If there's a "best places to live," "best places to raise a family," or "best community" list somewhere, there's every likelihood Alpharetta is on that list, if not topping the list itself, as the suburban city so often does. Year after year, respected national platforms like Newsweek, Southern Living and Travel and Leisure, call Alpharetta one of the most desirable places to live in Georgia and the nation. Alpharetta has all the markings of community affluence — a vibrant, walkable downtown, upscale homes, country clubs, sought-after schools and trendy restaurants. "It's wholesome and comfortable here," says Robin Andrade, a veteran Atlanta real estate broker and owner of Sell Atlanta Real Estate. "Alpharetta is the ultimate destination if you have the money and want a good life for you and your kids. If you're looking for a quiet and safe place, if you want a mini-mansion, Alpharetta is it."
Deliberately in its bubble, the city of 67,000 residents is at the very edge of the metropolitan area about 30 miles north of Atlanta. “Alpharetta is far,” Andrade says. "It seems a bit too far for most people I get calls from; they are kind of isolated. People move here for the isolation." That may explain why the city seemingly has built in practically every conceivable convenience folks in more centralized parts of the metro have access to. The city is replete with commerce and business, shopping and dining, culture and entertainment, making Alpharetta strikingly independent and self-sufficient. "They don't have to go to the city for anything,” Andrade says. “The things people work hard for, they have that.”
Today's Alpharetta is home to high-profile movers and shakers like executives and professional athletes who find the town conveniently close to the Atlanta Falcons' training facility in Flowery Branch. In addition, more than 700 tech companies are present here including Verizon Wireless and LexisNexis, providing a place where white-collar workers can find good-paying jobs without having to fight rush hour traffic in exhausting work commutes.
Alpharetta's City Center features a variety of restaurants and bars, including Jekyll Brewing.
Alpharetta has a lovely downtown area that is perfect for walking and enjoying the day.
The Avalon offers a wide variety of shopping options.
Alpharetta is situated north of Atlanta along Georgia's Highway 400.
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High-end homes in Alpharetta
In Alpharetta, homebuyers can find subdivisions with Colonial Revivals and brick-facing contemporary new traditionals in established neighborhoods, newly constructed townhouses and million-dollar estates on acres of land, to early 20th-century cottages. There are sprawling lawns and swimming pools. The median home price is about $800,000, about twice the national average. Homes range from around $300,000 to $1 million or more, depending upon size and acreage. "The value of your home will increase substantially here,” Andrade says. “Generally, home values appreciate faster here on the north side of the metro.”
The median home price in Alpharetta is about $800,000.
Alpharetta has lots of different styles of homes to choose from, like Colonial Revivals.
Alpharetta offers a variety of townhomes and condominiums to choose from.
Homes in Alpharetta often feature spacious yards and front porches.
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Sought-after Fulton County Schools
Fulton County Schools serves Alpharetta, and it has an A rating from Niche. The school system operates 27 schools in Alpharetta, including 15 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and four high schools, each ranking among the state's best. Depending on their location, students may attend A-plus-rated Alpharetta High School, which Niche names the No. 3 best public high school in Georgia with the No. 2 best public high school teachers in the state. In addition to the public schools, there are 17 private schools that local kids may attend.
Alpharetta Elementary School is one of several elementary schools located in Alpharetta, GA.
Hopewell Middle School serves students in grades 6 through 8.
Cambridge High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1.
FCS Innovation Academy is a Fulton County Schools STEM high school.
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Avalon serves as a hub for shopping
There's no shortage of disposable income to go around in Alpharetta and plenty of places to spend it. However, the jewel in Alpharetta's shopping crown is Avalon, a mixed-use development with retail and restaurants, a 12-screen movie theater, office space, single-family residences and luxury rental homes. "Avalon is very opulent, and the air smells like money," Andrade says.
Other shopping haunts include North Point Mall, which once was one of the largest malls in the country, and Historic Downtown Alpharetta, with its quaint streets, antique shops and cafes. Popular eateries in downtown Alpharetta include Foundation Social Eatery, where American classics are prepared by a Michelin Star-winning chef. From March through November, the area has a monthly Main Street Market featuring local artisans.
