much as about $15-20 in tolls each way to use the lanes during the heaviest of morning and afternoon/evening rush hours.
Another potential noticeable challenge with an area like Woodstock (and Cherokee County where Woodstock lies, along with much of the Atlanta metro area, a state like Georgia and the Southeastern U.S.) for someone like you may be the difference in the social and cultural environments between the social and cultural progressivism of Los Angeles and Southern California and the regional provincial conservatism of Georgia and the Southeastern U.S.
Be prepared to experience a little bit of a culture shock in many ways, particularly if you end up choosing to move to an outer-suburban area like a Woodstock and Cherokee County... An area that has and continues to experience much racial, ethnic, social, cultural and political diversification, but an area that (like many other parts of the Atlanta metro area outside of the I-285 Perimeter) also continues to be home to a very high level of deep social, cultural and political conservatism... A very high level of deep social, cultural and political conservatism which you might not necessarily be all that accustomed to dealing with living in Los Angeles and Southern California where left-of-center politics, socialism and culturalism seem to be the dominant way-of-life.
The level of conservatism in the North Atlanta suburbs is noticeably less and noticeably much more moderate compared to the level of conservatism of further-outlying outer-suburban, exurban and rural areas of metro Atlanta, Georgia and the Southeastern U.S.... But the level of conservatism you may experience in the North Atlanta suburbs (particularly in outer-suburban areas like Cherokee, Forsyth and even some parts of historically deeply-conservative but moderate and possibly progressive-trending Cobb County) will more than likely be significantly more than anything you may have ever encountered while living in progressive Los Angeles and Southern California.
Another potential challenge with an area like Woodstock and Cherokee County is that the level of diversity and racial/ethnic demographics of that area may not necessarily be as high as someone with your situation (a parent of multi-racial children moving from ultra-diverse Los Angeles and Southern California).
Woodstock is an area where the non-Hispanic white proportion of the population currently ranges from roughly between 68-73%... Demographics which are much more diverse from past decades where whites made up between 90-97% of the population, but that may or may not necessarily be to the level that you personally may desire.
With your desire to be in a diverse area because of your family's multi-racial makeup, an area like Woodstock (which obviously has been trending more diverse in recent years) could be a good pick for you and your family.
But with your family's multi-racial makeup, other metro Atlanta suburban areas like Cobb, North Fulton, Gwinnett and North DeKalb as well as other metro Atlanta urban neighborhoods inside of the I-285 Perimeter (like the aforementioned parts of the City of Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb counties that are popular with young professionals with children) likely would be better choices for you and your family.
With the combination of diversity, quality of schools, length of commute and a $600k budget being major factors in your search for housing, your focus should probably be on areas like:
> East Cobb (in the clusters of schools anchored by Walton, Pope and Lassiter high schools when it comes to extremely-high school quality alone along with a modest but noticeable level of diversity; and in the clusters of schools anchored by Wheeler, Sprayberry and Kell high schools when it comes to the combination of extremely-high school quality and very-high levels of diversity)...
> ITP (Inside the I-285 Perimeter) metro Atlanta in Intown areas that are hot and popular with young professionals with children like East and near-Northside Intown Atlanta, the City of Decatur, and ITP North DeKalb County, particularly if you are looking to live in an area with a shorter commute to a job in Central Atlanta/ITP and if you are looking to live a more progressive political, social and cultural environment than you might get through some much more conservative parts of the North Atlanta suburbs...
> Dunwoody... Particularly for the combination of quality schools in a very-diverse area and shorter commutes to and from job centers on the Northside...
> North Fulton County in the clusters of schools anchored by schools like Chattahoochee, Alpharetta, Northview high schools... This area is good to look in primarily if one is working in the Alpharetta or the Johns Creek areas of North Fulton County, but is not necessarily the best if one is commuting into and out of Central Atlanta for work each day...
> Gwinnett County (depending on where you would be commuting to and from for work each day) in the clusters of schools anchored by schools like Norcross/Paul Duke, Duluth, Peachtree Ridge, North Gwinnett, Brookwood, Parkview, Grayson, Archer, Mill Creek and Mountain View high schools...
...Areas like Gwinnett County and the aforementioned parts of North Fulton County (in the Chattahoochee, Alpharetta and Northview clusters) are considered to be some of the most diverse suburban communities in the Southeastern U.S.
In addition to finding some of the highest levels of racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in the entire Southeastern U.S. (with the very large and fast-growing Asian communities in Gwinnett and North Fulton counties and the very large Hispanic and Black communities in Gwinnett County), one will be likely to find much more political, social and cultural moderation (along with heavy political/social/cultural trends towards increased progressivism in the not-too-distant future) than in further-outlying areas like Cherokee and Forsyth counties.
