Just under 20 miles west of Atlanta, Austell has long been a sleepy suburban town centered around the Norfolk Southern Railway, but the city has a vision to develop into a vibrant, mixed-use community. “I would describe Austell as a place on the cusp of something great,” says Derek Caffe, cofounder of civic engagement group Create Austell and managing broker of CAFFE Realty. “From speaking to some of my neighbors, there’s a buzz about Austell and what’s to come, and there are people moving here before it goes crazy.” Locally owned businesses and chain restaurants line Veteran’s Memorial Highway in the central downtown area, which the Sweetwater Creek wraps around in its journey toward Lithia Springs to the west. North of downtown, suburbs sit beside the Austell Whittaker Train Yard, and to the south, more established neighborhoods sit near Six Flags over Georgia.
The neighborhood of Austell provides a scenic, peaceful place to call home for many.
Observe wildlife at Lithia Springs' Sweetwater Creek State Park
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Affordable living in Cobb County
“We have seen prices rapidly shoot up, but we are still to this day the most affordable city within Cobb County,” Caffe says. Austell’s median housing price is $306,000, compared to neighboring Mableton at $382,240. While homebuyers can expect a variety of housing options in Austell, “Most of the housing is single-family homes,” Caffe says. In and south of the central downtown area, most properties are midcentury ranch-style homes; a two-bedroom from the 1950s can cost $225,000, while a three-bedroom with a basement can exceed $370,000. New developments can also be found north and south of the downtown area, but tend to be larger, pricier and more common to the north; a 2010 New Traditional further south can cost $402,000, while a 2020 New Traditional further north can exceed $560,000. The city is open to different housing types, though,” Caffe says. Townhouses can be found along the northern and eastern borders of the city; townhouses to the north tend to be from the 1980s and typically cost $190,000 for a two-bedroom, while those further east tend to be from the 2010s and can cost $325,000 for a three-bedroom.
Austell homes often mix traditional brick with contemporary architecture.
Austell's homes include historical 1900s wooden clapboard houses with modern touch-ups.
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Downtown Austell and surrounding shopping and entertainment options
Downtown Austell has long been a slow area with little business, but community- and government-driven efforts are beginning to shape it into a hub of commerce, culture, and development. “My vision is that we have a more walkable core, so what I’m working on is getting more apartment units and food and beverage options in the downtown and working with other property owners to create a coalition to get really good food and dining into the downtown area,” Caffe says. Local government officials think similarly to Caffe, and in their 2023 Livable Centers Initiative, they outlined a Downtown Masterplan to build two new parks, more single-family and multi-family units, and over 88,000 square feet of commercial space. The city has also introduced new events in recent years like the Spring Fling and BBQ Blues and Brew Festival in 2022. “These are the events that the city has been trying to nurture and grow so that we have annual events,” Caffe says.
Locals can still find plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment options in and around the city today. Downtown Austell has a few locally owned antique shops and popular eateries like South Cobb Diner, Frog Rock Brewing and “Dough in the Box, which is just like Dunkin Donuts but way better,” Caffe says. Just north of the city limits, shopping centers like the Austell Shopping Plaza line the East-West Connector and are home to big box stores and chain restaurants. To the south in neighboring Mableton, the Six Flags over Georgia theme park is popular among locals and visitors.
Austell's conveniently located downtown offers a variety of businesses for visitors to enjoy.
Frog Rock Brewery is a go-to craft beer spot in Austell.
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Established parks and incoming trails
With over 90 acres of greenspace spread across seven parks, Austell makes it easy for locals to get outdoors. North of Downtown Austell, Legion Park at Sweetwater Creek is among the city’s most popular outdoor spaces and features baseball fields and tree-shaded trails along Sweetwater’s banks. Legion Park is also set to become the starting point of the Austell-Powder Springs Road Trail, which would not only connect the cities’ downtown areas but would also give Austell access to the Silver Comet Trail. “The Silver Comet goes from Alabama, and with the work Cobb County is doing right now, to Atlanta,” Caffe says. “For us, it would give people in Downtown a clear path to bike or scooter or whatever they want from Austell to Downtown Atlanta.” Though the project on the Austell-Powder Springs Road Trail is still in the research phase, it has been codified and is expected to be complete by 2028 to 2030.
A cyclist embarking on Silver Comet Trail.
The Silver Comet Trail's paved paths makes it suitable for walking, biking and rollerblading.
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Cobb County Schools and private Christian options
Local kids attend Cobb County Schools, which Niche gives an A-minus and ranks as the third best district in Georgia for student athletes. Austell is also home to and near a number of highly rated Christian private schools, including Cumberland Christian Academy, Heirway Christian Academy and Harvester Christian Academy.
Cumberland Christian Academy was established in Austell in 1989.
An entry/wide shot for Harvester Christian Academy.
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Interstate 20 and CobbLinc access
Interstate 20 runs through the southern end of Austell, connecting locals to Atlanta 17 miles away; traffic along this roadway can become congested during rush hour, particularly where it intersects with Interstate 285. CobbLinc buses also take residents to the Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA train station 12 miles east; from here, Blue Line trains only take 10 minutes to reach Five Points in Downtown Atlanta. For air travel, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 22 miles away has direct and connecting flights to every major city in the world.
Moderate crime levels in Cobb County
Austell’s crime rates are similar to other cities in Cobb County. According to CrimeGrade, Austell’s violent crime rate is 2.8 reported incidents per 1,000 people, compared to neighboring Mableton at 2.4. Austell’s property crime rate is also slightly higher at 23.9 reported incidents per 1,000 people, compared to Mableton at 22.2. Most criminal activity in Austell occurs in the southeastern corner of the city near Six Flags over Georgia.
Sweetwater Creek’s flood hazard
Sweetwater Creek is prone to severe flooding, and during a storm in September 2009, flood levels rose to a record-breaking 20 feet in Austell. The city’s flood zone map updated in 2013 and categorizes locations along Sweetwater Creek as Special Flood Hazard Areas where flood insurance is required. Since 2009, Cobb County has led studies and initiatives to better prevent flooding; this has improved the area's National Flood Insurance Program score, so locals can start saving 15% on their flood insurance premiums starting in April 2024.
Written By
Hannah Rainey
Photography Contributed By
Kathleen Kim
Video By
Becky Gaskill
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Austell, GA sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Austell, GA over the last 12 months is $310,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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