I have a prospective job offer at a company on the NW side of Atlanta in Vinings near the I-75/I-285 area.

I am looking for housing ($450k-550k) in a nice suburb within a reasonable commute (1 hr. max. - but would drive 6am-7am to beat traffic).

We've looked at some homes in the Canton/Woodstock area. The homes appear to be very nice. We don't know about schools in Cherokee County but that would be important (3 kids probably public schools).

Is it possible to make a commute from Canton/Woodstock to this area? Any feedback on Cherokee County schools?

Thanks for any info. We're planning a move and want to be in the right area.

If you chose to live in Canton/Woodstock you can make the commute to Vinings in about an hour, unless there is an accident of course. With the price range you looking, you can live in town and have a reverse commute of 15 mins or so. I live near Midtown and it take me about 10 mins to get to Vinings. Also it depends on what your tastes are. You can live in the 'burbs in a larger home with a horrible commute or you can live in town, in a smaller home with a minimal commute.

I'd look over at the schools in E. Cobb county--try in the Walton, Pope and Lassiter clusters first. From what I understand, the schools in the Vinings aren't as good. Cherokee Co. schools are decent but you're looking at a more stressful commute.

In your price range you can find a nice house closer in. Your going to hate that commute down 75. I don't know where your coming from but the traffic here is intense!!!

I live in Vinings. We have employees who commute from Woodstock/Canton to our office in the Cumberland/Vinings area. They like where they live. Howewver, they do have significant commutes, particularly on the days when there's an accident on 575 or 75.

I think you should look at East Cobb or Smyrna/Mableton (lots of new construction in your price range along the East/West Connector...it was an old sleepy area of 50s ranches that have been bulldozed in the last 5 years for redevelopment).

With your price range, you can afford to live much closer than Canton or Woodstock. You can have a commute of 30 minutes or less by living closer to Vinings.

Schools are important but if you value family time together, then you need to live as close to your job in Atlanta as possible. Traffic isn't as bad as some people will say. However, Atlanta has grown too much in the last 20 years without developing an adequate infrastructure of roads. If you don't try to commute from one side of Atlanta to the other, the quality of life is good. We have far less traffic than major cities such as NYC, LA, Wash. DC....

Oh, I think we rival all the major cities in the traffic department. Haven't driven in NYC in a while, but I have driven in LA and DC in the past couple of years and the traffic is about the same as Atlanta. Evidenced by Atlanta always being on the top of the worst traffic cities. Traffic is bad here. But, I agree, if you live near where you work, the lifestyle here is good. Not as expensive as the other cities mentioned.