Statham has a country feel and access to larger cities
Statham is a rural area with a location that offers access to bigger-city life. The community lies just west of Athens, and residents can commute to Metro Atlanta for work. Realtor Julie Moon of Corcoran Classic Living used to be one of them and still sells homes in the area. “It’s a convenient location that has relatively low prices,” Moon says, in comparison with houses in downtown Athens. Though its position and price may be its biggest draws, it has plenty of amenities that keep residents engaged, including nearby parks. “There’s a cute downtown area with antique shops and a library, and there are historic houses on the main strip that are quite interesting," Moon says.
Ranch-style and New Traditional homes split between two counties
The area’s ranch-style homes can range from $200,000 to $400,000, while its New Traditional houses often run from $315,000 to $500,000. Luxury homes typically cost between $700,000 and $1.7 million, with select properties reaching $2 million. The region is split between Barrow and Oconee counties, and Moon says the Oconee section tends to be more expensive. Tall trees and farmland surround the car-dependent community’s narrow asphalt roads. Streets far from the city center mostly lack sidewalks, but some subdivisions and downtown roads feature them.
Wings, sandwiches, pool tables and antique stores near the city center
Several restaurants line Atlanta Highway Southeast and Railroad Street. Blazer’s Hot Wings has chicken entrees and a variety of sandwiches. Chen’s Family Restaurant serves authentic Chinese food in a casual setting. Savvy Cakes and Legendary Sandwiches has lived up to its name for nearly 20 years, spending almost 10 of them in Statham. Vintage Billiards has six pool tables plus a full bar and kitchen. The community has a Dollar General Market for groceries and essentials. Stores like Antiques and More, along Railroad Street, sell vintage goods. Bear Creek First Baptist Church hosts a community food bank on the first Tuesday of each month.
Highly rated public and private schools across two districts
Many students in the area’s northern half are zoned for Barrow County Schools, which holds a B-plus Niche grade and serves about 15,000 kids across 16 schools. Winder-Barrow High School has an individual B-plus score, as does Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy, a STEM- and art-focused magnet school.
Several students in the region’s southern half can attend Oconee County Schools, which earns an A-plus Niche grade and serves more than 8,500 kids across 11 schools. North Oconee High School receives an individual A-plus score and offers dual enrollment with local colleges, plus college planning resources.
The city center is around 12 miles from Monsignor Donovan Catholic School, a private academy with an A-plus from Niche.
Visit a nearby state park or join The Georgia Club for exclusive perks
The Georgia Club offers private resort-style amenities, including a golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, a pool and junior programs for children. The nearby Half Moon Petting Zoo lets visitors interact with camels, lemurs and other animals. Residents’ own animals can run around Robert L. Bridges Park, which also has baseball fields, walking trails, a playground and a covered pavilion. Hillman-Rainwater Park has a jungle gym, a swing set, basketball courts and a baseball field. South of the city center, the John Oliver Michael House hosts weddings and other special events in and around a 20th-century farmhouse. Less than 10 miles west is Fort Yargo State Park, a popular spot with beaches, trails, a disc golf course and a large lake for boating and fishing. The Statham Public Library hosts movie, art and reading events for kids of various ages.
Celebrations that draw big crowds to a small city
The city hosts the annual Sunflower Festival on Railroad Street each fall. The celebration mixes food and art vendors with live music, a car and truck show and kids' activities. Moon says the community also holds the Star Spangled Statham festival on July 4 each year, highlighted by food and fireworks. “The events are pretty large for a city of its size,” Moon says.
Commute to Athens or take a day trip to Downtown Atlanta
U.S. Route 29 runs south of the city center, and a railroad cuts through downtown, parallel with Atlanta Highway Southeast. Athens is about 15 miles east, and Downtown Atlanta is close to 60 miles west, as is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Moon says tornadoes can impact the area, but not more or less than other parts of the state.
