Founded1821
About the commercial center Among Lawrenceville’s many openings and mixed-use additions, the arts and cultural center have generated the most buzz recently; scheduled to open this spring, it will house a 500-seat mainstage room and Aurora Theatre, the state’s second-largest performing arts space. Like Roswell and Duluth, Lawrenceville adopted an open-container ordinance in 2019, permitting drinks to be carried in plastic cups within a limited zone.
Key attractions Dubbed “the DTL,” downtown Lawrenceville opened two new eateries during 2020’s pandemic doldrums—Ironshield Brewing and D’Floridian Cuban restaurant—to join staples such as the Local Republic and Dominick’s family-style Italian. Events abound around the square, including a summer concert series. A 120-key boutique hotel, the Lawrence, is planned to open this year with architectural detailing (red brick and arched windows with mullioned glass) that echoes the past.
Housing types Restored bungalows near the square occasionally come up for grabs, but Lawrenceville’s bread and butter of late have been infill housing, especially townhomes. At one new venture, Urban Square at South Lawn, trilevel, four-bedroom units with nearly 2,500 square feet are listed for just shy of $400,000.
Cost of living In 2020, Lawrenceville’s median home values jumped about 9 percent to $254,403.
Who lives here? Younger families and empty-nesters have gravitated toward Lawrenceville’s townhomes, condos, and preserved original houses. It’s also drawing grads of nearby Georgia Gwinnett College, the fastest-growing institution within the University System of Georgia.
You might be surprised Lawrenceville is metro Atlanta’s oldest incorporated city—two years older than Decatur.
Charm-o-meter Rating 10. The town-square center of Gwinnett’s county seat hums with fresh commercial activity, all punctuated by a lovingly preserved, landmark courthouse.
