Gwinnett vs. Fulton (Atlanta, Alpharetta, Tucker: lease, credit card, homes)

[PINKCADILLAC]

Hi we are anticipating a relocation to the Atlanta area. I've done tons of research. We are looking for good schools, larger newer home (mid $300), good tennis (which I don't think I can go wrong anywhere on that one) and a 45 minute.ish commute. My husband will be working inside the loop but just off of 85. We've heard horror stories about the traffic, however we're from NJ now live near DC and have lived near Miami. So I think that's realtive. I've narrowed it down to Alpharetta, Duluth, Grayson, Dacula and Tucker but only in the Parkview School District. Can anyone give me insight as to why I should choose one over the other? Thanks for any input.

[lastminutemom]

Which is the closest? Atlanta's traffic is often judged to be either the worst in the country or the second worst only to Los Angeles. If possible, I would narrow down the list a bit more and then have your husband make the commute during rush hour to judge it a bit more.

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by PINKCADILLAC

Hi we are anticipating a relocation to the Atlanta area. I've done tons of research. We are looking for good schools, larger newer home (mid $300), good tennis (which I don't think I can go wrong anywhere on that one) and a 45 minute.ish commute. My husband will be working inside the loop but just off of 85. We've heard horror stories about the traffic, however we're from NJ now live near DC and have lived near Miami. So I think that's realtive. I've narrowed it down to Alpharetta, Duluth, Grayson, Dacula and Tucker but only in the Parkview School District. Can anyone give me insight as to why I should choose one over the other? Thanks for any input.

Inside the loop, I am gathering off I-85 from exit 95 down to the 75 merge?
Or inside the loop off the 285?
This is a very important facet for your decision.

I live in the Dacula area and chose it over Fulton for one reason, taxes!
Fulton has a high millage with Alpharetta having one of the highest property and ad valorem taxes in the state, mostly due to bailing out Atlanta, which is also Fulton county. There is actually a movement on to break away from Fulton due to this and create Milton County. The city of Atlanta has been mismanaged for decades. Franklin is doing a little better, but that is not saying much considering the last Mayor is now in prison.

Back to topic. Let me give you a commute from Dacula to the Chambliss area or use Exit 86 for example inside the loop.
From Dacula off Exit 115 via Mall of Georgia/Buford.
At 7:00 am you will hit the Exit 107 area within 25 minutes - 30 minutes. The time will be Route 324 to 85. Now for the fun, one you pass exit 107 you could drive 15 minutes to the loop or 60 minutes depending upon the idiot factor. Basically, plan on an hour for a 7am home leave time to hit the exit 86 location.

Others can chime in on the Tucker commute or Fulton County.

[avalugg]

Pink Cadillac:

Have you visited these areas? Also where will your husband be working? I think you've got to visit the area to see if it's a good fit for you and your family.

[PINKCADILLAC]

Hi Thanks for the replys! My husbands office will be inside the perimeter just off of 85. So looks like an hour no matter how we cut it. Aggrevation factor notwithstanding. We won't be able to visit until he has official word that transfer will take place, hence my questions. I'm hoping to have as much info before I get there so I can be decisive with my realtor about where we'd like to live. Looks more and more like Gwinnett and Dacula will be a good fit for us. Big city, can't get away from a commute since we had kids. We're used to that. Thanks for all your input.

[Georgia]

Feel free to ask anytime in regard to Dacula.
Now fer some Georgia education so you don't sound like one of those ferriners

When talking about 285 it is the Parameter. Either inside or outside
and the big bungle of lanes off 85 is called Spaghetti Junction.
Cause it looks like a big bunch of them there noodle pasta's all bunched together when ya fly over in one of those aeroioplanes

[PINKCADILLAC]

Why thank you kindly fuh the extra suthun lessons. I've actually been taking them fuh a while now. Some of my best friends are suthuners.

Do you know much about the Dacula schools? I am focused on the Dacula HS cluster. It seems well establised and highly rated. Mill Creek is new and shiney and appears to have a good reputation. However teacher friends of mine recommend steering clear of schools in their "growing pains" years which also seems to be the case there.

[jxu66]

To be fair, a lot of schools in Gwinnett are overcrowding. The only good school I know is undercapacity is Duluth high. Well, that's not for long since they let new Gwinnett science charter school use a couple of buildings in Duluth high this coming fall.

By the way, I like Mills Creek school districts better than Dacula high school districts. Mills creeks covers Hamiliton Mills, a wealthy and upscale more west side neighborhood while Dacula high covers more middle class more east side Dacula neighorhoods.

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/2FEF67B84EF053CF852571B200525B88/$file/0607_5YRFORECASTWEB072106.pdf

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by jxu66

To be fair, a lot of schools in Gwinnett are overcrowding. The only good school I know is undercapacity is Duluth high. Well, that's not for long since they let new Gwinnett science charter school use a couple of buildings in Duluth high this coming fall.

By the way, I like Mills Creek school districts better than Dacula high school districts. Mills creeks covers Hamiliton Mills, a wealthy and upscale more west side neighborhood while Dacula high covers more middle class more east side Dacula neighorhoods.

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/2FEF67B84EF053CF852571B200525B88/$file/0607_5YRFORECASTWEB072106.pdf

Hey now, hitting below the belt.

Mill Creek and Hammy Mill isn't anymore "upscale" than Dacula. Actually, Hammy is Dacula 30019.

Mill Creek will cover Hamilton Mill over to 20, up to Jackson and Barrow and split with Dacula at 324.
You will find many upscale homes in the Dacula and coming cluster area as Mill Creek.

The key isn't the home. Heck, Im in the Dacula district, border MC. There really isn't any difference.
You will find the average home cost in both districts for a nice home will begin in the upper 200's and go north over 1M, this in both school districts

Frankly, I don't judge upscale by the size of the home considering I would guess the majority of the McMansion owners are floating interest only 40 year balloons, driving their leased Hummers, and floating bloated credit cards on a daily basis. It's very obvious when you look around. Frankly, I like my middle class stuff paid for.

Geez, JX you hurt my feelings and the rest of my fellow Daculaites

[jxu66]

Georgia, I will take the comment back regarding Mills Creek. Ok.

Again I don't know too much about that region. My knowledge is limiting to drive around Dacula a couple of times.