Residents find convenience, amenities and land in Ellenwood
Ellenwood offers a rural feel within 20 miles of bustling Atlanta. Its home prices are also less expensive than Atlanta’s, with a median price around $280,000. The community provides easy access to major highways like Interstate 675 and is just 15 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Families have access to multiple school districts, a charter school and private school options. Village Park and Pine Circle Park offer outdoor recreation, and Panola Mountains State Park is nearby.
Large lots and mature trees make this community feel secluded
One of the community’s biggest draws is its rural feel, with homes sitting on multi-acre lots and flanked by mature trees. “There are a lot of what I call woodsy properties,” says Stephanie Smith, a Realtor with HomeSmart Palmer House Properties who sells throughout the Atlanta area and has lived close to Ellenwood for almost 50 years. “The subdivisions are established; they’re not building homes that are backing up to each other.”
The median price for homes here is about $280,000, lower than Atlanta’s median of $475,000. Colonial Revival, ranch-style, split-level and New Traditional styles are most common, though it’s possible to find angular 1980s-era modern houses scattered throughout. While most Ellenwood residents are owners, there are single-family homes for rent, ranging from around $1,500 to around $3,000 a month. There are also apartments in several complexes throughout the community.
Proximity to I-675 and other interstates reduces traffic hassles
Commuting is easy thanks to the major highways nearby, including Interstates 675, 285 and 20. “You don’t have that wall-to-wall traffic getting to the expressway. Some places in Atlanta, the traffic is so bad, it can take you 30 or 40 minutes just to get to the expressway,” Smith says.
For those taking public transportation, MARTA buses stop along major streets on Ellenwood’s west side, including Anvilblock and Bouldercrest roads. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is conveniently close, about 15 miles from most parts of Ellenwood.
Ellenwood’s industrial area offers manufacturing and distribution work
There are warehouses, distribution centers and other logistical companies on the community’s northwest side, so if you’re looking for manufacturing jobs in Ellenwood, that’s where you can find them. Fort Gillem, an Army Reserve base, is a bit farther west in Forest Park and is home to the United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Defense’s only full-service criminal forensic lab.
Multiple school districts serve Ellenwood with school choice options
Several school districts serve the area, including DeKalb County School District and Clayton County Public Schools. Both offer school choice through an application process. Families can also consider Utopian Academy for the Arts, a tuition-free charter school for kindergarten through 12th grade, or from several private school options.
Big-box stores and restaurants along Anvilblock and Fairview roads
Big-box stores and restaurants along Anvilblock and Fairview roads Anvilblock Road and Fairview Road have fast food restaurants, Kroger and Ingles grocery stores, retailers like Walgreens and Dollar Tree, and big box stores like Home Depot. Just south of Ellenwood is a hub of shopping centers with more popular chain restaurants, ALDI and Walmart. Ellenwood has a handful of locally owned restaurants, like Soul Temptation, a casual spot serving Soul food, and Kenny’s Breakfast which opens early, closes at 2:00 p.m. and does, indeed, only serve breakfast—Southern classics like hot cakes and grits.
Outdoor activities include playgrounds, trails and golf nearby
There are a handful of parks in and around Ellenwood, including Village Park. This local favorite, one of the largest area parks, is popular for its splashpad, walking trails and available parking. Pine Circle Park is another option, offering a playground, half basketball court and baseball field. Michelle Obama Trail is nearby and is a dog-friendly paved pathway through nature.
Golfers are close to Panola Mountain Golf Course, a public, 27-hole layout. The course is near the foothills of the Panola Mountains, which has a state park where visitors can fish, hike and enjoy a picnic.
Weather and other considerations when living in Ellenwood
Georgia is known for its hot, humid summers, with temperatures typically in the 80s and 90s between May and September. Snow is almost never an issue here, though during winter temperatures can dip into the mid-30s at night.
The DeKalb County Landfill is in the middle of the community, near the Rockmill subdivision and some residents note strong odors.
As of December 2025, there is a proposal to build a 95-acre data center in South DeKalb County between Grant Road and Bouldercrest Road. Many residents are pushing back against this proposal.
![Isaiah Buchanan]()
Photography Contributed By
Isaiah Buchanan
