10 Reasons to Move to Forsyth County in Georgia
Hi! I’m Tim Trevathan with Tim Trevathan Homes and Keller Williams Realty. Welcome to my channel! Today, I’m going to tell you about living in Forsyth County, Georgia and 10 Reasons you may want to move there. At the end of this video, if you realize that you could call Forsyth County or anywhere in metro Atlanta your home, then we need to talk! Whether it’s text, call, or e-mail, I’d love to setup a game plan to make your relocation a dream come true!
Forsyth County is located north of Atlanta. Back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, Forsyth County was where Metro Atlanta residents moved if they wanted to say goodbye to suburbia and move out to the country. It was just close enough to offer easy access to Atlanta and the amenities of the suburbs but just far enough to offer the tranquility of a more rural area.
Today, Forsyth County has transformed from a sleepy, quiet county to a lively, bustling county that has become an extremely popular area to live.
Before we start, just to be clear in case anyone comes across this looking for information on the city of Forsyth, there are two Forsyth’s near Atlanta. One is a city located south of Atlanta and the other is a county located north of the Atlanta. Today, we are talking about the county.
The first reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is the location. Located about 40 miles north of downtown Atlanta, and 47 miles from the Atlanta Airport, Forsyth County is close enough to the city to commute if needed. It is a traffic-filled commute, but doable; plenty of locals jump on 400 every morning and commute into the city. On a good day, the commute may take under an hour, and on a bad day it can take up to 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic and where in Forsyth County you live.
But the real beauty of Forsyth County’s location is its proximity to the mountains of North Georgia and all they have to offer. From Cumming, it is less than a 2-hour drive north to the North Carolina state line.
If you love hiking, camping, boating, or spending time soaking up the beauty of the mountains, you’ll love living such an easy drive away. Get off work a little early on a Friday afternoon and head up for the weekend or take a daytrip on Saturday.
Forsyth County is uniquely situated to allow residents access to both downtown Atlanta as well as the mountains just a short drive away.
The second reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is the parks and recreation department. Forsyth County has poured a lot of time and money into its parks and recreation department, and the results are wonderful for county residents.
There are 26 parks in the county, offering a variety of activities. You’ll find playgrounds, biking trails, a disc golf course, a campground, a variety of sports fields and courts, boat ramps, a splash pad, and more.
The department also runs 3 well-maintained fitness centers offering a variety of fitness classes and exercise options to Forsyth County residents for a low membership fee.
The third reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is the Sawnee Mountain Preserve. It is one of the parks run by the parks and recreation department, but this 821 acre preserve is worth its own entry on any list of great things about Forsyth County.
The 11 miles of wooded trails take visitors through the forest and at the top of Sawnee Mountain offer scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.
There is a visitor center that offers educational information on the history of the area and on the local plants and animals.
The park offers a variety of camps and programs for children of all ages, and offers lessons on rock climbing, kayaking and canoeing, and guided educational hikes.
When you visit the Sawnee Mountain Preserve, it is easy to forget that suburbia is just a few miles down the road. Having this great park close by is definitely a perk of living in Forsyth County.
The fourth reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is Halycon. If you saw my video on the Avalon over in Alpharetta, Halycon is Forsyth County’s take on a live-work-play, mixed use development.
Halycon’s mottos is “where life happens naturally”. There are over 15 chef-driven dining options ranging from counter service to upscale full service. You can choose from Chinese, pizza, burgers, or more.
Especially popular on the weekends is the Cherry Street Brewpub, a family-friendly upscale brewery restaurant.
There are also a variety of boutique shopping options, many of which are locally owned.
If you love Halycon so much that you want to live there, you can! There are single family and townhomes as well an apartment community for active seniors 55 years and older. You’ll enjoy an upscale, luxurious home within just steps of all that Halycon has to offer.
Halycon also functions as a community front yard for the South Forsyth area, with events hosted on the village green almost daily.
The firth reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is the school system. The Forsyth County School system is popular and for good reason. The schools are high performing, with Lambert High School being the 5th ranked school in the state and South Forsyth High School being the 9th ranked school. All the public high schools are within the top 65 out of over 400 in the entire state.
The school system has a great reputation, and many families move here specifically for the schools. The lifestyle website niche.com ranked it the 3rd best system in the state, following only Buford City Schools and Oconee County Schools.
The sixth reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is the Big Creek Greenway. This greenway will eventually be about 16 miles long, but currently exists in two separate sections, one about 13 miles long and the other about 2.5 miles long. The short section joining these two parts is scheduled to be completed in the future.
The greenway runs north-south, starting near Halycon and ending at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve, with 5 access points along the way.
The greenway is 12 feet wide and paved in its entirety, providing plenty of room for walker, joggers, and bikers to enjoy the wooded surroundings.
The Big Creek Greenway is a great way to get in a long run or ride on the safety of a paved trail instead of on or near a busy road.
The seventh reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is the feel. Now, feel is subjective and no two people feel the exact same about a place. But, Forsyth County is a great option if you want the convenience of living in the suburbs, but also want some of that small town, rural charm.
There are neighborhoods galore in Forsyth County, but there are also plenty of rural feeling back roads with beautiful homes on several acres and smaller homes that are not in neighborhoods.
If you are looking for a home on an acreage or without an HOA, Forsyth County is a great option.
The eight reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is the city of Cumming. The only incorporated city in the county, Cumming has been popular for several years and continues to grow in popularity.
The city’s events are one reason people love Cumming. The 10-day Cumming Country Fair is one of the most popular, drawing visitors from all over Forsyth County and beyond. There is also a popular 4th of July celebration, Christmas parade and festival.
The city-owned Cumming Aquatic Center is also very popular, with year-round swim teams, swimming lessons, and water aerobics as well as an outdoor pool with slides and a lazy river that is popular with families.
Cumming’s motto is Small Town Heart, Big City Spirit, and the city certainly lives up to it!
The ninth reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is The Collection at Forsyth. This upscale, outdoor shopping destination offers a mix of locally owned boutiques and national retailers. With over 90 retailers to choose from, it is hard to go home empty handed.
There are also 17 dining options, as of this video, including fast food, quick service, and full service restaurants. You’ll find pizza, burgers, bbq, Asian, Italian, and more!
If you need a break from shopping and eating, check out a movie at the AMC theater.
The tenth reason you may want to move to Forsyth County is lifestyle and safety. In 2020, Forsyth County was the richest county in Georgia, with a median household income almost twice that of the state median.
In 2020, Forsyth was also the 16th richest county in the entire country.
You will find homes, retail, dining, and entertainment options that reflect the wealth in the county.
Forsyth County is also one of the safest in Georgia. The 2021 crime statistics showed a decrease from 5 years ago and even 10 years ago. Compared to nearby counties, Forsyth County had the lowest or almost lowest number of crimes reported in each category.
If you are in search of luxury living, with proximity to Atlanta, easy access to Lake Lanier, and just a short drive from the North Georgia mountains, Forsyth County has a lot to offer!
