Dallas

As part of the second-fastest-growing county in Georgia, East Paulding County offers all the essentials of a suburban enclave. The area’s population boom can largely be attributed to its proximity to Atlanta, which is only 30 miles away. However, East Paulding County has its own charms, including ample shopping, parks and well-ranked schools. “A big draw is affordability,” says Elisa VanArsdale, a broker with Beazer Realty, who’s been selling homes in the area for nine years. “You can get more bang for your buck compared to Atlanta and Cobb County. People are moving further out so they can get a little more house and land.” Paradise Shoppes of New Hope along Paulding Drive provides residents with plenty of amenities, including Walgreens and Publix. Residents can also grab essentials from Costco and Walmart Supercenter on Charles Hardy Parkway. For dining out, barbecue lovers stop by Rodney’s BBQ on Dallas Acworth Highway. Besides smokey pulled pork sandwiches, the eatery has breakfast staples like buttermilk pancakes and a rotating list of monthly specials. Totopos in Paradise Shoppes of New Hope is another local favorite for its Mexican classics, like steak fajitas and pork burritos. Civil War buffs can explore the 765-acre Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site on Mount Tabor Church Road. Besides a well-preserved pioneer cabin from the 1800s, the recreational hub has 4 miles of trails surrounded by towering oak trees. The four baseball diamonds, four tennis courts and racquetball court at Mount Tabor Park on East Paulding Drive provide residents with more outdoor activities. The green space also has a half-mile trail that loops around a lake and a recreation center that holds group exercise classes like aerobics and yoga. Braly Soccer Park and New Hope Ball Park are next to one another on Industrial Boulevard North. Both offer numerous youth leagues throughout the year. Children can also run around the Playground of Dreams between the sports facilities. While there are established neighborhoods in East Paulding dating from the 1960s to the 1980s, the bulk of homes were built after 2000. They are neo-traditional in style and commonly rest along grid-patterned, sidewalk-lined streets ending in cul-de-sacs. “Families tend to move here because it has good schools and lots of parks,” says Jenifer Stewart, a Realtor with Re/Max Around Atlanta who has sold homes in the area since 1993. With modern farmhouses and Craftsman-style builds, Riverwood is one subdivision built within the last five years. The community boasts pickleball courts, a resort-style pool and a playground. “There are tons of new homes and different subdivisions currently being built,” Stewart says. “It’s one of the reasons so many people move to the area.” Vintage split-level and ranch homes typically list between $250,000 and $350,000, while newer construction can cost anywhere from $350,000 to $600,000. According to the CAP Index Crime Score, East Paulding has an overall crime score of 2 out of 10, which is significantly lower than the national average of 4. The Paulding County Schools district serves East Paulding County. Students may attend W.C. Abney Elementary and East Paulding Middle. Both score B-plus grades from Niche. The middle school’s Parent Teacher Student Association hosts various events, including Day of the Dead Hangout, where students can celebrate the Mexican holiday with cookie decorating and other crafts. East Paulding High scores a B-minus grade and has a Career, Technical and Agricultural Education program to help students explore future careers. Focuses include teaching, web development and forestry. While most subdivisions have sidewalks for leisurely strolls, East Paulding County is car-dependent. U.S. Route 278 runs along the area’s southern region and a 30-mile drive east on that highway and Interstate 20 leads to downtown Atlanta. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is 40 miles away along those same roadways. The Xpress Hiram Park-and-Ride bus stop is about 5 miles south in Hiram via Highway 92, providing transportation to downtown Atlanta Monday through Friday. The Wellstar Paulding Medical Center, a 294-bed hospital, is also in Hiram. “A lot of hospital employees live in this area because it is so close to Wellstar,” Stewart says.