Relocating from Indianapolis, IN to Athens, GA (Atlanta, Athens-Clarke County: apartment, rent)

[wins3127]

I am relocating to Athens from Indianapolis, Indiana due to a job transfer within three weeks. My employer informed me last Friday which doesn't give me enough time to look for a place. I have three kids..17, 8, and 1. I have never been to Athens but I plan on visiting this Friday. I am looking for an apartment or a house. Does anybody know which areas I should look at or avoid? Also, if the high schools are bad/crime ridden? Then, what type of activities or events can families do in Athens? Thanks....

[Newsboy]

Athens is a beautiful college town (University of Georgia) and offers more than the usual array of attractions and cultural amenities that major college towns seem to have: Unique shopping and great restaurants, a bustling downtown, colorful nightlife and characters, art museums, concert venues, a small zoo, state botanical garden and of course, football. It will probably be in your best interest to at least learn to follow UGA athletics and the Dawgs if not become an outright fan!

Though university life dominates the region, it's only part of what Athens is all about. It's got a sizable industrial / business community and plenty of folks live and work there apart from UGA. The city itself is largely students though and the public schools in Athens-Clarke County are not as good as they should be. Because of that, most professors (and families in general) have migrated to suburban Watkinsville or Bogart in neighboring Oconee County, which has some of the best schools in all of Georgia. Since you have one in high school, that's probably where you want to be. I can't be sure about housing costs, but last I checked the Athens area remained one of the more affordable cities in Georgia to either rent or own. Again, the predominance of students has a big impact on the market.

Another possibility: Athens is less than a half hour or so to some really desirable parts of the Atlanta suburbs, in Newton, Walton, Barrow, Jackson and Gwinnett counties. It's a little over an hour (depending on traffic) into the city itself and all Atlanta has to offer. You don't say where in Athens you'll be working, but if it's on the WEST side of town toward Atlanta, it is entirely possible to commute everyday from the ATL burbs into Athens. That would give you far more options on housing and good schools, but it also could be so overwhelming -- coming from a different state -- that you'd prefer to have your family and job in one close area.

Whatever you decide, Athens is an incredible city and great place to raise a family IMO. Welcome to Georgia! Good luck on your move!