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I live in Atlanta but I work in Alpharetta. You are right about white families, but a lot of people I see are younger white people. Say 20-35 year old range.
OP, I think Alpharetta would be good for you. It's slowly becoming more diverse. I would personally stay away from anything in Gwinnett if you are looking for long term living.
What is wrong with Gwinnett and long term living please?
What is wrong with Gwinnett and long term living please?
Nothing is really wrong with Gwinnett as a whole. It is just that some people (but definitely not all) might look down on an area like Gwinnett because it has higher lower-middle class and working class populations than some other select parts of metro Atlanta's generally highly affluent northern suburban crescent.
Gwinnett has a higher population of lower-middle class and working-class people (including immigrants and minorities as a whole) than many other (but definitely not all other) parts of Atlanta's generally highly-affluent northside suburban crescent (or 'Golden Crescent').
… So some (but definitely not all) residents in other parts of Atlanta's suburban Northern Crescent potentially might look down on an area like Gwinnett, because Gwinnett's population seems to be much more working-class than some other affluent Northside enclaves like North Fulton/Forsyth, East Cobb, Dunwoody, West Cobb/North Paulding and south Cherokee.
Also, some (but definitely not all) residents in a relatively more urbanized (by Georgia standards) part of the Atlanta metro area like in the area inside, along and just outside of the I-285 Perimeter (the loop highway that goes around the central part of the Atlanta metro area like a beltway like I-695 goes around central Baltimore or like I-495 goes around central D.C.) might sometimes tend to look down upon an outlying suburban area like Gwinnett for being more of an automobile-oriented bedroom community than a more walkable and densely-developed urban core community.
Because Atlanta is a metro area with such clearly and strongly defined prideful urban and suburban identities that often compete heavily with each other, one is going to hear some derisive sniping being directed between the suburbs and the urban core every now and then.
… So do not be surprised to see and hear a few derisive comments being directed towards an area like Gwinnett from both residents in other parts of the Atlanta suburbs and from residents in the city...
… Because different parts of the Atlanta metro area and Georgia (like inside and outside of the I-285 Perimeter, the Northside and the Southside of the Atlanta metro, the Northeast Atlanta suburbs and the Northwest Atlanta suburbs, metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia, Fulton and Cobb counties, etc.) have traditionally had some intense rivalries and competitions with each other at times.
Nothing is really wrong with Gwinnett as a whole. It is just that some people (but definitely not all) might look down on an area like Gwinnett because it has higher lower-middle class and working class populations than some other select parts of metro Atlanta's generally highly affluent northern suburban crescent.
Gwinnett has a higher population of lower-middle class and working-class people (including immigrants and minorities as a whole) than many other (but definitely not all other) parts of Atlanta's generally highly-affluent northside suburban crescent (or 'Golden Crescent').
… So some (but definitely not all) residents in other parts of Atlanta's suburban Northern Crescent potentially might look down on an area like Gwinnett, because Gwinnett's population seems to be much more working-class than some other affluent Northside enclaves like North Fulton/Forsyth, East Cobb, Dunwoody, West Cobb/North Paulding and south Cherokee.
Also, some (but definitely not all) residents in a relatively more urbanized (by Georgia standards) part of the Atlanta metro area like in the area inside, along and just outside of the I-285 Perimeter (the loop highway that goes around the central part of the Atlanta metro area like a beltway like I-695 goes around central Baltimore or like I-495 goes around central D.C.) might sometimes tend to look down upon an outlying suburban area like Gwinnett for being more of an automobile-oriented bedroom community than a more walkable and densely-developed urban core community.
Because Atlanta is a metro area with such clearly and strongly defined prideful urban and suburban identities that often compete heavily with each other, one is going to hear some derisive sniping being directed between the suburbs and the urban core every now and then.
… So do not be surprised to see and hear a few derisive comments being directed towards an area like Gwinnett from both residents in other parts of the Atlanta suburbs and from residents in the city...
… Because different parts of the Atlanta metro area and Georgia (like inside and outside of the I-285 Perimeter, the Northside and the Southside of the Atlanta metro, the Northeast Atlanta suburbs and the Northwest Atlanta suburbs, metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia, Fulton and Cobb counties, etc.) have traditionally had some intense rivalries and competitions with each other at times.
