Lawrenceville, Georgia

This isn't the place to be if you're looking for the hip single scene or gay friendliness. Families live here, although the population has changed significantly. Whites now make up 27% with Latinos being the largest group at 33%. Blacks represent 17%, Asians at 2% and rest would be "other." Families can get more bang for their buck in terms housing square footage and relatively good schools. And with a commute to the city under an hour, it's worth the drive to many despite the daily clogs on I85. 

With the diverse population, you can find any kind of cuisine your heart desires. There are the typical chains like most suburbs. But you will find a surprising variety of places to eat. For bars, you'll find mostly sports bar and small pubs. For dance clubs, you'll need to drive further into Atlanta.

Your money can go far in this community. The apartments are new compared to many older and often problematic structures in Atlanta. However, you won't find charm but rather oversized closets, swimming pools, and plenty of parking. If you work in Gwinnett, it's certainly a great choice. But if your job is inside the perimeter, the daily grind on the highway may prompt you to move in closer. The aggravation, gasoline, and wasted time could make you crack one day and result in a road rage that might put you local television.  

Gwinnett County Transit system has reliable buses and commuter buses strictly for downtown workers. But there's no rail. Also, bus stops aren't too attractive and not all the roads have sidewalks, making it difficult to walk to the bus. Most people drive. And with the population explosion of the last 20 years, traffic is quite bad. In fact, downtown Atlanta can be easier to navigate through than Gwinnett County and other suburban areas. 

 There are plenty of apartments that offer the same amenities. So negotiate before you sign the lease. And visit the property at different times of the week to get a feel for the atmosphere as it really is compared to what the leasing agent tells you.

Lawreceville is a place with access to beautiful parks. Gwinnett County has one of the most ambitious greenspace programs in the nation with more than 8,000 acres of parkland. Many of theCounty parks offer lovely views of woodlands, lakes, meadows, streams and gently rollinghills. All ages, from infants to senior citizens can get involved in a multitude of classes and programs offered by GCPR year-round, such as sports, aquatics, tennis, arts, history, gymnastics, dance and karate, just to name a few. Also, Lake Lanier, Georgia's most visited lake, is a short drive from Lawrenceville.

This suburban town has modern movie theatres, bowling alleys, and sports bars that can be easily found. Also, the Aurora Theatre in Downtown Lawrencville is a beautiful local playhouse with great shows and excellent PR behind its events. The downtown area offers outdoor concerts, picnics, and other community events regularly. And with the revitalization efforts of the last 5 years, there are a number of restaurants with the local charm you find on town squares. 

If you enjoy concerts with big names and sporting events, you need not worry about having to drive to Atlanta.  The Arena at Gwinnett Center is an indoor arena located in Duluth, Georgia, United States. The Arena was an expansion to the already existing Gwinnett Center, which also includes a Performing Arts Center, and a Convention Center. The arena seats 11,500 for hockey, 12,750 for basketball, and 13,100 for major concerts. It opened in 2003 and Gwinnett residents love it. It has plenty of parking. It's attractive and a well run facility. it's certainly a big draw for the area. 

If you're ranking neighborhoods in terms of economic level, than the Ronald Reagan Parkway area would be considered the best. The rest follow this order: Allendale, Gloster, City Center, Bethesda/Pleasant Hill, University Parkway, and New Hope as the least expensive. I'm partial to in town development, so the new places in the City Center area offer an in town feel and the opportunity to walk to restaurants and attractions in the downtown area. All other neighborhoods are completely car centered. 

It's a well developed suburb with all the majestic glory of urban sprawl. So you will have no trouble finding banks, grocery stores, or gyms. Kroger, Publix, and Super Walmart are easily located. Gold's Gym, Curves, and Bally's also litter the landscape along with locally owned workout arenas. 

The median income is 47,000 for Lawrenceville, and for Gwinnett County it's 72,000. Unemployment is about 12% right now, particularly among Hispanics because of the recession. But it's a strong county and will recover. There are a number of employment agencies in the area. And there is still significant growth, that will bring more jobs. 

Gwinnett County Schools have an excellent reputation. The high schools tend to be very large, so if you want your child in a smaller high school setting, this isn't the county for you. You can check their website to find out about individual schools. However, changes can happen fast in Atlanta's suburbs in terms of neighborhood demographics, and the quality of school leadership. Thus, a school considered great 3 years ago, may not be so good now. You want to make sure your information is current. And nothing beats visiting, particularly PTA meetings, to find out the real story behind the newspaper articles and test scores. 

Median home prices are around $159,000. And with the recession, you can find some great deals in the area with lots of space and large lots. 

Hot summers and relatively mild winters are what you get in Atlanta.  August can be miserable with the heat and pollution, especially if it's dry. It snows at least once a year, and sticks for a couple of days. But there's no need for snow boots. At most, the kids will miss a couple of days because southerners freak out in winter storms and don't know how to drive. So schools are called off and businesses close. Spring is glorious here with the beautiful blooms and buds from Azalea Bushes and Dogwood Trees. And fall is equally beautiful and enjoyable.