Kennesaw is a growing Atlanta suburb set amid rolling hills and a leafy canopy of mature trees. Even as new development pops up, open space is still common. "This fast-growing area of metro Atlanta offers more land and bigger lots," says Jim Griffin, Realtor with Prestige Brokers Group, LLC, and Atlanta native who has been selling houses for 40 years. Kennesaw's history is preserved in its downtown, where 19th-century buildings remind visitors of the city's roots. Nearby Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park offers walking trails, panoramic views of Metro Atlanta, and a connection to the city's Civil War history.
"The biggest draw is Kennesaw State University," Griffin says. KSU is George's third-largest university and one of Kennesaw's largest employers. Other major employers include Atrivion, a medical device manufacturer, and Yamaha Motors.
Residents can visit the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw.
Kennesaw State University boasts two campuses in Metro-Atlanta, one being in Kennesaw.
Artivion in Kennesaw is a biotech company focusing on human cardio and vascular tissue.
Many Kennesaw residents are employees of Yamaha Motors' southeast headquarters.
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Recreation centers and Hiking at Kennesaw Mountain
Kennesaw's central green spaces include Depot Park downtown, Adams Park and Swift-Cantrell Park, designated "Breathe Easy Zones," where tobacco products are prohibited. Swift-Cantrell Park is the largest at 42 acres, popular for its dog park, large skatepark and rubber turf playground surrounded by paved trails. The 33-acre Adams Park is home to the Kennesaw Recreation Center. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park spans almost 3,000 acres and draws hikers to panoramic views of Atlanta from its 1,800-foot summit.
Kennesaw has a humid subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. Cobb County participates in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System, which results in discounted flood insurance premiums for residents. While snowfall is infrequent, the winters in Kennesaw are generally colder than those of other Georgia cities.
Depot Park in Downtown Kennesaw features a band new Piedmont Bank Amphitheater.
You'll find skaters doing tricks at the Swift-Cantrell Park.
Residents can spend their mornings playing pickleball at the Kennesaw Recreation Center.
Hikers ascend the final steps to the uppermost lookout point of Kennesaw Mountain in West Cobb.
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Downtown Kennesaw's new developments
Kennesaw's downtown is expanding. In late 2024, the City Council approved the Downtown Kennesaw mixed-use project, which includes new townhomes and a retail plaza. The Town Center at Cobb Shopping Center has been around since 1986. It offers over 120 stores, eateries, a kids' indoor train and a designated play area. The Kennesaw Farmers Market runs from April through September downtown, with over 20 vendors offering fresh produce, prepared foods and flowers.
You'll find newly built townhouses throughout Kennesaw.
Kennesaw features many new shops and restaurants along Main St.
The Town Center at Cobb is Kennesaw's main shopping center.
The Big Shanty Festival has a section just for the members of their local Farmer's Market.
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Arts and Culture and the Big Shanty Festival in April
Thanks to the support of the Kennesaw Art and Culture Commission, residents can spot vibrantly painted maintenance holes, colorful murals and other public art installations while driving through the city. City events also showcase creativity, including the two-day Big Shanty Festival featuring hundreds of craft vendors. Pigs & Peaches takes place in August and draws over 60,000 visitors for a barbecue cook-off and live blues concert.
You can shop around local vendors for unique finds at the Big Shanty Festival in Kennesaw.
Restaurants and business compete at the Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival in Kennesaw.
The Big Shanty Festival is a two-day event featuring performances and activities each day.
The Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival features live music for you to enjoy along side the food.
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Hilly subdivisions and new construction at East Park Village
Wooded subdivisions built in the 1990s and early 2000s extend from Cobb Parkway North. However, Kennesaw is growing with new developments, including East Park Village, an amenity-filled townhome community built by Traton Homes, which opened a new section in late 2024. "The real estate market here is generally more active than the rest of Metro Atlanta, but new construction slowed when interest rates rose about 4% last year," says Victor Rodriguez, a Metro Atlanta-based real estate agent and creator of the Atlanta Suburban Living YouTube channel. "The housing market here is most aggressive in the spring." The median home price is around $407,000, lower than Marietta's median of $470,000. The city also offers plots of land ranging from a quarter to half an acre, priced between $80,000 and $175,000.
You'll find newly build townhomes by Tranton Homes on the rise in Kennesaw at East Park.
You'll find a variety of homes throughout the Kennesaw neighborhood.
Traditional style homes are in abundance in the Kennesaw neighborhood.
You'll find green leafy lots in Kennesaw with maintained front lawns.
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A-graded Cobb County School District
Kennesaw is served by the Cobb County School District, which has an A grade on Niche. In 2023, the district's graduation rate rose to 87%, surpassing Georgia's rate of 84%. The city has six elementary, five middle and four high schools. Top-rated schools include Kennesaw Mountain High, ranked #4 in Cobb County, Bullard Elementary and McClure Middle. Kennesaw is also home to Kennesaw State University, the state's third-largest college and a Carnegie-designated doctoral institution.
Kennesaw Mountain High School is located in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Bullard Elementary School scores above average on GreatSchools.
Mcclure Middle School serves in the Cobb County School District.
Kennesaw State University is the city's largest employers and has over 45,000 students.
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25 miles from ATL and commuting on I-75
Kennesaw is less than 10 miles from Marietta via Old Highway 41, and I-75 connects to Midtown Atlanta in 25 miles. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is 37 miles away, and Kennesaw is also home to Cobb County International Airport - McCollum Field, which serves private flights and charters.
Kennesaw's decreasing crime rates
According to the Kennesaw Police Department's YTD 2023 Crime Statistics, the city experienced a 5% increase in violent crime compared to 2022. However, property crime decreased. While the 2023 Annual Crime Report is not yet available, the FBI's Crime Data Explorer data shows Kennesaw's overall crime rates are lower than state and national averages.
Bruce Ailion has been a realtor practicing full-time in Metro Atlanta since 1979. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to serve his clients. Bruce has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, a Master of Science degree in Real Estate, and a Doctorate in Law. In addition, Bruce is a licensed attorney and has completed many advanced educational programs receiving professional designations in many real estate topics.
Over his career, Bruce has represented over 5300 buyers and sellers and owned over 400 properties. Exceeding the expectations of clients one at a time is his passion. During his career, Bruce has been VP of Marketing for one of the top ten builders in Metro Atlanta. In addition, he has represented over two hundred banks and financial institutions in the disposition of their foreclosed properties. These clients included the nation’s largest banks, the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In addition to marketing over 2,000 foreclosed homes, Bruce has managed the renovation and maintenance of many of these foreclosed assets.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
