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.
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Alpharetta, GA sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 69 days. The median sale price for homes in Alpharetta, GA over the last 12 months is $1,285,250, up 43% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
THE BEST LOCATION IN WALKABLE DOWNTOWN ALPHARETTA. Amazing End Unit in the heart of Downtown Alpharetta's City Center and Avalon!!. This amazing 3 bedroom townhome has a spacious open floorplan with shiplap detail around fireplace, hardwood floors, 10'ceilings in the living and kitchen areas and a sunroom great for an office. Kitchen has an abundance of cabinets with soft close doors/drawers, GE
Welcome to 425 Serrant Court — a beautifully updated traditional home in a sought-after Johns Creek swim/tennis community with a new playground, just minutes from Downtown Alpharetta, Avalon, Halcyon, Greenway trails, dog parks, and Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. This 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom residence with a huge bonus room upstairs and a finished basement offers 3,734 sq ft of elegant living space on
HUGE PRICE REDUCTION! PRICED UNDER APPRAISED VALUE for a quick sale! The old saying LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION has never been more true than at 14905 Thompson Road. Nestled in the heart of Milton horse country, this meticulously re-imagined home offers unmatched proximity to both downtown Alpharetta or Crabapple/Milton with all the restaurants, shops, and activities that both have to offer. Top
THE BEST LOCATION IN WALKABLE DOWNTOWN ALPHARETTA. Amazing End Unit in the heart of Downtown Alpharetta's City Center and Avalon!!. This amazing 3 bedroom townhome has a spacious open floorplan with shiplap detail around fireplace, hardwood floors, 10'ceilings in the living and kitchen areas and a sunroom great for an office. Kitchen has an abundance of cabinets with soft close doors/drawers, GE
Gorgeous home in sought-after Denmark H.S. District. Minutes from GA 400, Halcyon, and the Big Creek Greenway trails! This unique property offers 4 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms. Freshly painted interior and exterior, new stainless steel appliances, new flooring in the upstairs, new granite countertops, backsplash, new toilets, new light fixtures. Excellent community amenities include swim and
Professionally decorated and beautifully maintained, this immaculate end-unit townhome is located in one of the most desirable pockets of downtown Alpharetta—just steps from Canton Street and Jasmine Garden Way. Offering premier walkability to top-rated restaurants, boutiques, and the vibrant charm of one of Metro Atlanta’s most sought-after communities, this home combines luxury, comfort, and
Welcome to this amazing 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath Ranch home in the heart of downtown Alpharetta. This home has been totally renovated, and will take your breath away. The huge great room with a chef's kitchen, fireplace & wet bar that opens into the beautiful sun room is a entertainers delight. Large living room/den. Gracious primary bedroom. Updated primary bath with walk in tiled shower. Second
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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