Metro Atlanta Neighborhoods

Atlanta is located in Fulton County, but the metro Atlanta includes, by any account, portions of Cherokee, Cobb, Dekalb, and Douglas counties as well. Most of the larger suburbs are on the north side of the city, north of the beltway but within thirty miles of downtown Atlanta. Below are a few of the most familiar suburbs:

 

·        Alpharetta: Alpharetta is a town of about thirty-five thousand people that sits twenty-five miles north of Atlanta. It is less of a suburb than it is its own town, but if you do consider it a suburb, it is one of the nicer, but pricier, ones.

·        Marietta: Marietta is a growing suburb located about fifteen miles northwest of Atlanta. The town has a very nice town square and tries to cultivate a small-town feel.

·        Smyrna: Smyrna is another sizable suburb (more than thirty thousand residents), and it is only ten miles northwest of the city.

·        Kennesaw: Kennesaw is northwest of Marietta and Smyrna, so it is a fairly lengthy drive from the city. On the other hand, it is a beautiful and historic area.

·        Decatur: Decatur is only five miles east of downtown Atlanta and is actually still inside the beltway, along with North Decatur. It is a diverse city and offers the shortest commute of the suburbs discussed here.

·        Forest Park: Just ten miles south of the city, Forest Park is close enough for a short commute. In addition, Forest Park has a diverse population of approximately forty percent white, thirty-five percent black, and twenty-five percent other ethnicities.

 

In these suburbs, you may be able to combine the small-town feel with the advantages of having a nearby big city. Like Atlanta proper, these suburbs have apartments for rent, but they also have houses with yards for sale. You will, however, spend much more time in your car, driving to and from work.