Best Places to Live and Launch 2008: No. 3, Buford, Ga.
What do you think of Buford, Ga., the No. 3 town on our 100 Best Places to Live and Launch list? Do you run a local business? How do you feel about the town’s taxes and regulatory climate? Have you been able to attract good workers? Tell us about it. The best replies will be published here, and possibly in future stories in Fortune Small Business.
Comment
Email
RSS
DiggI left ATL 15 years ago and will never return to live. (have to visit because of family) ATL and surrounding counties are simply worthless.
I am thinking of moving to Atlanta, but hesitated briefly because of some recent contacts that made me doubt the move. Think I’m over it for these reasons: The girl next door moved to Atlanta years ago when we were in college and stayed for good. Her sister moved there soon after, so I’m convinced. Secondly, a recent acquaintance was telling me over drinks at a social how, in Atlanta, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are, everyone is treated as individuals, so no one is denied a fair chance. Finally, just a few days ago, on The History Channel, I saw and heard it all in one episode, so that’s where you can look me up soon.
Try to remember this: When it comes to “big cities,” etc., it’s not the city you’re going to be living with, it’s the people. If the people are trustworthy and morally upright, you’ll have a great time. If the people are sneaky and dishonest, what does the city’s skyline now mean to you? You have to live with the people, so that will make the difference between a home and a place to live.
A friend forwarded this article to me. I live in Buford and love it! It is a beautiful area. I’ve been here 6+ years and plan on spending the rest of my life here.
In response to Regina from Cleveland:
OK, you make some good points here. But it’s not that I ever had anything bad happen to me in Buford. I lived in that area briefly, as I have in other parts of the country. My main point was that before I moved there, I had several people tell me how great it was to live down there, but it just didn’t live up to the hype. Here are the specifics:
– Traffic is horrible when you are trying to get around in the Metro Atlanta area (worse than LA, Phoenix or NYC – I’ve spent considerable time in each area). A commute might take 5 minutes one day, and one hour the next (no kidding).
– Shopping, restaurants and entertainment are not convenient – Very little in the way of ‘cool downtowns’ like you might have in say, Stamford, CT or the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak, MI. Instead, you have a bunch of strip malls, and you have to drive considerable distances to get anywhere. Plus, locals like to brag about the ‘Mall of Georgia’ – Go to any other metropolis, and the malls are much, much, much better (e.g., the shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago). And the actual city of Atlanta doesn’t offer that much either – if you want a real big city experience, you’re much better off in Boston, Chicago or San Franscisco.
– Weather has been touted as a key factor by many – here’s what you should expect: The summers down there are very hot, humid and uncomfortable. Combine that with the current ongoing drought conditions (although things have improved), and it’s a dangerous combination. You don’t get 4 seasons, you get 2: mildly warm, and scorchingly hot.
I would recommend that you spend more there, before making the decision to move your entirely family – I’m not saying don’t do it, just take time to be sure. And as far as the New York comment – true, it’s not perfect. But you have crime everywhere, including Buford. Plus, you don’t have to live right in NYC, like me. There are many great communities surrounding the area – Stamford, CT is a terric place to live and raise a family.
As some of the others pointed out, too – in the South you need to be prepared for droughts and hurricanes (or at least the residual effects of the hurricanes) and very rough Spring storms. Just think carefully before moving – the grass is not always greener down South.
I have read everything that everyone has said. I live in Cleveland, Oh and I have lived here my whole life (trust me anywhere is better then here). One thing that everyone keeps saying is that Georgia is over rated. Trust me if you have lived somewhere and things haven’t exactly gone the way you want them to then of ciurse you are going to hate that place and tell other’s not to go there.
Even though you all have had good and bad experiences just remeber that no matter where you go that is going to happen. Bad things happen and if you have had bad experiences in that city or state then you are going to down anything good that is said about that particular place.
I hate Twinsburg which isn’t far from cleveland because i was homeless for three years when I lived there, but deep down i didn’t want to be there in the first place.
When I visited Buford it was the greatest experience of my life thus far. I was stressed out about everything in Cleveland and when I got to Buford I forgot everything and I was so relaxed. No more aches and pains, of course every city has it’s down falls but the good out weighed the bad which is why i plan to move myself and my family there.
So just take the time to think about this… just becasue you had a bad experience is that any reason to mark the city as a horrible place.
