Pulaski TN vs. Taft TN (Franklin, Columbia: crime rate, home, purchasing)

[pistolpaknpeach]

We are looking at purchasing a home in Pulaski or Taft area. Any advice on either area as far as outdoor things to do? Education (elem, middle, high)? Crime? Etc.

We were planning on moving to Huntsville but can't find a home with the land we would like without crossing the border so looking for opinions on areas.

[nashvols]

I had never heard of Taft, to be honest.

My question would be, are you looking to be close to Huntsville or not? Pulaski is a good 40-45 miles from Huntsville (and none of it on an interstate).

Taft is quite a bit closer. But it appears to just be a wide spot in the road. If I were looking for somewhere in Tennessee that is (relatively) close to Huntsville, but had enough "town" amenities, I would look at either Ardmore (which is split between TN and AL), which is about 20 miles from Huntsville, or Fayetteville, which is about 30 miles away. Ardmore a small town, but there's actually stuff there. Fayetteville is bigger than Ardmore, and a county seat.

The other place I would look at is Fayetteville, which is a larger town (about the same as Pulaski) but about 10 miles closer to Huntsville.

The advantage with Ardmore is its not only closer to Huntsville, but just off of I-65, so it also has easy access to Nashville and Birmingham.

[Reactionary]

nashvols - Taft is basically a four way stop with a gas station / convenience store and a few churches. There's lots of outdoors in Taft and the Elk River isn't far - in fact just up Old Railroad Bed Road there is a historic steel truss bridge crossing the Elk. PreK - 8 students go to Blanche School (better than TCAP avg) in Taft then on to Lincoln County HS in Fayetteville. Crime? Not really - avoid drugs and really avoid selling drugs - those people will kill you (there was a string of murders near Fayetteville recently - arrests were made very quickly).

That part of Tennessee is beautiful. Very rural with some nice old towns along the railroad (you may want to look at Dellrose). Lots of new construction, too - people looking for acreage.

[Leonard64]

Originally Posted by pistolpaknpeach

We are looking at purchasing a home in Pulaski or Taft area. Any advice on either area as far as outdoor things to do? Education (elem, middle, high)? Crime? Etc.

We were planning on moving to Huntsville but can't find a home with the land we would like without crossing the border so looking for opinions on areas.

I had a friend living in Pulaski and his family had lived there about 20 years. His main complaint was that while the "locals" were friendly, they were only so superficially. If you aint' from there you ain't part of the "community". Beautiful area, but I would look at a city with more diversity as to the populations origin. Don't know about Taft.

[skinem]

They are two entirely different kinds of places. Taft is tied to Fayetteville just down the road, and as Reactionary said, it's a 4-way stop with a country store, a couple of churches and a post office. Most of it other than the cluster at the stop sign is all country.

Taft is closer to Huntsville than Pulaski and many many folks that live in the Taft area work in Huntswill. Kids in the Taft area attend Lincoln County schools. There is a private school in Fayetteville, Riverside Christian Academy.

Pulaski is to Giles County what Fayetteville is to Lincoln County. County seat, population center of the county and a real town as opposed to Taft.

So, choice is country living in Taft area with Huntsville close, or small town living in Pulaski further from work.

[Shalako]

Taft is not even a Town, just a Community. They may have a Convenience store, but thats about it. Pulaski is around 15000 people and rather backward. There is only one fairly decent restaurant. Crime rate is low, dunno about the schools except that they squander loads of money. Countryside is hilly and very pretty. You don't want to go to the local hospital for anything serious, nor the one in Columbia. excellent med. care is available at Vanderbuilt in Nashville or at various of their clinics in Franklin-they also have remote clinics all over the State which operate on specific days of the week.

[dougb256]

Originally Posted by nashvols

I had never heard of Taft, to be honest.

My question would be, are you looking to be close to Huntsville or not? Pulaski is a good 40-45 miles from Huntsville (and none of it on an interstate).

What?

Take 64 over to I-65. I-65 south to 565.

Yes, the shortest route isn't interstate (64 to 31 to 53).

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by dougb256

What?

Take 64 over to I-65. I-65 south to 565.

Yes, the shortest route isn't interstate (64 to 31 to 53).

Right, as in the route you would actually take.

[dougb256]

It all depends. I think the freeway might be faster during rush hour. 53 gets all backed up, hopefully that will change sometime this year with the new lanes.

[Shalako]

I partially agree with Nashvols. Pulaski is around 45 miles North of Huntsville. The closest route is down hwy 31/53 which is a 2 lane with a traffic back in the edge of Huntsville-partial correction of this is underway. Factor in a number of slooow Tn. drivers and you are in for a lengthy drive. Taft is on Hwy 110 (2 lane) between Ardmore and Fayetteville so without driving some remote, slow roads you either have to go to Fayetteville or Ardmore to get to Huntsville. Fayetteville is better since the Hwy from there to Huntsville is 4 lane. Basically I would suggest that you try to live in the Fayetteville area since the commute would be far better and Fayetteville is a more preferable Town to live in. People who live in Pulaski commute to both Huntsville and the Nashville metro area to work, but driving to Huntsville daily is just not very practical. Ardmore is a dump and I'm being charitable with that description.