Sick of statistics! Need personal input! (Atlanta, Alpharetta: fit in, crime rates, homes)

[cool_mommy]

My husband and I have been considering a move from CT to GA for some time now. He recently had a job offer and now is the time to get serious! I have many days and nights doing the research on different areas in GA, the crime, the education, etc. What I really need is some honest and personal input from residents actually living there. We have two elementary aged children. I am in school working on my teaching degree. We are looking at areas around Newnan, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Villa Rica, Carrollton, and any others that might be suggested in this general area. Our main concerns are education and crime. We are strong believers in the theory that kids get what they put into their education but we would like to see good academics combined with extra curricular activities, both athletics and the arts. I have read posts here that a person from CT may undergo culture shock. I'm hoping that it will be for the better. Our trips to the southern part of our nation have always been met by true southern hospitality and warm welcoming people. I have read threads on this site make mention to rude, snobby people and "freakish" crime rates. I would love to find a community where my family can get involved and really get to know our neighbors. This isn't something that really takes place where we live now. Everyone hibernates for the winter months which last for about 4 to 5 months. I will not miss the cold and dreary winters! If anyone has any input, I would greatly appreciate it as time is really of the essence at this point! Oh and we would love a home with some land, maybe 1 to 3 acres and a basement! This seems somewhat hard to find in some areas of GA.

[Figment 07]

Originally Posted by cool_mommy

I have read posts here that a person from CT may undergo culture shock. I'm hoping that it will be for the better. Our trips to the southern part of our nation have always been met by true southern hospitality and warm welcoming people. I have read threads on this site make mention to rude, snobby people and "freakish" crime rates. I would love to find a community where my family can get involved and really get to know our neighbors. This isn't something that really takes place where we live now. Everyone hibernates for the winter months which last for about 4 to 5 months. I will not miss the cold and dreary winters! If anyone has any input, I would greatly appreciate it as time is really of the essence at this point! Oh and we would love a home with some land, maybe 1 to 3 acres and a basement! This seems somewhat hard to find in some areas of GA.

Come on down!

When you are here to investigate Peachtree City and Newnan, don't forget to look at Fayetteville homes for acreage and a basement. I was surprised to see so many homes listed there on 2 to 5 acres. Your wish list also might be fulfilled in Carroll County (Carrollton/Villa Rica), home to The University of West Georgia. It sounds to me as if your family would be an asset to any community and you would be welcomed.

[imperialegg]

If your husband is working near the airport, Peachtree City is advised. Newnan is very rural, don't go there unles you want to have horses or goats. The BEST area for familes is hands-down Alpharetta, but not if you work downtown or the airport area. Do NOT live in the airport area.

[Staceyjay]

We relocated from Watertown Ct to Tyrone Ga - just outside of Peachtree City. Fayette County has the best school system in the state. If you want a very social area Peachtree is the way to go. I love Tyrone but it is a bit more rural - which we are more used to. I have two children -they adjusted just fine - better than I did! It is a HUGE HUGE culture shock - trust me. BUT not in a bad way - this is a great place. We also looked at Villa Rica and a few other places - this is the spot to be! The most difficult adjustment -which I think will take me YEARS - is the noise. Trains and planes......all the time. It's just something I am very sensitive to. Best of luck! Send email if you need more help!

[Georgia]

Ok, no statistics just my well traveled opinion. (WV native, 10 years NJ, 3 years Chicago, Now GA)

Northerners moving to the Atlanta area is not a big deal. Here is where some folks mostly from the Northeast and Cali find difficulty with the local Southerners.

Dealing with the public on a daily basis which include many, many, local born and bred Georgian's, Alabamaians, Mississippians, and Carolina folks I find decent hard working "conservative to very conservative" mindsets. The "new south" is not the "old south" it is rich in business, fast growing, and financial surplus governments all the while maintaining it's conservative values and prinicipals.

Most Northerners coming into the Southeast by choice are not moving because of weather, but because they have found themselves being taxed out of their homes due to years of left of center utopian state government leaders, which keep getting re-elected again and again. They are also, like in NJ for example, held hostage to union mafia style government schools that post #1 grad rates in the nation, but the kids can't read above an 8th grade level. However, that is the choice of the majority of the citizens and that is fine if this is what they choose.