In response to the guy from New York, I wouldn’t move there if you paid me, unless you were going to pay for me to live there (the cost of living is extermely high)and when I went there to visit I was warned about all of the horrible things that could happen to me if I wasn’t cautious while walking around.
I have just visited Buford last month my father lives there,he and his wife took as 62% pay cut moving from N.Y. to be there and they said they wished they did it sooner,they are now doing better than they ever have,and that was pretty much the same story with everyone we meet there none had anything bad to say about it.I love it there,afforable housing,low cost of living, job opps. everywhere I dont know what these other people on here are complaining about but Buford is great,especially if you live in Cleveland Ohio.
Once upon a time Buford use to be a nice place to live. I grew up in that area and now go to college at North Georgia. Yes, homes are located along Lake Lanier, but what’s the point of when water levels are at it’s lowest due to extreme drought. The only thing Buford is known for in the state of Georgia is its high school football program, ranked nationally in the top 10 for the longest time I remember. Honestly, the only thing that’s great about Buford is the Mall of Georgia, largest in the south east.
Buford in the top 5? You must be kidding. Almost no culture, no public transportation, long commute into Atlanta because there aren’t jobs in Buford for most people, spotty zoning issues.
Somebody must have been on drugs.
A lot of these comments are by far too bias to consider. Homeless and drug abuse is not a large factor. Strip malls there are more minimal compared to areas like Snellville and Duluth.However, schools and traffic are overcrowded. The major roads in the area have been over populated for quite some time and further stress is added daily. The mall is expanding as well as the new Braves stadium which will further destroy the capacity of GA-20.Work force is strong due to short commutes since a majority of the upperclass nearby commute in excess of 15 miles. Buford is a great area for larger industrial businesses but otherwise, I wouldn’t consider it top 5 material.
Buford, GA Ranked #3 – Are you kidding???? I think that Southern heat has melted your brains (that or it’s the ’senility/alzheimers’ which causes people to move to warm climates in the first place)!! What could you possibly like about Buford?? Like Walton said, just a bunch of strip malls (and not very good ones), and awful traffic. And like Rob said, the whole Metropolitan Atlanta area is highly OVER-RATED. Downtown Atlanta is not very exciting – most any other city can beat it. If you want a REAL city, then come to New York! And we have PLENTY of water (and we’re not sending you any of it either!).
Buford is better than Portland, Salt Lake City, Charlotte?! My friend had his car stolen at gunpoint, it has no “culture”, loaded with strip malls and awful traffic. What a joke. I worked there for 3 years and found it repressive with no southern charm at all. This ranking was obviously a test to see if people read this article after posting number 1, right?
As a former resident of Suwanee, GA (which is also in Gwinnett County), I can tell you that the whole metropolitan-Atlanta area is highly OVER-RATED. Aside from the fact that if you take a wrong turn you will quickly end up in ‘Hazzard County’, here are some other things to consider: The traffic is absolutely horrible, the building standards for new/newer homes are very low (meaning the house will look good when it’s brand new, but you WILL be putting money into it within a few years), and the shopping and retail areas are not very convenient (mostly just a bunch of strip malls). There really aren’t any of the interesting and fun ‘downtown’ areas that you find in Greenwich, CT, Santa Barbara, CA or Birmingham, MI. And let’s face it – as far as cities go, Atlanta can’t really measure up to great cities like New York, Chicago or San Francisco.
When we first moved down there, Lake Lanier was touted as a great boating/ vacation/recreation area. What a joke!! Most of Lanier is a third-rate dump at best (when it actually has water), and can’t hold a candle to Michigan’s Great Lakes or other magnificent lakes and waterways around the U.S., such as Long Island Sound, or the inlets and harbors in the Pacific Northwest.
Furthermore, speaking of water, there is an ongoing drought that is expected to continue for some time. I don’t know what criteria your using to establish Buford as a top location, but access to adequate water is pretty high on my quality-of-life index. Especially in an area where the summers are very long, very hot and very humid.
I realize that your organization is biased toward the area since you’re located in downtown Atlanta – but beyond that, I really can’t understand the appeal of the place. There are many places throughout the U.S. that are much, much better.
You really need to re-think your rankings.
I have a business in the City of Buford and what a nightmare its been dealing with the city officials. Ive been broken into 4 times. Very unsafe city to raise children. Full of druggies!
