Atlanta Real Estate: OTP vs. ITP
If you are an Atlanta, GA, transplant, you may not know what the term “OTP” means. Here in the NYC of the South, it means outside the perimeter, or Highway 285, which circles the metro Atlanta area. Although being OTP can mean literally anything not in the direct heart of Atlanta, we typically focus on the general outlying communities, rather tham those all the way up in mountains of Dahlonega or the plains of Pike county.
Directly OTP of Atlanta are the following counties and corresponding cities:
Cobb – Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, Powder Springs
Cherokee – Woodstock, Canton, Holly Springs
North Fulton – Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs
Gwinnett – Suwanee, Norcross, Buford, Duluth, Snellville
Dekalb – Tucker, Lithonia, Stone Mountain
Clayton – Riverdale, Jonesboro
South Fulton – College Park, Union City, Fairburn
Characteristics of Living OTP:
Usually known as the place to “settle down”
Suburban life
School ratings tend to be higher
Less traffic, although not much (hey, it’s still Atlanta)
Less expensive housing
Counties and major cities ITP are:
Fulton – Atlanta, Midtown, Atlantic Station, Vinings, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Buckhead
Dekalb – Decatur, Chamblee, Brookhaven, Emory, North Druid Hills
Characteristics of Living ITP:
More entertainment, shopping, dining
Fast-paced
A TON of traffic
Urban environment
More expensive housing
There are many pros and cons to both areas around Atlanta, but it honestly depends on what you value most in your local environment!
