East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Virginia-Highland top list of best family neighborhoods

If all of intown Atlanta seems overrun by the Stroller Mafia in recent years, there’s good reason: The city’s generally becoming a safer and more enriching place for kids.

But which neighborhoods reign supreme for growing families?

Online real estate brokerage Owners.com weighed data from the U.S. Census Bureau, moving companies, and even the FBI, among other sources, to compile a shortlist of three top neighborhood choices for Atlanta families.

Combining that with on-the-ground insights from Phil Karp, the company’s Senior Manager of Brokerage Services in Atlanta, Owners.com pegged East Atlanta, Kirkwood, and Virginia-Highland as the best bets for a range of families.

Neighborhoods that scored high have relative affordability, a prevalence of kids, and outdoor options aplenty, officials said.

For each neighborhood considered, seven metrics were weighed: crime rate, average household size, quality of schools, average home price, percentage of households with kids under age 18, home affordability, and suitability for outdoor frolicking.

All three places aced their outdoor activities scores, but only Va-Hi’s public schools ranked above a C.

Stats from 2014 show Kirkwood has more minors per household than the others, while East Atlanta logged the lowest average home prices ($163,600, per 2015 data).

Here’s a closer look at the Atlanta neighborhoods highlighted, ranked from least to most expensive on average, accompanied by commentary from Karp:

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East Atlanta

“East Atlanta offers the feel of the big city while still providing a great sense of community and affordable home prices ... Families can often be found at the East Atlanta Village Farmers' Market and exploring the local community garden or walking trails. Residents look forward to the annual East Atlanta Strut, a one-day festival of music, arts, and kid-friendly activities that has taken place every September for the past 20 years.”

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Kirkwood

“With a variety of historic homes and a recent construction boom of new homes, Kirkwood is also a promising neighborhood for young families to consider ... The neighborhood offers Coan Park and a variety of kid-friendly activities like the annual Easter Egg Hunt and the Spring Fling. Kirkwood also has its own post office, fire, and police stations, and public library, as well as a variety of shopping and dining options that appeal to families.”

...

Virginia-Highland

“Virginia-Highland is known for its historic homes and artistic influence, and residents love the sense of community in this neighborhood ... You can often find families at the many restaurants, at local events, or exploring the neighborhood arboreta. Residents of Virginia-Highland love the walkability this neighborhood has to offer, as well as the quick commute to downtown Atlanta or Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.”

• Owners.com Ranks Affordable Atlanta Neighborhoods for Growing Families [Owners.com]