And Gwinnett has so many exquisite upper-middle and upper class areas:
Brookwood/North Snellville
Parkview/South Lilburn
North Duluth
Peachtree Corners
Berkeley Lake
Suwanee
Sugar Hill
Hamilton Mill
Mill Creek
Shiloh Area
Norris Lake
Grayson
South Lawrenceville
Collins Hill
My family is moving back South after a stint in the cold, expensive Northeast.
My vote is for Cobb. Depending on what size house you want for your price point, you can go for Smyrna / Marietta to further north such as Kennesaw / Acworth.
Powder Springs also seems like a good option, especially on the north side closer to Marietta. Schools aren't as great in Powder Springs, but if you're empty nesters that's less relevant.
Powder Springs also seems like a good option, especially on the north side closer to Marietta. Schools aren't as great in Powder Springs, but if you're empty nesters that's less relevant.
The Hillgrove Cluster or Powder Springs is great.
And—the northwestern part of the Powder Springs address area is zoned for Harrison.
I vouch for the Marietta nominations. My Mom (81) lives just east of the Marietta city limits. The setting is beautiful, and she has easy access to shopping conveniences, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. She doesn't take advantage of the Square, but it is really nice, and when she was younger we did occasionally go there to eat and watch plays. Another important consideration for a retired couple is the easy access to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and associated facilities, just north of the Square.
Hi all. I would really appreciate your input. My husband and I are retiring next year and relocating to Georgia. We are willing to pay up to $350,000 for a home without a pool and $450,000 for a home with a pool. We'd like a lot size of at least half an acre. We are empty nesters, so commute and schools aren't really a concern. (Although, I realize that the better schools are in the better cities.) I have two inquiries.
1. I would like recommendations for cities/towns that are not only considered safer, but will more than likely remain relatively safe. I know that the suburbs are becoming more convenient with proximity to restaurants, shopping, etc.; however, with these new developments comes more residents and crime. I'm interested in suburbs that have not been overcome with sprawl or won't likely be.
2. I've done a lot of online research on race relations, but getting direct feedback from you will be more helpful. We are an active African American couple (53 and 57) seeking a diverse area. We don't want to be the only Black folks in the grocery store or Target; but on the other hand, we'd like our neighbors/city to be a mix so as to interact with people from all cultures and ethnicities. Living in another state, we are unfamiliar with so much about Atlanta 'burbs and their vibes/functioning. We have visited many times, but that is a different experience than becoming a resident. We do not want to have to move twice because we inadvertently moved into a suburb/exurb that doesn't welcome Blacks. We just want to reside in a peaceful and comfortable location free of tension and discord. I know that there will always be prejudices and biases that we all will face unfortunately, but I don't want to have to face that regularly around my chosen home/city.
I have narrowed the options to Douglasville, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, and Snellville. I also have interest in Duluth, Roswell, Marietta, and Smyrna; however, they are probably outside of my budget. I considered Covington until I learned that the KKK has a movement there. Making a decision based on just online research and visits is insufficient and challenging. I would value feedback based on your observations and experiences. Please let me know if the options that I have chosen are appropriate contenders and please share other options that I should consider. Thank you in advance for your time and responses.
South Forsyth County, (only city in county is Cumming, so most folks think of entire county as "Cumming"), Exits 13 and 14 off of Georgia State Highway 400, (GA 400), might give you what you want. Housing wise for sure . South Forsyth is significantly different than North Forsyth - demographically speaking, population density, conveniences, housing pricing. Southern part is more diverse, South and East Asian, Black, Hispanic. Still the county is predominantly white.
The attached might help you understand my comments a bit better. Early 1990s, population was ~25,000, mainly rural. Today, population is ~237,000 and slated to hit 400s by 2040. County was recently recognized as highest median income in the state, right around 100K.
Hi all. I would really appreciate your input. My husband and I are retiring next year and relocating to Georgia. We are willing to pay up to $350,000 for a home without a pool and $450,000 for a home with a pool. We'd like a lot size of at least half an acre. We are empty nesters, so commute and schools aren't really a concern. (Although, I realize that the better schools are in the better cities.) I have two inquiries.
1. I would like recommendations for cities/towns that are not only considered safer, but will more than likely remain relatively safe. I know that the suburbs are becoming more convenient with proximity to restaurants, shopping, etc.; however, with these new developments comes more residents and crime. I'm interested in suburbs that have not been overcome with sprawl or won't likely be.
