Long known as Atlanta’s quiet suburban neighbor, Decatur now boasts a music scene and food culture to rival those of Georgia’s capital. “Decatur’s always had an artsy, quirky feel to it, but there were only a few shops here up until the 1990s,” says Aileen de la Torre, a city planner. “It took the city’s forward-thinking attitude and intentioned community to make Decatur what it is today.” The central downtown is home to nearly 200 independently owned businesses housed in buildings painted in murals. Small, historic neighborhoods and universities surround this area, and beyond them lie larger, newer suburbs. Just over 24,000 people call Decatur home, many of whom work in the medical field, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University are nearby in Atlanta.
Visit Decatur's open plaza, which is surrounded by lots of local retail and dining options.
Murals painted by local artists are found all throughout the College Heights community.
Emory University is one of the top local employers in the Decatur area.
Enjoy live music performed on the streets around the College Heights area.
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Decatur’s historic homes and new construction
"Over the last 15 years, there's been [more] new construction and there's been a lot of renovations of historic homes," says local Realtor Juli St George of Keller Williams Realty Intown Atlanta. Decatur's five historic districts are McDonough-Adams-Kings Highway, Clairemont Avenue, Ponce de Leon Court, Parkwood and Old Decatur. De la Torre says each has its own feel, for example, Parkwood has a garden layout and Ponce de Leon Heights looks like a Florida suburb with palm trees. Porch ceilings of the early 19th-century Craftsman bungalows that Decatur is known for are often painted in haint blue, which St George explains is an old Southern tradition said to "keep the spirits away." Restrictions on historic properties depend on the street and neighborhood, she adds, but maintaining facades is important. Decatur's historic homes mix with traditional styles built from the 1940s to the early 2000s. While development is picking up, the city's new home selection — townhouses, condos and single-family options — is still a fraction of its market. Decatur's median home price is roughly $335,000, around 2% less than the state median.
Craftsman styled bungalows are found throughout the Decatur area.
Cottage styled homes are found in the Decatur area, and are often a bit older.
Living in Downtown Decatur can be easy in a condominium.
Chelsea Heights is full of newly built homes all throughout the area.
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Award-winning restaurants and festivities in downtown Decatur
The square in downtown Decatur is the soul of the city. Its 15 blocks are lined with nearly 100 independent businesses and restaurants, including the James Beard-winning The Deer and The Dove. Fun at the square continues into the night at bars like the Brick Store Pub, which hosts Decatur's annual beer festival. The city hosts events at the Square almost every week, including the popular Decatur Book Festival and its regular farmers market. Eddie’s Attic is The Square’s intimate, acoustic listening room that’s served as a springboard for artists like John Mayor.
The Decatur Farmers Market takes place in front of the First Baptist Church on Clairemont.
Locals gather at the popular Brick Store Pub for daily specials in College Heights.
Decatur Square in downtown Decatur, is a popular gathering spot.
Eddie's Attic near North Decatur, GA.
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Not far from Emory University
City Schools of Decatur earns an impressive A ranking on Niche. Georgia’s participation in school choice also creates options. Agnes Scott College, a private women’s liberal arts institution, is in Decatur, and Emory University is within 2 miles.
Decatur City Schools' main office is located directly next to the police station.
Druid Hills sits next to the Emory University campus.
Students enjoy the scenic walk through Agnes Scott's campus in College Heights.
Decatur High School serves approximately 1700 students.
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Places to play in Decatur
Decatur has over 195 acres of nature preserves and parks, offering places to play tennis, garden, skate and swim. Bikers and walkers frequent the paved trails at the 77-acre Legacy Park, where the city just opened an inclusive playground and is breaking ground on a track-and-field area. St George says Oakhurst Dog Park is one of the most popular dog parks in the city for its wooded areas with rolling hills and its large, fenced-in field.
McKoy Park offers several amenities including a popular skate park.
Glenlake Park has several well-maintained tennis courts for public use.
Take your furry friend to Oakhurst Dog Park in Decatur for some much needed exercise.
Legacy Park is home to over 77 acres of green space in Decatur.
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Atlanta's greenery, and its pollen
Decatur is a tree city but the greenery also brings pollen. According to Atlanta Allergy and Asthma, Georgia has seen record-breaking pollen counts in recent years. The city has a moderate risk for flooding but St George says Atlanta isn’t really known for weather extremes.
Traffic to Atlanta
Several highways and state routes pass through Decatur. Ponce de Leon Avenue leads to downtown Atlanta but can get congested at peak drive times. Residents can avoid traffic jams by hopping on the light rail on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Blue Line at Decatur Station. Parking is limited in commercial and historic areas. Decatur has one of the most expansive sidewalk and bike lane systems in the state and provides walking maps to show residents how to best navigate the city on foot.
Low crime rates in Decatur
Crime in Decatur is lower than state and national averages. Most crime in Decatur is concentrated around the downtown area and is limited to petty theft.
Written By
Kathryn Ashworth
Photography Contributed By
Bradley Parrish
Video By
Houston Knight
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Quinn Cartall,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Decatur, GA sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Decatur, GA over the last 12 months is $315,000, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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