Athens, Georgia

thatbeautifulday
2y ago
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We have a two year old and have lived in Athens since we were in college (so 15+ years). The pro’s are essentially what you mentioned - it’s a smaller town but there’s still a lot to do, and much of it is not associated with the university. (We appreciate that while it’s a college town, it’s not “just” a college town.)As younger graduates we got in to a lot more in the way of shenanigans but now it’s pretty easy to avoid if it’s not your thing. We live within a couple miles of the university but I can’t tell you the last time I was out that way - there are other hubs of activity that aren’t campus or downtown. We are football fans but don’t love crowds, so really just kind of steer clear of certain areas on gameday, or get out into the surrounding areas (it’s an easy drive to a lot of places incl Atl, North Ga, Asheville, G’ville, Savannah).

To address some more specific mentions: I think generally you’ll find that folks are respectful of public art etc, with the blue squiggles being a notable exception. The housing market is hot right now and the non-student rental market is tight, so consider your financial situation. We love our daycare but are still in conversation about where our kiddo will go to school - the public schools have had some public struggles lately so hoping that evens itself out in the next few years

heliocentricmess
2y ago
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Athens is basically like Austin 15 yrs ago. It’s been growing a lot and feels like it will probably explode, population-wise, in the next 5 yrs. There are tons of huge development projects in the works and it’s a different place than it was even 5 yrs ago.

Traffic isn’t bad at all compared to larger cities and football culture is totally avoidable if you prefer.

It is pretty safe although that feels like it’s changing, too. There have been multiple shootings downtown this year & the Xmas parade was marred by threats of a mass shooting. Which is a shame bc for most of my time here I have felt safe downtown and the surrounding area even as a woman alone at night. Gangs are on the rise and with that gun violence, although it’s usually confined to certain communities/areas.

The homeless population has grown exponentially here in the past handful of years which many in the community are concerned about and so far there doesn’t seem to be a great plan for dealing with that. We have the most free services for mental health & drug rehabilitation in the area so we are currently that resource for most of NE GA while also having one of the highest poverty rates per capita as a county, so there’s more of an underbelly than one might expect for a town this size.

The social scene is very bar-centric so if you aren’t a drinker it can be hard to find activities that don’t involve meeting up at a bar or brewery, even with kids. Since you both work from home I would look into what else is available around other interests, since many transplants can have a harder time making friends if they aren’t connected through work/school.

I personally feel that Athens is a great home base & a great place to raise kids, but it can also still feel really small/limited at times. For its size it does have a lot of bigger city features though and it isn’t yet overrun with a lot of the same problems that exist in bigger cities.

boobiesrkoozies
2y ago
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Not a parent myself, but the childfree friend in a friend group who are all parents:

There's so much stuff to do for families/kids around here. Yeah, we're a college town but that's really only a part of Athens life; and most of it is contained to the "college" areas/downtown. And even downtown is separated by the "khaki divide" so there's a townie part and a college-y part. (If you and your wife want an adult night, highly recommend World Famous and Little Kings).

Checkout Flagpole! They have events listed online and a bunch of them are family centered.

As for crime, I've always felt safe in Athens. Lived here almost my whole life and while there's parts I'll avoid at night, I imagine it's like that anywhere. A personal concern is gun violence downtown, but even that's pretty sporadic and is probably more paranoia on my end than anything.

mowerheimen
1y ago
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My honest opinion? I love the town. I spent 7 years in Athens, and I just moved back about 25 minutes outside it for work. It can be a really great place. But it can also be really shitty, and honestly, the way it's been going lately, I kinda wonder if it isn't losing some of its charm. It always felt like a small town to me, while having a lot of things you get in larger cities, like stores and restaurants. And I will honestly say that Athens and the surrounding areas have some amazing restaurants. It's also within easy driving distance of a lot of the most beautiful parts of Georgia.

Other people have raised some valid points, the cost of living in Athens has drastically increased. There are ways around that, and some good deals still out there. But the University pay does not increase very often, and if you're going into a field you want to promote further up in, a lot of the time, you end up hoping departments.

Overall, I personally would do it, but I love the town and still have a bunch of friends in the area. I would encourage you to give it a try.

Edit: I took a glance at your profile after writing this- I am also a DnD nerd, and most of my friends still in the area are as well. There's a thriving nerd culture around.

Hey all!

Adam Rogers here, today I will be the one to discuss with you the pros and cons of living here in Athens, Georgia. We all know no place is perfect but we can call it home nonetheless. Hopefully with this video I will be able to inform you what you need to know and help you make a decision or just to give you food for thought.

Moving to Georgia! Reach out to us! We absolutely LOVE it when people reach out to us, and we have helped people from all across the world make the move right here to our home city. We can't wait to hear from you! Livinginathensgeorgia@gmail.com

Athens, Georgia is The South's Favorite College Town, Go Dawgs! | Hey Ya'll | Southern Living

Athens, Georgia has always been known for its music scene, and we love the live shows, but there is so much more to this picture perfect southern town than tunes. That's why The South's Best Awards recognized this quaint little town as the best of the best. The food is off the charts, and staying in one of the unique local hotels will make your trip into an event you can tell people about. Now is the time to visit, since the Dawgs are national champions, so grab some soul food and ice cream, tour the campus, then you can thank us for the tip later. Have fun!