Just over 30 miles from Atlanta in Gwinnett County, Suwanee is a growing suburban city that’s proud of its community-driven, small-town feel. Residents here often gather in the centrally located downtown district to enjoy the green space, nightlife and year-round events at Town Center; most live in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown or further to the north near Buford. The city’s lively Town Center and proximity to Atlanta attracts many young professionals and families, but its biggest draw tends to be the schools. “Suwanee offers a little bit older neighborhoods compared to the places nearby,” says Jody Davis, a Realtor with RE/MAX Center. “While the lifestyle is similar to Sugar Hill and Buford, the inventory is more expensive than both because people seek out the school district.” According to U.S. Census data, Suwanee’s population grew over 8% between 2020 and 2022.
Suwannee's landscape is a lush rural area transforming to adapt for the rising housing demand.
Aerial context view showcases the heart of Suwanee - City Hall.
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An expensive, diverse housing market
Homebuyers can expect to find various styles in Suwanee, from split-levels and Cape Cods to large brick-front traditional homes. Most properties in Suwanee are single-family homes from the 1990s to 2020s. The median home price is around $675,000, significantly higher than the national figure. “Suwanee is the most expensive housing market in Gwinnett County,” says Billy Johnson, a Georgia local and experienced agent with Lantern Real Estate Group. However, downtown and northern Suwanee offer distinct housing styles and prices. A 1980s cottage-style in downtown can sell for $400,000, while a brand-new mansion in one of North Suwanee’s gated communities can exceed $5 million. Townhouses are also prevalent and are concentrated within a 3-mile radius of Town Center, which can typically sell for between $375,000 and $650,000.
Charming rows of townhomes are a popular multifamily housing option available in Suwanee.
Many Suwanee homes showcase elegant architectural details, such as clean, long columns.
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A vibrant downtown hub
Suwanee Town Center is the heart of the city’s cultural scene, with an 11-acre park featuring sculptures and murals by local artists, and including an outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts, plays and movie nights throughout the year. Farmers markets spring up at Town Center during the winter and summer months. For a weekend in mid-September, Suwanee Fest attracts over 200 local crafts and food vendors to the area. Town Center is also the starting and end point for many of the city’s marathons, which include the Beer Chaser 5k, which has five beer refueling stations along its course.
Directly beside the amphitheater are a variety of shops and restaurants. Retail ranges from locally owned boutiques to region-specific chain stores, and dining options include casual chains, fine dining like Ippolito's, and family-owned cafes like Brown Bag Deli. Longstanding Italian restaurant Ippolito’s has been open since 1989 and has a casual, friendly atmosphere. Breweries, such as StillFire Brewing and cocktail bars are also sprouting in Town Center, bringing a little nightlife to the city.
Suwanee Town Center's amphitheater-style stage hosts various events, like Taste of Suwanee.
Suwanee is lively and picturesque with various seasonal events, such as Taste of Suwanee.
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Ample recreational space and development
When Suwanee Town Center isn’t being used as a concert venue, it serves as a park with over a mile of paved trails that wind across sprawling lawns. From Town Center, folks can take to the 4-mile Suwanee Creek Greenway, a paved walking and biking path that connects to over 400 acres of parkland. Johnson says the city’s presently building a new 25-acre green space, DeLay Nature Park, which will surround the PlayTown playground and the Suwanee Library and connect to Town Center via a walking bridge. A completion date for this project hasn’t yet been announced, but most of the park’s bridge was finished in early 2024. Settles Bridge Park, to the north, has over 250 acres filled with a skating complex and almost five miles of trails. Residents can also practice their swing at the local golf courses, including the public Bear’s Best Atlanta.
Settles Bridge Park has a world class skating pools and ramps.
For golf enthusiasts, spend the day at Suwanee's esteemed courses such as Bear’s Best Atlanta.
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Crime and weather in Suwanee
According to FBI statistics for 2022, the violent and property crime rates in Suwanee are much lower than nearby Atlanta. Most crime incidents are reported near Town Center.
From mid-winter to early spring, North Georgia becomes a hub of tornadic activity. Though tornadoes typically arise quickly, homeowners can prepare for storms by securing their windows and doors, ensuring roofs are up-to-date and taking shelter in their homes’ lowest level. Gwinnett County residents who own their properties can also remove trees from their yards without a permit to prevent fallen trees damaging their homes during storms.
Top-rated Georgia school districts
“So many people move to Suwanee because they’re zoned for some of the nation’s best school districts, like Forsyth and Gwinnett,” Johnson says. Most of the city is zoned for the Gwinnett County school district, rated an A overall by Niche and the largest district in the state, serving over 180,000 students. Northwestern areas of Suwanee are zoned for the Forsyth County school district, rated an A-plus overall by Niche. Within Forsyth County, the A-plus-rated Lambert High is known for its great college preparation and athletics program, and its soccer team became state champions in 2023.
Riverside Elementary School is a rich and diverse place for students to learn.
North Gwinnett High School is one of the largest high schools in Gwinnett County.
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Traffic to Atlanta
Major roadways like Interstate 85, Buford Highway Peachtree Industrial Boulevard are common driving routes for the 33-mile commute to Atlanta, but all become traffic-heavy during rush hour; some residents opt to take the Ride Gwinnett buses’ 103 Route instead, which takes about an hour each way. The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, is 44 miles away.
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