New Job at Renaissance (Jackson, Ridgeland: houses, private schools, gated)

[ClosersOnly]

I grew up in Brandon, but I have spent the last 7 years mostly in Jacksonville, FL, followed by the last year in Birmingham. I just accepted a great new promotion that will have me working in one of the renaissance office towers in Ridgeland. Where are the great places to live now for a family of 4. $300-$350k budget?

[GrandviewGloria]

If the children are going to be in private schools, then consider Saint Andrews Drive, off Old Canton Road in Jackson. It's gated. The houses are from around '79, and most of them are borderline-'important'. Some of the Crystals had a starter-mansion there, when the place was new. You'll be right across the street from the gated & guarded Country Club of Jackson enclave, and within screaming distance of County Line Road, so, you won't have to drive over many potholes, on your way to work. You can get a very presentable McMansion there, within your budget. And, if you're with Butler Snow, the fact that you live IN Jackson-proper, can give you the moral highground, in certain instances.

In the shadow of your office, is Dinsmor. It's pretty, idyllic (very, VERY planned and picturesque), very 'leafy', and there are lots of listings, right now. You'd be minutes from work, and minutes from the premier location of 'The Club' fitness. The Club at The Township And, Dinsmor's minutes from the new main campus of Saint Andrews, the top private school in the state.

Madison, of course, is the state's premier CITY. It's the only place where you could actually have the kids in public schools, reasonably sure that they won't end up as drugged-out Stockholm Syndrome Zombies (unless you want to commute to the Rankin County 'Northshore', where the student body is supposedly very nice). Madison, naturally, offers the best of everything. My only caveat, would be that if the kids are rotters, if someone in the family likes to speed or otherwise drive badly, or if you have loud mufflers/sound systems, you can mysteriously be fired & blacklisted, the kids can go to jail - and those are only preludes to what can happen to problem neighbors, in that town full of powerful people (powerful people who moved there to get away from problematic people - and who "ain't gonna take it, anymore").

Brandon's a close second to Madison, in terms of quality-of-life. But the commute will wear you down, cost an extra four or five thou a year in travel costs, and consume all the time a wise man spends at the gym.

There are some fine subdivisions on Highland Colony Parkway, in Madison. I'm guessing that Cypress Lake will fit your budget, if not, necessarily, your aspirations or aesthetic standards (it's not very 'leafy'). There's a lake and a waterfall, and a lot of showy plantings. It's nice, and newish, and the entrance is somewhat impressive.

Windrush is also in the shadow of your office tower, and has THE most beautiful gates and gatehouse in the Metro. I see one listing within your price range. That street has enormous cachet. Driving through those gates, is definitely going to impress your kids' new friends. You've lived near Jackson, before, and so you know how important that is. Windrush is VERY leafy, and there are plenty of important houses (and people) there.