As the Northern families move south to escape the $1,000.00 plus a month in property taxes and failed socialist utopias to the warm, growing, very conservative southeast cultures, and instead of saying this works well and adjusting or assimilating, natives begin to hear how "backward thinking southerners" need to change Items like "In NY we do it this way", "in California things are better because", "Well schools in NJ are so good due to....", etc., and the worst " My God, all these crazy fundamentalist bible thumpers, in the North you have tolerance....secular....." Then you will find the nice greeting Southerner turn on you like a rabid dog.
You will go from being Ralph and Jane from New York to just another darn Yankee coming down here with their liberal bull crap. In other words, if it is so darn great then why did you leave in the first place.

Now, if the above is nothing to you and your coming down for change, weather, etc., and are truly tolerant to conservative values, then you will be just fine. Heck, I'm not Northern or Southern, just a Mid-Atlantic WV hillbilly married to a great girl from NJ. She loves it here, the people, and their values. Needless to say, she has only been called a Yankee once

Best thing is to come down, check it out, don't tour sites but go to the Mall and the grocery store, that is the only way to form a true opinion for yourself.

[cool_mommy]

Thank you for all of your valuable input. I also appreciate your kind words Figment and I do hope we fit in nicely. "Georgia", after reading your post, I am convinced more than ever that we will be happy in your state. My husband and I are both conservatives. I have no problem with "bible thumpers" and will embrace their values. I will have to remember to keep my Yankee opinions to a minimum so as not to become one of "those Yankees". Unfortunately I'm outspoken by nature. My husband will not be working near the airport, actually he will be working in Franklin county. I grew up near Bradley Airport in CT so the noise will not affect me but my husband could be a different story. I'm sure we'll adjust. I am going to go over everyone's suggestions and continue my research on the internet for the places you all have mentioned. Hopefully, we'll be down for a visit real soon! I'll be the one taking notes in the grocery store and mall! Thanks again!

[jxu66]

Like Georgia said, New York or Northeast people in Atlanta is commonplace. I met cab driver and post office workers who came from New York. Just be prepare to pay good price for nice neighorhood. Don't have this view "Atlanta is such affordable place that I can get a nice house, good school for under 200K". Sorry to say that, in Atlanta, you got what you paid for.

[lastminutemom]

Keep in mind, that as a future teacher, if you move south, that Georgia does not have teacher unions the way most of the Northeast does. We don't have collective bargaining -- and while most teachers get raises at the same time, when the state deems it, there is no guarantee that they won't change to a merit based system, in some form or another.

Teaching jobs are plentiful here -- especially in high school math and science and special ed -- but really in any field. I suppose timing is everything -- you have to work slightly hard to find a good school, but many systems are growing rapidly.

As for schools, part of the reason that the south is so much more affordable than much of the Northeast is that we have much lower property taxes -- property taxes are the funding mechanism for public education. If your Connecticut elementary schols have more than the basics in terms of school encrichment (art, pe, music) -- you may find that is a culture shock. Many systems have struggled to buy updated textbooks in the last few years (the state has made significant education funding cuts that have really impacted many of the better systems across the state) and almost none of the fast growing systems have been unable to keep up with growth in terms of classroom space and buildings.

Most residents of Metro Atl aren't from here anyway originally.... you will be fine.

[cool_mommy]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

Keep in mind, that as a future teacher, if you move south, that Georgia does not have teacher unions the way most of the Northeast does. We don't have collective bargaining -- and while most teachers get raises at the same time, when the state deems it, there is no guarantee that they won't change to a merit based system, in some form or another.

Teaching jobs are plentiful here -- especially in high school math and science and special ed -- but really in any field. I suppose timing is everything -- you have to work slightly hard to find a good school, but many systems are growing rapidly.

As for schools, part of the reason that the south is so much more affordable than much of the Northeast is that we have much lower property taxes -- property taxes are the funding mechanism for public education. If your Connecticut elementary schols have more than the basics in terms of school encrichment (art, pe, music) -- you may find that is a culture shock. Many systems have struggled to buy updated textbooks in the last few years (the state has made significant education funding cuts that have really impacted many of the better systems across the state) and almost none of the fast growing systems have been unable to keep up with growth in terms of classroom space and buildings.

Most residents of Metro Atl aren't from here anyway originally.... you will be fine.

I've noticed that in many school districts the test scores for Science are very low. Is there a shortage of quality Science teachers, the curriculum lacking or another reason for such low scores?

[xxman777]

Wait, did you say your husband will be working in Franklin County? If so that is pretty far northeast of the metro area. If you are interested in living in the city then you should focus on northeastern suburbs such as Gwinnett, Hall and Barrow Counties. You could also consider Athens.