2. I've done a lot of online research on race relations, but getting direct feedback from you will be more helpful. We are an active African American couple (53 and 57) seeking a diverse area. We don't want to be the only Black folks in the grocery store or Target; but on the other hand, we'd like our neighbors/city to be a mix so as to interact with people from all cultures and ethnicities. Living in another state, we are unfamiliar with so much about Atlanta 'burbs and their vibes/functioning. We have visited many times, but that is a different experience than becoming a resident. We do not want to have to move twice because we inadvertently moved into a suburb/exurb that doesn't welcome Blacks. We just want to reside in a peaceful and comfortable location free of tension and discord. I know that there will always be prejudices and biases that we all will face unfortunately, but I don't want to have to face that regularly around my chosen home/city.
I have narrowed the options to Douglasville, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, and Snellville. I also have interest in Duluth, Roswell, Marietta, and Smyrna; however, they are probably outside of my budget. I considered Covington until I learned that the KKK has a movement there. Making a decision based on just online research and visits is insufficient and challenging. I would value feedback based on your observations and experiences. Please let me know if the options that I have chosen are appropriate contenders and please share other options that I should consider. Thank you in advance for your time and responses.
Each of the suburban communities you named basically have been overcome and subsumed by Atlanta's notable "sprawling" heavy metropolitan development patterns.
Douglasville and Covington are probably the least affected by Atlanta's sprawling metropolitan development patterns, relative to the other 7 suburban communities you named, which have all just been completely subsumed and consumed by Atlanta's notably heavy suburban metropolitan sprawl.
But Douglasville has still been overwhelmed and subsumed by Atlanta's heavy suburban metropolitan development patterns.
Covington has been the least affected by and still sits out on the very eastern edge of Atlanta's heavy suburban metropolitan development patterns.
But Covington has still been dramatically and overwhelmingly affected by Atlanta's heavy suburban metropolitan development patterns, with the area continuing to be built up with residential and (particularly) industrial development.
You also should not be even the least bit afraid of moving to an outer-suburban community like Covington.
Any reported KKK activity that has happened in Covington has been minimal at best and still has not stopped Covington and Newton County (where Covington is located and is the seat of county government) from quickly transitioning into jurisdictions where racial and ethnic minorities make up a significant and growing majority of the population.
(Racial and ethnic minorities made up about 56% of the population of Covington proper and about 55% of the population of Newton County as of 2018... That is compared to 30 years ago, when racial and ethnic minorities only made up about just over 23% of Newton County's population in 1990.)
With the exception of Roswell (where racial and ethnic minorities still make up about 36% of the population), all of the suburban communities you named are areas where racial and ethnic minorities make up significant and growing majorities of the population.
Hi all. I would really appreciate your input. My husband and I are retiring next year and relocating to Georgia. We are willing to pay up to $350,000 for a home without a pool and $450,000 for a home with a pool. We'd like a lot size of at least half an acre. We are empty nesters, so commute and schools aren't really a concern. (Although, I realize that the better schools are in the better cities.) I have two inquiries.
1. I would like recommendations for cities/towns that are not only considered safer, but will more than likely remain relatively safe. I know that the suburbs are becoming more convenient with proximity to restaurants, shopping, etc.; however, with these new developments comes more residents and crime. I'm interested in suburbs that have not been overcome with sprawl or won't likely be.
2. I've done a lot of online research on race relations, but getting direct feedback from you will be more helpful. We are an active African American couple (53 and 57) seeking a diverse area. We don't want to be the only Black folks in the grocery store or Target; but on the other hand, we'd like our neighbors/city to be a mix so as to interact with people from all cultures and ethnicities. Living in another state, we are unfamiliar with so much about Atlanta 'burbs and their vibes/functioning. We have visited many times, but that is a different experience than becoming a resident. We do not want to have to move twice because we inadvertently moved into a suburb/exurb that doesn't welcome Blacks. We just want to reside in a peaceful and comfortable location free of tension and discord. I know that there will always be prejudices and biases that we all will face unfortunately, but I don't want to have to face that regularly around my chosen home/city.
I have narrowed the options to Douglasville, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, and Snellville. I also have interest in Duluth, Roswell, Marietta, and Smyrna; however, they are probably outside of my budget. I considered Covington until I learned that the KKK has a movement there. Making a decision based on just online research and visits is insufficient and challenging. I would value feedback based on your observations and experiences. Please let me know if the options that I have chosen are appropriate contenders and please share other options that I should consider. Thank you in advance for your time and responses.
I’d say Roswell. $450k might get you a pool, but it won’t be in the upper echelon communities for sure. Over all, Roswell is nice and quite diverse. Good luck.
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Seeking Atlanta Suburb & Exurb advice