If you end up commuting to a job in Downtown Atlanta, you might also consider taking a look at diverse Southside areas with relatively less-painful commutes like the parts of Fayette County anchored by Sandy Creek and Fayette County high schools.
Though, wherever you decide to move to should be determined heavily by where you will be commuting to and from for work each day along with your demographic, political, social and cultural wants and needs.
What a thoughtful (and thorough) response! Perhaps oddly, we are not too conservative politically but obviously our racial makeup alone (husband is 100% Filipino and I'm 50/50 Black/White) makes cultural progressivism and diversity a pretty important factor in where we decide to live. I have lived in Florida and I completely understand how the most rural parts of the Southeast seem to be very VERY conservative in all ways--political, social, and cultural. My father also lives in Cumming, so I have seen first hand the degree of diversity I can expect in that area (which leaves much to be desired).
The tricky part of all of this is that I work at a highly regarded, international law firm where diversity is not a strong point. So, I am used to professional spaces being dominated by white males. And I expect that most of the places I would find desirable would have very little economic diversity, which almost guarantees diminished racial diversity. The thing is that I can handle a lack of diversity because I am very used to that; what I cannot handle is racism being an every day battle for my children. And I think, as an outsider, you wouldn't necessarily know the degree of racism or unspoken prejudices against non-whites. ((sigh)).
Southern California is far far far from perfect but this is something I have not even really had to consider. Even where schools lack the diversity of the larger community, I can bet on my daughters encountering people of all shades when they go to soccer or ballet or even the grocery store.
What a thoughtful (and thorough) response! Perhaps oddly, we are not too conservative politically but obviously our racial makeup alone (husband is 100% Filipino and I'm 50/50 Black/White) makes cultural progressivism and diversity a pretty important factor in where we decide to live. I have lived in Florida and I completely understand how the most rural parts of the Southeast seem to be very VERY conservative in all ways--political, social, and cultural. My father also lives in Cumming, so I have seen first hand the degree of diversity I can expect in that area (which leaves much to be desired).
The tricky part of all of this is that I work at a highly regarded, international law firm where diversity is not a strong point. So, I am used to professional spaces being dominated by white males. And I expect that most of the places I would find desirable would have very little economic diversity, which almost guarantees diminished racial diversity. The thing is that I can handle a lack of diversity because I am very used to that; what I cannot handle is racism being an every day battle for my children. And I think, as an outsider, you wouldn't necessarily know the degree of racism or unspoken prejudices against non-whites. ((sigh)).
Southern California is far far far from perfect but this is something I have not even really had to consider. Even where schools lack the diversity of the larger community, I can bet on my daughters encountering people of all shades when they go to soccer or ballet or even the grocery store.
I think you will feel comfortable in the "inner ring" suburbs mentioned previously, such as Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Brookhaven, East Cobb, Roswell, and (a little farther out) John's Creek. The schools will be diverse and the attitudes will be pretty thoroughly cosmopolitan. With your budget of $600k, you really don't need to go out as far as Woodstock to find a great neighborhood and school. Decatur and some of the intown areas would be awesome as well, but, from the type of house & yard you are describing wanting, I don't think they are a great fit budget-wise for you.
What a thoughtful (and thorough) response! Perhaps oddly, we are not too conservative politically but obviously our racial makeup alone (husband is 100% Filipino and I'm 50/50 Black/White) makes cultural progressivism and diversity a pretty important factor in where we decide to live. I have lived in Florida and I completely understand how the most rural parts of the Southeast seem to be very VERY conservative in all ways--political, social, and cultural. My father also lives in Cumming, so I have seen first hand the degree of diversity I can expect in that area (which leaves much to be desired).
The tricky part of all of this is that I work at a highly regarded, international law firm where diversity is not a strong point. So, I am used to professional spaces being dominated by white males. And I expect that most of the places I would find desirable would have very little economic diversity, which almost guarantees diminished racial diversity. The thing is that I can handle a lack of diversity because I am very used to that; what I cannot handle is racism being an every day battle for my children. And I think, as an outsider, you wouldn't necessarily know the degree of racism or unspoken prejudices against non-whites. ((sigh)).
Southern California is far far far from perfect but this is something I have not even really had to consider. Even where schools lack the diversity of the larger community, I can bet on my daughters encountering people of all shades when they go to soccer or ballet or even the grocery store.
