Family-friendly vibe and scenic beauty near Athens
The community of Watkinsville sits about 10 miles south of Athens in the state’s hilly Heartland Region, a stretch of verdant rolling hills, with classic homes, parks galore and a close-knit, family-oriented community. “We have a saying here that you can’t run into Publix unless you have 20 minutes because you’ll end up running into a friend and having a whole conversation,” says Julie Moon, a Realtor with Corcoran Classic Living. “I moved from Athens, and I was worried about living in a suburb where you just go straight home, but this is coming home to a community you’re a part of.” Small-town charm grounds Watkinsville’s quaint downtown, full of local shops, eateries, and enough galleries and studios to earn the community the nickname Artland of Georgia.
Condos and townhomes add variety to the housing market
While Watkinsville’s housing market is mostly made up of single-family homes, some condos and new construction townhouses have diversified the mix. These multifamily units start around $330,000, ranging to almost $640,000. Houses encompass a broader range, roughly between $260,000 and $1 million, with factors like a property’s age, condition, square footage and lot size impacting pricing.
The community has a variety of properties, spanning multiple styles. Vintage houses include pre-Civil War Colonial Revivals and midcentury ranch-style houses. With hilly terrain, split-level homes are popular too. More contemporary options include New Traditional two-story homes. Flooding isn't a huge risk in Watkinsville, but properties touching special flood zones may need flood insurance for federally backed mortgages.
Oconee County schools earn top marks and offer AP courses
Watkinsville students attend highly rated schools, which is a huge draw to the area, Moon says. Oconee County School District receives an A-plus on Niche and ranks second on the website’s list of the Athens Area’s best schools. It also offers school choice. Colham Ferry Elementary, Oconee County Middle and Oconee County High earn A grades. The high school offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, including the AP Capstone program, a two-year program that prepares students for college by honing their research, analysis, communication, collaboration and presentation skills.
Thomas Farm Preserve adds 100 acres of green space
Residents enjoy various parks, playgrounds, trails and plenty of green space in Watkinsville. “The mayor and the city council have been very forward-thinking about how to build community,” Moon says. In 2024, the city welcomed a new 100-acre green space, Thomas Farm Preserve. Its mix of pastures and woodlands provides hikers, bikers, anglers and other visitors with a beautiful backdrop. Watkinsville Woods is a natural area near the city’s heart. During springtime, visitors can view its blooming wildflower garden and dogwood trees. Harris Shoals Park, on the north end, is a favorite for kids, thanks to its Playground of Possibilities, a fully ADA-accessible playscape that opened in 2022. It opened alongside the park’s Miracle League Ball Field.
Downtown Watkinsville is walkable and full of local flavor
The community is car-dependent, but its charming downtown is about to get a lot more accessible. While downtown has sidewalks along its brick storefronts already, the Relay Connector will trace a paved, multi-modal path to connect downtown with various neighborhoods and parks. Estimated completion is in June 2026. Charming and teeming with pedestrians on weekends, Downtown Watkinsville is the community’s heartbeat, home to locally owned favorites like Chops and Hops Steakhouse, which sources ingredients from local farms. As for grocery shopping, options include a Publix just outside of town and the new Golden Pantry Market in Wire Park – a transformed industrial park that’s growing into a center for entertainment, restaurants, retail and work on the city’s west end.
Healthcare and travel options are just a short drive away
U.S. Route 441 connects to U.S. Route 29 about 5 miles north of town. The latter highway is a direct path into Athens, which has the closest hospital, Piedmont Athens Regional. Athens-Ben Epps Airport is about 11 miles away. For more flight options, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is almost 75 miles away.
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Written By
Micaela Willoughby
