Best North Georgia mountain town?

[spazzyfry123]

We're considering the move. I was born in Atlanta and lived near Lake Lanier most of my life. We moved to North Florida for work about 3.5 years ago and the job has us coming back to the Atlanta area "permanently." Job is home-based with visits to the Atlanta area for meetings, but I'm free to live pretty much anywhere and I'm not concerned for commute as it will be planned and not constant.

Plan is to do full-time in a cabin. Ellijay, Blue Ridge, and Blairsville always come to top of mind. Heck, we were married in Blue Ridge.

Looks like Blue Ridge is slightly cheaper on property taxes than Ellijay and Blairsville, but also seems to have the highest cost for the home.

Which area would you choose for a young family? Long term (years down the road) will have us keep the house with the potential to do short term rental / our vacation spot.

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

We're considering the move. I was born in Atlanta and lived near Lake Lanier most of my life. We moved to North Florida for work about 3.5 years ago and the job has us coming back to the Atlanta area "permanently." Job is home-based with visits to the Atlanta area for meetings, but I'm free to live pretty much anywhere and I'm not concerned for commute as it will be planned and not constant.

Plan is to do full-time in a cabin. Ellijay, Blue Ridge, and Blairsville always come to top of mind. Heck, we were married in Blue Ridge.

Looks like Blue Ridge is slightly cheaper on property taxes than Ellijay and Blairsville, but also seems to have the highest cost for the home.

Which area would you choose for a young family? Long term (years down the road) will have us keep the house with the potential to do short term rental / our vacation spot.

Tough to say. Anecdotal here, but Ellijay, Blairsville, and Clayton all feel a little more liveable to me. Blue Ridge and Helen seem to be a little too far in the "tourist" bucket for me if I were selecting a permanent home?

[y8tiger]

No one has mentioned it, but the mountain towns located in the NW Corner of Georgia provide easy access to the amenities of Chattanooga.

That said, there has been a lot of noticeable growth in the areas between Blue Ridge and Hiawasse in recent years.

[y8tiger]

After doing some more research into North Georgia mountain towns it appears that Toccoa has the largest population.

I found that a bit surprising since I haven't been there since the 80's.

Used to enjoy visits to scenic Toccoa Falls and Tallulah Gorge.

[Citykid3785]

I've spent a bit more time in the mountains, and formed some stronger opinions. I think I'd rank them in this order for me personally:

1) Clayton
2) Dahlonega
3) Ellijay
4) Blairsville
5) Jasper/Bent Tree/Big Canoe
6) Blue Ridge

I enjoy them all. I think I enjoy the ones that feel more homey, less touristy, with good outdoor amenities. I'm officially biased though as we just bought a mountain cabin in Clayton. But that's relevant because it forced us to spend a lot of time in all these places.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Iconographer

No mention of Dahlonega? Really?

http://dahlonega.org/

Dahlonega has jumped the shark. Give me the far northeastern corner of Georgia: Toccoa, Cornelia, Cleveland, Demorest, Clayton, Clarkesville, Young Harris, Hiawassee, or Blairsville.

[Citykid3785]

Originally Posted by Craziaskowboi

Dahlonega has jumped the shark. Give me the far northeastern corner of Georgia: Toccoa, Cornelia, Cleveland, Demorest, Clayton, Clarkesville, Young Harris, Hiawassee, or Blairsville.

I do agree that many parts of Dahlonega are starting to feel almost suburban in nature, not unlike dawsonville

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by Craziaskowboi

Dahlonega has jumped the shark. Give me the far northeastern corner of Georgia: Toccoa, Cornelia, Cleveland, Demorest, Clayton, Clarkesville, Young Harris, Hiawassee, or Blairsville.

Habersham County has been my favorite for years, love the place and the people.