It is interesting that your father lives in Cumming in Forsyth County because that is a Northside outer-suburban county that (like Cherokee County) is a place where the population has been experiencing a great deal of diversification compared to years and decades past.
Currently, non-Hispanic whites make up about 73-74% of the population in Forsyth County, a percentage that, while it reflects that the population of the county continues to be just under three-fourths predominantly white, certainly is a sign of a rising level of diversity in a county in Forsyth where the population was 99% white 3 decades ago and where the community has a notably documented past history and past reputation of being openly hostile to minorities and outsiders.
Make no mistake, Forsyth County has come a very, very, extremely long way from the days (particularly circa pre-1990) where most non-white minorities did not even dare venture into the county (and were openly warned to be out of the county before sunset if they did have to venture into the county), much less contemplate moving into the county and living there.
Racial and ethnic minorities now make up about 26-27% of Forsyth County's fast-growing population... Something which reflects the county's fast-growing Hispanic and Asian populations. The Asian population has been growing especially fast in the south end of the county in the feeder zones for South Forsyth and Lambert high schools where Asians make up 14% and 16% of the student populations, respectively.
(...Black residents currently make up about 3.6% of Forsyth County's population... A proportion that, while it may sound very low, is still much improved from about 30+ years ago when black people made up 0.00% of Forsyth County's population for decades because of the county's past long notorious history of open hostility and anger towards black people.)
But even with the increased level of diversity in Forsyth County, there is still a strain of deep conservatism that (while not nearly as deep as in years and decades past, and that while not nearly as deep as the strain of deep conservatism that completely dominates further out exurban and rural areas of the state) continues to dominate the political, social and cultural foundations of much of the county.
Because of the existence of the Georgia 400 superhighway and Lake Lanier (a primary source of water supply and recreation for much of a landlocked Atlanta metropolitan region) as a robust source of attracting economic development and new residents to the county, Forsyth County has experienced a rising level of diversity amidst a fast-growing population and a fast-growing economy.
But the level of political, social and cultural conservatism in a North metro Atlanta/North Georgia foothills county like Forsyth (while moderate for exurban and rural areas of Georgia and the Southeastern U.S.) would be very noticeable to someone coming from a more politically progressive and left-leaning part of the country in Los Angeles and Southern California.
I think you will feel comfortable in the "inner ring" suburbs mentioned previously, such as Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Brookhaven, East Cobb, Roswell, and (a little farther out) John's Creek. The schools will be diverse and the attitudes will be pretty thoroughly cosmopolitan. With your budget of $600k, you really don't need to go out as far as Woodstock to find a great neighborhood and school. Decatur and some of the intown areas would be awesome as well, but, from the type of house & yard you are describing wanting, I don't think they are a great fit budget-wise for you.
Spot on. I'd also put the North DeKalb area around Lakeside into the mix, although it can also get pretty pricey.
Definitely going to look into this area. How old are your kids and are there any downsides of living here that you didn't anticipate?
My child is 4 right now having another one soon., so far no downsides. Just waiting for the new separated HOT lanes to open to reduce commute. Definitely visit downtown Woodstock then drove around the Towne Lake parkway to get a good sense of the area.
BackInATL2011 makes some excellent points in recommending an outer-suburban community like Woodstock.
Woodstock is a really nice outer-suburban area with a hot and popular walkable downtown village area built around a historic railroad stop that is adjacent to a popular and important recreational area in nearby Lake Allatoona (something that is crucial for a landlocked metro area like Atlanta) and that is relatively close to the scenic, recreational and tourist areas of the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian mountains of North Georgia, Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee via Interstate 575/Georgia Highway 515.
Though, Woodstock, with all of its positive attributes, potentially could pose some challenges for someone in your unique situation of moving more than 2,000 miles across the continent from Los Angeles to Atlanta with an interracial family.
One noticeable challenge that a community like Woodstock potentially could pose for you and your family are the potential times and costs of a potential twice-daily commute to and from a potential job in Central Atlanta.
Currently, one-way commute times between an outer-suburban community like Woodstock and an employment hub like Central Atlanta can range up to 2 hours (or more) each way during both morning and afternoon/evening rush hours on the worst traffic days.
BackInATL2011 makes an excellent point in noting that the now-under construction reversible toll lanes on Interstates 75 and 575 through Cobb and Cherokee counties outside of the I-285 Perimeter (along with the existing untolled carpool lanes along I-75 inside of the I-285 Perimeter) will help to reduce commute times dramatically along I-75.
...But the I-75/I-575 reversible toll lanes (which will flow southbound towards the city during morning rush hours and flow northbound away from the city during afternoon/evening rush hours) will largely only help to reduce rush hour commute times for the motorists using the lanes.