I have lived all over the metropolitan Atlanta area from Inman Park intown to Dunwoody and have found Buford to offer natural beauty, and a vibrant downtown with terrific options for dining, shopping and art. Care has been taken to preserve historic buildings while lush landscaping has been incorporated into the Mall of Georgia retail district making it unlike so many other malls.
Safe? I was broken into 6 times in 2 years and given a black eye by a homeless drug addict. Half of town is nicknamed crackville. I have people knocking on my door 24/7 begging for money, the illegals here drive with no insurance or license. And there are 4 registered child molestors within 1/10 mile of my home. I temporarily moved back for business reasons but left my teenage daughter with my dad in another city to keep her safe.
I just bougth a home in buford ga. and I it was a very wise idea, reason why Buford is the most beautiful city I ever seen people is very polite and small stores have a chase to grow. Go and check it out you will love it.
My husband and I were both born and raised in Buford. Although we are both well-educated and well-traveled… we have not found another place offering the warmth and character of our home town. Buford has the “good” traditions of the South along with the big city opportunities of culture, education and business. It’s a great day when you can chow down on Southern cuisine at the local diner while “shootin the bull” with some REALLY interesting characters and end your day relaxing on your boat overlooking Lake Lanier which offers one of the best sunsets in America. Ask any Bufordite and they will tell you we are a truly BLESSED family!
It’s just like any other podunk town in the south… just with a Mall of Georgia that spurred tons of businesses and growth. No upgrades have been done to the transportation networks, and no local public transportation exists…. only an express bus from Buford to Atlanta that runs in the morning and afternoon. There are many (illegal) immigrants who cannot find enough work and cause all sorts of problems that would have never been imagined years ago (thanks to Atlanta being a second-bounce city for immigrants to the US), not to mention the on-going drought the Atlanta area has had thanks to the influx of residents and lack of favorable amounts of rain. I don’t think we need any more carpet baggers coming here, not until some idiot residents leave. However, those who do decide to come here and open businesses will have an easy time bending the zoning departments over to agree to what you want built or remodeled, for the most part. You just won’t have water in another 5 years.
The article didn’t mention that Buford has a city school system that is not a part of the Gwinnett County school system. People who live outside the city limits must apply for tuition status to go to these schools.
My wife and I are planning on getting out as soon as we can. With a huge influx of immigrants (especially from Mexico/South America) we now have social problems that we never experienced before.
I’ve lived in Buford all my life and am amazed by the changes out little town has seen. I think it is a wonderful place to live and work and don’t plan on moving any time soon.
We’ve lived here 12 years.
Besides all the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, it’s a nice place to live.
I’ve lived in Buford for 3 years and I love it. It’s the first place that I lived in that has everything so close. You have entertainment, shopping, parks all within 15 minute drive. It’s great.
I live in Buford and I would agree that it is a nice place to live and raise a family. The article leaves out one detail about Buford that detracts from it’s over all qualities – dense population and traffic. Buford is over-built with residential and strip malls and the roads are still two lanes (one in each direction). There is one bridge to get you over the river and it was built in 1947. Now they are building a huge sports facility and a Krogers mega-store, all on that very two lane road, next to the 1947 bridge.
I have lived in actual Buford for 3 years and just on the outskirts fo Buford for 5 years. Buford is a great place to live!! We are small town America with the luxuries of the big city. Those of us that live or have moved here take great pride in our town and the businesses in it. We try to support them over the chains.
Have you found the town supportive of local businesses?
Have you been able to find good workers here?
Features-
In a tough economy, more business owners are bartering for the stuff they need. More -
In Oregon, the Recovery Act is paying for a local small business to protect nearby communities from wildfires. More -
Smart entrepreneurs are now doing deals in 140 characters or less on Twitter. More -
As more customers choose - or are forced - to fill prescriptions by mail, independent pharmacies are struggling to survive. More -
A Texas hospitality company considers where to invest and where to cut back to weather the recession. More -
How 7 innovative companies are inspiring workers and boosting the bottom line. More -
42 startups duked it out in the world's most lucrative business plan competition. We trailed one team to the bitter end. More
Buford used to be a nice place but now with Phillip Beard it is corrupt. Nothing gets done or approved in Buford unless “The Man” as Phillip Beard is known by his supporters gets his pay off! Someone should investigate!