Advice for moving to Athens (Atlanta, Jackson: crime rate, home, purchasing)

[ProfessorP]

[SIZE=2]Hello all![/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I am a native New Yorker currently living in [/SIZE][SIZE=2]South Florida[/SIZE][SIZE=2] (don't ask) looking into moving to [/SIZE][SIZE=2]Athens[/SIZE][SIZE=2]. My boyfriend, who is a professional musician, my two school-age kids and I are considering [/SIZE][SIZE=2]moving to Athens. We were hoping living and working in [/SIZE][SIZE=2]Athens/Atlanta [/SIZE][SIZE=2]may be a promising future for a teacher and a musician/teacher. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]The demographics for people who enjoy his original music is 30 & older(sometimes younger), educated music enthusiasts. What is the live music scene like? Is there a good mix of many types of music or is one preferred in particular? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]I am a teacher and I have small children. How are the local public K-12 schools rated? I believe the median price for a home in [/SIZE][SIZE=2]Athens [/SIZE][SIZE=2]is about $250,000, no? Is there any other information you would like to share? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Thanks so much! Any info is greatly appreciated![/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]ProfessorP [/SIZE]

[southernbagz]

I graduated from high school in Athens in the 80's, went to college out-of state, and returned to Athens about 7 years ago after a major change life change. Since that time, I have moved away again to suburban Atlanta. We decided to leave Athens for several reasons especially
the inferior school system. The Clarke County School District has an approximate 70% poverty rate and the graduation rate is around 60%+. However, if you really love the Athens area, you may consider purchasing a home in Watkinsville in the Oconee County School District. Oconee County is adjacent to Clarke County.

Having lived in various places around the country I just think that public schools are a very important consideration when you have children. In that regard you can definitely find better communities than Athens. The cool restaurants and neat shops downtown wear off quickly.

[Gumarx]

The music scene is certainly thriving, although perhaps a bit over-crowded. If your husband is planning to make money playing in Athens, he will probably have an uphill battle. The market is saturated with a lot of younger musicians who are willing to play for free beer, and that will be his competition. My boyfriend is also a musician and we live in Athens so I speak from experience.

Now, if he just wants to be able to play out, and enjoy himself, thats another story. Also, depending on his talents, he could probably find paying work as a session player for some of the bigger name bands in town. There is a relatively good mix of music, although most of the scene is singer/songwriter or jam bands different genres come and go in popularity in town. There's probably a decent sized audience for just about anything. There will also be plenty of other like minded individuals for him to get together with, and although a lot of Athens is younger than the age you mentioned, most of the people I know in the music scene are in their early to mid thirties so there will be that demographic as well.

The school's in Athens, however, aren't very great. Nearby Oconee and Jackson counties though have some of the highest rated schools in the state. Oconee is close enough (particularly Watkinsville) that its closer to downtown Athens then some parts of Athens are. So I second the comments above. Also, the crime rate in the Watkinsville area seems to be better. I'd steer you in that direction (home prices are close to what you mentioned from what I know) because you'll have great opportunities with the schools and its still close enough to Athens for your husband to be involved in the scene.

[ProfessorP]

I really appreciate your input! Our lives are in such a state of flux right now; I am not really sure what we are going to do. I also posted something to the Austin area forum, and I got responses very similar to yours.

Is your guy competing with the "will-work-for-beer" population or does he do session work?

Again, thanks so much for your input; it is greatly appreciated!