Also, the tolls on the I-75/I-575 reversible toll lanes will be variable, meaning that the toll rates to use the lanes are set to reach as high as $0.90 per-mile during the worst of the morning and afternoon/evening rush hours... Something which means that one could pay as much as about $15-20 in tolls each way to use the lanes during the heaviest of morning and afternoon/evening rush hours.
Another potential noticeable challenge with an area like Woodstock (and Cherokee County where Woodstock lies, along with much of the Atlanta metro area, a state like Georgia and the Southeastern U.S.) for someone like you may be the difference in the social and cultural environments between the social and cultural progressivism of Los Angeles and Southern California and the regional provincial conservatism of Georgia and the Southeastern U.S.
Be prepared to experience a little bit of a culture shock in many ways, particularly if you end up choosing to move to an outer-suburban area like a Woodstock and Cherokee County... An area that has and continues to experience much racial, ethnic, social, cultural and political diversification, but an area that (like many other parts of the Atlanta metro area outside of the I-285 Perimeter) also continues to be home to a very high level of deep social, cultural and political conservatism... A very high level of deep social, cultural and political conservatism which you might not necessarily be all that accustomed to dealing with living in Los Angeles and Southern California where left-of-center politics, socialism and culturalism seem to be the dominant way-of-life.
Though, wherever you decide to move to should be determined heavily by where you will be commuting to and from for work each day along with your demographic, political, social and cultural wants and needs.
My wife and I are interacial, so far never felt uncomfortable. Much like Atlanta is a bubble of progressives inside Georgia. Woodstock is more progressive than Cherokee as a whole. I drive from Exit 8 of 575 all the way down to Midtown on 75 then go back up 85 N to S. Buckhead and its only an hr long so hopefully 30 to 45 min in the near future. Once the separated two lane reversible HOT lanes open Im taking them everyday because the cost for it is worth it considering the amount of money you save from gas money, being to work on time, and getting home sooner. I feel like Woodstock will only increase in growth due to its affordability, safety, good schools,and sense of community. I actually can think of only a few areas in Georgia with city named bumber stickers on cars as much as Woodstock. Maybe Atlanta and Decatur. I know there is more but don't notice that many and can't think of any others right now. Alpharetta likes to call itself the other A-Town, etc.
My wife and I are interacial, so far never felt uncomfortable. Much like Atlanta is a bubble of progressives inside Georgia. Woodstock is more progressive than Cherokee as a whole. I drive from Exit 8 of 575 all the way down to Midtown on 75 then go back up 85 N to S. Buckhead and its only an hr long so hopefully 30 to 45 min in the near future. Once the separated two lane reversible HOT lanes open Im taking them everyday because the cost for it is worth it considering the amount of money you save from gas money, being to work on time, and getting home sooner. I feel like Woodstock will only increase in growth due to its affordability, safety, good schools,and sense of community. I actually can think of only a few areas in Georgia with city named bumber stickers on cars as much as Woodstock. Maybe Atlanta and Decatur. I know there is more but don't notice that many and can't think of any others right now. Alpharetta likes to call itself the other A-Town, etc.
Out of curiosity, what time of day do you leave for work?
Do you leave for work during or outside of the worst of the morning and afternoon/evening rushes (roughly 6:30-9am in the morning and roughly 3-6pm in the afternoon/evening)?
I ask that because, while I-75 largely can be relatively less delay-prone inside of the I-285 Perimeter between the Cobb Cloverleaf and the Brookwood Interchange during morning and afternoon/evening rush hours, I-75 frequently can be prone to serious traffic delays outside of the I-285 Perimeter between the Cobb Cloverleaf and the I-575 split/merge interchange during the worst of the morning and afternoon/evening rushes.
Out of curiosity, what time of day do you leave for work?
Do you leave for work during or outside of the worst of the morning and afternoon/evening rushes (roughly 6:30-9am in the morning and roughly 3-6pm in the afternoon/evening)?
I ask that because, while I-75 largely can be relatively less delay-prone inside of the I-285 Perimeter between the Cobb Cloverleaf and the Brookwood Interchange during morning and afternoon/evening rush hours, I-75 frequently can be prone to serious traffic delays outside of the I-285 Perimeter between the Cobb Cloverleaf and the I-575 split/merge interchange during the worst of the morning and afternoon/evening rushes.
I leave my house around 7:15 am to 7:45 am and leave work around 6:15 pm to 6:45 pm. Usually an hr, hr and 15 min at the most currently without those lanes open.
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