Living in the city of Decatur in Atlanta

Living in Decatur Atlanta, Georgia

Decatur’s Location:

Decatur is located to the northeast of Atlanta, just about six miles from the city. This proximity to Downtown Atlanta means you’re never too far from the most popular parts of town.  If you are a frequent flier, the Atlanta airport is only about 25 to 30 minutes from Decatur, depending on your location. Best of all, you can actually use the heavy rail to get to the airport from Decatur, eliminating the need to find parking, get a taxi, or take a rideshare. 

Transportation and traffic:

When it comes to the traffic Atlanta is known for, Decatur certainly experiences less auto congestion. There is no denying that Atlanta is a spread-out city and its public transportation options are lacking.  The heavy rail is useful for some, but unless you live in the heart of the city, it won’t likely stop in your neighborhood.

But lucky for Decatur residents, it does stop there! If you want to use the heavy rail to get around town or head to events downtown when parking will be scarce, the stop in Decatur puts public transportation right at your fingertips…uh, feet.

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Walkability of Decatur:

Most parts of Atlanta are not extremely walkable. If you are looking for that, another city might be a better fit for you.  Decatur, however, is not only pedestrian friendly, but is home to some of the best dining and entertainment in Atlanta all within close proximity. Coffee shops, bars, restaurants, venues; whatever you’re looking for, you can probably find it in Decatur, and you can probably walk to it. If there is any part of Atlanta in which residents can live without owning a car, Decatur is likely it.

Decatur’s Restaurants and bars:

When it comes to dining out in Decatur, the options can be almost overwhelming. You’ll find perhaps the largest concentration of excellent restaurants and bars in all of Atlanta in Decatur. Brickstore Pub, a Decatur hot-spot, attained the acclaim of the best beer bar in the state of Georgia by Forbes Magazine. If small tapas plates are your thing, you must stop into The Iberian Pig. Looking for seafood? Yes, even in inland Georgia you can find excellent fare from the briny blue at Kimball House.

At nearly every turn you’ll find coffee houses and bottle shops and everything in between. Even just walking around town finding fun shops to dip into is a great way to spend an afternoon.

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Is Decatur family friendly?

One of the best things about Decatur is its family-friendly environment. You will see children walking home from school and playing in the parks. Restaurants are catered to families, and many of the festivals and events held throughout the year are a great opportunity to bring the kids along.

The demographic in Decatur is quite saturated with a young crowd, especially young families. This not only continues to breathe fresh life into town, but is great for the sense of community and building relationships with other young families.

Cultural and arts:

If you enjoy walking around festivals on a sunny afternoon, you’ll love all the street entertainment in Decatur. Art festivals, book festivals, music in the street…there is always something going on in the square during the warmer months. Decatur has great pride in the artistic environment it caters to, which brings many cultures together in the area, and adds to the family-friendly nature of town. There is so much to see and do and most of it is very kid friendly. Plus, this often equates to a free way to spend a weekend day!

The Housing Market in Decatur:

Decatur is a beautiful and desirable part of town, and the housing prices reflect this. The median home price in Decatur is about $560,000. Due to the population density, most of the homes in this area are townhouses with little yard, though they are generally spacious inside with plenty of storage. One of the most common living situations you will see here is a three to four level home with parking selling for about $550,000 to $600,000.

If you want to live in a place where homes tend to be detached single family dwellings, you might struggle to find those in Decatur. They are certainly there in some parts of town, but for most people, the walkability is one of the most attractive aspects of Decatur, and if you live too far from the epicenter of the action, you will lose the ability to walk everywhere.

Schools in Decatur:

Both the public and private schools in Decatur all receive A ratings on niche.com.  The high safety rating of Decatur makes it a great place for children to not only receive a wonderful education but live in a place where it’s safe enough to walk to school, or home from after school clubs and events. If you have school aged children and are trying to find which part of the Atlanta Metro will provide the best education, Decatur certainly should be on your list. There are few places in town with better schools and a better family friendly atmosphere.

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Safety:

When it comes to the safety rating of Decatur, it’s one of the safest neighborhoods in all of Atlanta. Obviously, it’s important to be aware and use common sense. Because of the high population density, there are plenty of people around who might be enticed into illicit actions by the opportunity presenting itself. Still, during the day, and in highly trafficked areas, this is a very safe place to live.

Looking to call Decatur home?

Are you thinking of moving to Decatur, or any other part of the Atlanta Metro Area? If so, reach out to me at Marc Brenner Realty, I would love to help you find your next home in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia.