Lakeside living with easy access to Atlanta
Emerson is a small town set against Allatoona Lake, offering a slower-paced lifestyle than Atlanta , just 40 miles to the south. Hiking, boating and fishing are part of everyday life, but the community still feels connected, with easy access to major highways and proximity to Cartersville . While summer brings an influx of tourists and some part-time residents, Emerson continues to draw families who want a quieter home base with a manageable commute to the big city.
Home prices in Emerson
The median sale price in Emerson is around $330,000, which is similar to Cartersville's median of about $340,000 and lower than Atlanta's median of roughly $425,000. Split levels, ranch styles and bungalows can cost between the mid-$200,000s and the lower $400,000s, while contemporary homes and New Traditionals typically range from the lower $500,000s to the lower $600,000s. Houses on large lots near Allatoona Lake sometimes sell for $1 million to $2 million. “A lot of people from Atlanta will buy those if they’re over living in the city or they want a vacation property,” says Jessica Johnson, a Realtor with the Simply Southern Realty Team, who has sold several homes in the area.
Outdoor fun on and around Allatoona Lake
Just east of Emerson is Allatoona Lake, a 12,000-acre reservoir that attracts around 7 million visitors each year. “It’s a huge tourist destination for people from Atlanta,” Johnson says. “On a Saturday or a Sunday during the summer, it’s completely packed with city folk.” A lot of this traffic filters through Red Top Mountain State Park, where activities include:* Swimming from the sandy beach
- Boating around the lake’s winding channels
- Fishing for bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish
- Camping in cottages, yurts or RVs
- Hiking and biking past the lake and through forests of mature oak and hickory trees
You’ll also find plenty of nearby places to launch kayaks, canoes and rafts along the Etowah River, which spans Emerson’s northern edge and flows into Allatoona Lake.
The commute to Cartersville and Atlanta
Several major highways run through Emerson, including state Route 293 and U.S. Route 41, both of which connect to Cartersville, about 5 miles north. Interstate 75 provides a direct route to Downtown Atlanta. Although the drive into the city can take up to an hour, Emmerson is still a popular place to live for commuters. “That’s about the same amount of time it takes some people who actually live within the city limits to get to downtown, so it’s really not bad at all,” Johnson says.
Where kids go to school
Emerson is part of the Bartow County School System, with students zoned to Emerson Elementary School, Red Top Middle School and Woodland High School. The district also offers a school choice program that allows students to apply to other district schools. Private school options include the highly rated Excel Christian Academy, which serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Shopping, dining and entertainment in Emerson and nearby Cartersville
Hotels, fast-food restaurants and gas stations surround LakePoint Parkway, the town’s primary commercial corridor. The area is also home to several recreational and entertainment destinations, including LakePoint Station, an arcade with rock climbing, mini golf and laser tag. LakePoint Sports is a 1,300-acre youth sports complex with baseball diamonds, soccer fields and beach volleyball courts. Cartersville has major grocery stores, like Walmart Supercenter, Aldi and Publix, along with a downtown district filled with eclectic museums, breweries and cozy breakfast spots.
