Choosing the right neighborhood is unarguably one of the most important decisions you will face while moving long distance, especially if you are moving with children. Great schools, parks and recreation facilities, safe streets and friendly vibes are a must, and short commutes to work are equally essential. But how do you find the best neighborhoods in Atlanta before actually moving there? Here is our guide to 5 best neighborhoods for families in Atlanta- read before booking your long distance movers.
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Garden Hills, Buckhead District
24.2% are family households
48.5% are family households with children
Garden Hills is one of the smallest neighborhoods on this list and has a warm, tight-knit community vibe one seldom finds in large metro areas. Many of its residents are active in numerous civic associations: Garden Hills Civic Association, Garden Hills Neighborhood Foundation, and Garden Hills Pool & Park Association, to name just a few. If your family leads an active lifestyle this neighborhood will be a perfect fit, with a community pool, several parks, and a rec center. In the summertime, the pool is where the action is, and it’s a great place for your kids to burn some energy and meet new friends. The neighborhood is close to Atlanta International School and Pace Academy, two of the city’s best private schools, but it also ranks high for excellent public schools like Garden Hills Elementary and Westminster schools- read more about finding great schools in this blog post. And with easy, 5-minute access to the Buckhead business district, Garden Hills makes the work commute and access to Downtown quick and painless.
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North Buckhead
34.2% are family households
41.9% are family households with children
Atlanta’s fourth most populous neighborhood is located near Garden Hills but offers more housing options, with greater availability of condos and apartments. If you’re thinking of buying a house in Atlanta, North Buckhead will provide you with a greater variety than many other areas. Active families will enjoy its proximity to Chastain Park, Blue Heron Nature Preserve, and Mountain Way Common and YMCA’s sports facilities and soccer fields in nearby Sandy Springs. A 5-mile multi-use path runs through the center of the neighborhood along GA-400, perfect for biking, jogging or skating. Excellent education options also abound with multiple Blue Ribbon schools like Sarah Rawson Smith Elementary, Sutton Middle School, and North Atlanta High School and the aforementioned Pace Academy and Atlanta International School. Emory Business School and the Art Institute of Atlanta are also located here, and many North Buckhead residents enjoy the cultural offerings of “Evenings at Emory”. Most commuters have a quick drive to work — between 10 and 30 minutes — and with lots of restaurants, entertainment opportunities, and even gyms right nearby, you won’t need to worry about commuting into Downtown.
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Virginia Highlands
34% are family households
42.8% are family households with children
This unique neighborhood, known by locals as VaHi, boasts a historic feel and a thriving commercial scene. It is highly pedestrian, with walkable blocks connecting the neighborhood’s four commercial centers in which you can easily find everything your family needs, from shops to gyms to restaurants. VaHi has a few parks and playgrounds and is located near to Piedmont Park- 5 minutes away by car and 15 minutes by foot. Nature loving families will enjoy the neighborhood’s public arboretum, comprised of trees on the property of local residents, which you can tour with information downloaded from the neighborhood’s Civic Association. Public schools in the area include Springdale Park Elementary, Inman Middle, and Grady High School. There are also several private schools nearby, including renowned Paideia. Virginia Highlands is less than 5 minutes away from Downtown, 7 minutes from the Emory University Campus, and less than 20 minutes to Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, and has easy access to several major interstates.
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City of Decatur
48% are family households
26.8% are family households with children
With its unique balance of urban life and small town vibes, Decatur is the perfect choice for many families. The events and activities promoted year-round make for a lively scene and create a sense of community identity. There is never a dull moment here too, with a great choice of parks, community pools, and other sports facilities. The schools in Decatur have consistently been rated as some of the best in the state, with both public and private options including Oakhurst Elementary, Clairemont Elementary, and Decatur High School. Downtown Atlanta a 15-minute drive from Downtown Decatur, and several interstates (I-75, I-20, and I-285) are within the same distance as well. With three MARTA stations, Decatur is also very accessible via public transportation.
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Chastain Park
42% are family households
34% are family households with children
Chastain Park is Atlanta’s most affluent neighborhood and the country’s 9th richest zip code and as such has very impressive recreational facilities including a horse park, tennis center, and pool. The neighborhoods regularly hosts community events, concerts, and festivals and is the home to Northside Youth Organization. The neighborhood’s choice of school is also top notch, with great public schools like Warren T. Jackson Elementary and Sutton Middle School and charter schools like Ridgeview Charter and Riverwood International Charter. Chastain Park is located about 5 to 7 minutes away from the Buckhead business district, less than 10 minutes from the interstate (I-285 and GA 400) and less than 35 minutes from Atlanta Hartsfield Airport.
| Neighborhood | Median Annual Household Income |
Median Monthly Rent | 3 Bedroom House, To Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Decatur | $74,465 | $770 | $350,000 and up |
| Garden Hills | $65,566 | $925 | $350,000 and up |
| Virginia Highlands | $96,441 | $932 | $450,000 and up |
| North Buckhead | $93,212 | $1114 | $550,000 and up |
| Chastain Park | $155,958 | $1019 | $600,000 and up |
For more on Atlanta by the numbers, take a look at another featured blog post here.