Avalon is a popular shopping destination located in Alpharetta.
Cafe Intermezzo is a popular spot in Alpharetta.
Alpharetta - City
Shopping is fun and easy in Alpharetta's Avalon.
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Swimming and disc golf at Wills Park
Twenty-five parks fill 775 acres of the city's green space. The 110-acre Wills Park is the most expansive, with tennis courts, a dog park, playgrounds, a pool, a disc golf course and an equestrian center, for starters. Other options include North Park, Webb Bridge Park at the edge of the city limits, and Big Creek Greenway, a 12-foot-wide paved path for biking, walking, and rollerblading set alongside the creek that connects Cumming, Alpharetta and Roswell.
Walking the dog and chatting is a fun way to spend your afternoon at Wills Park in Alpharetta.
Willis Park in Alpharetta has a large pool to enjoy.
Take the kids to the playgrounds at Wills Parks in Alpharetta.
Make sure to get outside and exercise at Wills Park in Alpharetta.
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Year-round events, from Taste of Alpharetta to a songwriters' festival
A new community activity awaits any given week as the city is filled with civic events. In springtime, there's Taste of Alpharetta downtown, featuring 60 restaurants offering samples of their appetizers, entrees and desserts. Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest, in September, is the city's annual beer festival with local brews and live music. In the fall, the town comes out for Wire & Wood Alpharetta, a songwriters' festival where artists perform their music and tell the stories that inspired them.
A great way to relax with family at the Alpharetta Food Truck Alley.
Alpharetta Farmers market was created in 2006.
Lace up your skates and glide on the ice at the annual Avalon on Ice event.
Festival of Speed showcases the world’s most exotic cars.
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City crime rate is lower than the national average
According to FBI data, Alpharetta's crime rate is 32% lower than the national average. However, local crime has increased by 15% year-over-year, with violent crimes rising by 10.9% and property crimes rising by 15.9%.
Alpharetta traffic and weather
Because Alpharetta is so self-contained, there's little cause for leaving town. However, for those moments when events or a work commute pull residents elsewhere, traffic can test even the most patient of souls. It boils down to timing. Catch the commute at just the right time (after 10 a.m. on weekdays), and it's a 25-minute drive to make the 30-mile trip. But be prepared to return by 1:30 or 2 p.m. (especially on Fridays); otherwise, an hour or more of driving awaits. Relief from traffic may be on the horizon in the form of a rail service from Alpharetta to Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides transit options, including a bus route that runs from the Windward Parkway Park and Ride to the North Springs MARTA Station in Sandy Springs.
When it comes to the weather, city residents get to enjoy plenty of time outdoors. Alpharetta has four distinct seasons, with hot and humid summers and mild winters. From April through October, average daily temperatures exceed 70 degrees. July is the hottest month with an average high of 88 degrees, and January is the coldest month, with an average high of 50 degrees. The city sees about 2.5 inches of snowfall each year.
For those who prefer to drive, Georgia 400 runs through the center of the city, providing a gateway into Atlanta and the North Georgia Mountains. State Routes 9, 120, 140, 141 and 372 are major transportation thoroughfares. Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, a 218-bed facility, is off Route 9. Alpharetta is just over 35 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Written By
Claudia Pinto
Photography Contributed By
Greg Riegler
Video By
Samantha Houtchens
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Alan Daniel,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Alpharetta, GA sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Alpharetta, GA over the last 12 months is $825,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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FRESH PAINT, Fenced BACK YARD! UNFINISHED BASEMENT! Single Family Residence AVAILABLE FOR RENT — BEAUTIFUL 5 BEDROOMS, 4 BATHROOMS, 3-SIDED BRICK, SINGLE FAMILY HOME IN THE HEART OF ALPHARETTA, GA NESTLED WITHIN THE HIGHLY SOUGHT- AFTER ALPHARETTA SCHOOL DISTRICT, MINUTES AWAY FROM ALPHARETTA DOWNTOWN. Discover the best of Alpharetta from your doorstep. Downtown Alpharetta's & Milton shops,
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