@MotoSniper
I’ve owned at least one property in the Atlanta area for more than 20 years. Whatever you do, don’t move to Cartersville or Kennesaw. That’s not what you described you’re looking for by any stretch of the imagination.
All of Atlanta inside the perimeter (inside the circle that is I-285) is changing rapidly. Anywhere south of I-20 is mostly “in transition” but these areas are blowing up - in 15 years a household will not be able to live within the perimeter making less than 6 figures, imo. Plus, Grant Park and surrounding areas are “established”.
@wspcane has some excellent choices but also consider OTP …Doraville/Chamblee and ITP Downtown Decatur (and neighboring area) is a hidden gem (on MARTA; close to Emory). Marietta Square area is great but no MARTA. Downtown Norcross is also a surprise.
Atlanta is building a park that will rival piedmont park on the Midtown/west side (the area is called West Midtown). There are already homes upwards of 700k there. It will all connect to the Beltline and it’s really close to GT, Downtown and the airport, as well as SunTrust Park.
One of the issues that’s happening to the northern suburbs is corporate flight - companies are too far away from the talent so they’re moving back into the city where their employees want to live. (NCR comes to mind)
The people who built Atlantic Station also built a development in Alpharetta called Avalon (exit 10). They’re building a sister property along exit 12 and I think there’s a third coming on line after that. Those are close to what you describe but your trips along 400 to go EVERYWHERE don’t fit your initial criteria either.
Hope that helps.