Where should I live in the Athens/GA region??? (Atlanta: homes, safe neighborhood)

[eudeohio]

We are a family of 4, my husband and I, our 5 year old son and 9 year old dog and we might be rellocating to the Athens area. We live in the Dayton/Ohio area right now.

In Athens, my husband will probably work around the Olympic Dr area, just out of the Athens perimeter. We would love suggestions of good areas for a family with the following:
1) great school system (public)
2) safe neighborhood
3) well located: close (10 minutes or so) to shopping centers, grocery stores, public libraries etc
4) newer neighborhoods (homes built after 1980s or so)

Please, feel free to share anything you would like about Athens! Thank you so much! We really need some ideas and sugestions!

[CarrieLeigh]

My sister lives in Bogart in Oconee County in a sub called Jennings Mill. She and her husband both work at the University. Oconee Cty has the better school system per my sister and Bogart is right next to Athens. Everything is just minutes away. There is also The Georgia Club with lots of Southern style homes.

Good luck on your search.

[eudeohio]

Originally Posted by CarrieLeigh

My sister lives in Bogart in Oconee County in a sub called Jennings Mill. She and her husband both work at the University. Oconee Cty has the better school system per my sister and Bogart is right next to Athens. Everything is just minutes away. There is also The Georgia Club with lots of Southern style homes.

Good luck on your search.

Thanks for writing! I was looking forward to some feedback. I couldn't find much on Athens here, except for some older posts. So I appreciate you taking the time

[Ollie1946]

I live in Athens.

Public schools in Athens/Clarke County are poor. Oconee County schools are possibly the best in the state. I would live in Watkinsville or close to it. Bogart is partly in Clarke County and some in Oconee County. Be careful.

ACC does have several excellent private schools as does Oconee County. You have a lot of choices.

A commute from Oconee County to Olympic drive area would not be bad. Our weather is rarely that bad that it affects traffic.

Buyer's market these days at all price ranges.

As for safety, Oconee County has a very efficient sheriff's department. Well run. Athens has a sheriff's department, police department and the University police department. Good thing too as we have a lot of crime---mostly property; some muggings and the occasional murder. We have an overabundance of public housing and people who migrate here for the "progressive" benefits and climate. Right now, merchants in downtown Athens are complaining that the panhandlers are running off business. Downtown Athens is alive with bars and joints that cater to the university crowd.

If I had a family, I'd opt for Oconee County. However, many people like Jackson County to the north which also has good schools. Others like the more rural Madison County. It too has decent schools but not on par with Oconee County. I would not give much attention to Oglethorpe County to the south.

As for neighborhoods, most any neighborhood in Oconee County will be fine. Just depends on what you can afford. Lots to choose from.

If you have other questions, ask away. BTW, the older posts you find with my handle attached are still accurate from my point of view.

[Ollie1946]

Oh, Athens/Clarke County (ACC) has 2 good hospitals/medical centers. For some reason, we have loads of physicians of all types. We also have a couple of "free" clinics which are heavily used. Compared to a lot of places similar in size to ACC, we are fortunate to have the medical support we have. Also, we have the UGA Vet School plus we are overrun with veterinarians---loads of them.

[eudeohio]

Dear Ollie1946,

Thanks so much for the information! I really appreciate it!

We'll be coming down next week and make sure to visit some of the areas you suggested. We are also considering private schools, but our main concern would be for safety and a neighborhood more geared towards family. Although I LOVE the possibility of living close to a college athmosphere, having a child places safety first in our list of priority.

What are some of your favorite things about the Athens area?

[FromGA]

Originally Posted by Ollie1946

Oh, Athens/Clarke County (ACC) has 2 good hospitals/medical centers. For some reason, we have loads of physicians of all types. We also have a couple of "free" clinics which are heavily used. Compared to a lot of places similar in size to ACC, we are fortunate to have the medical support we have. Also, we have the UGA Vet School plus we are overrun with veterinarians---loads of them.

I used to wonder about why Athens has such a huge medical infrastructure. I think the asnwer is that it is a hub for the entire northeast Georgia when it comes to medical care. I was at a physician's (specialist) place one day, and I noticed that a patient had come from the north GA mountains which are only an hour or so away.

[Ollie1946]

Favorite things about Athens area. Botanical gardens (free so far); annual free Athens symphony Xmas concert; UGA music concert series (not free); proximity to north Georgia mountains; proximity to Atlanta for airport, world class medical facilities, shopping, sports teams. Our local government works fairly efficiently but so does Oconee County. I drive over to Watkinsville to use the post office there and the library. Friendly, competent. The town has a lot of trees. New sidewalks seem to be going in all over.

I do think with your child at issue and your emphasis on safety that you will feel better about Oconee County. I'd say that even if you were into homeschooling.

As for the "college" atmosphere, this is not a college. It is a university with somewhere in the neighborhood of 34,000 students. It is huge It is the thousand pound gorilla in the room. UGA pays no taxes to the county yet the county must provide a sufficient fire department. We have a professional fire department whereas Oconee County is all volunteer. I've lived in towns with colleges and there is a difference just in size. The good news is that the majority of the students are females which makes for a calmer environment--somewhat.

The area is spread out. There is every type of dwelling you could ask for which means having a decent realtor is almost essential. You could drive by a nice neighborhood and not know it is there. In my opinion, you need to have a good idea of what you can afford if you intend to purchase. Lots to choose from.

[ynnss]

I think the asnwer is that it is a hub for the entire northeast Georgia when it comes to medical care.http://www.*****.info/g.gif (broken link)

[eudeohio]

Ollie1946, thanks a lot for taking the time and writing We are excited to visit this coming week. I'll try to visit some of the areas you mentioned. It seems like a great environmetn with the university in town. Thanks again!