If you are looking to think outside the "local box", I have found living south of Macon in Houston County workable. Like what has been said in previous inputs, this state varies so much from county to county (schools, housing, etc..). Houston County has Warner Robins (w/Robins AFB) & Perry as it's 2 major towns with country living & smaller towns around the area. South of Warner Robins has excellent schools. As for the commute, it is approximately 100 miles straight north on I-75. During normal hours I could make the 2 hour call out on reserve & for those times of the day when traffic might be an isssue (3:30 - 6:00), I would hang out in North Macon (30 - 45 min closer). The distance may sound like alot, but I have friends living in North & Northeast ATL that take just as long to get to work. As often as we work, the commute is workable. FYI, with an AF base nearby, there are a lot of ex-military living in the area & flying for all carriers out of ATL (DAL, AirTran, UPS, FedEx, AAL). Cost of living is obviously lower than the ATL area.
As for Macon & Bibb county they have an awful Public school system. Most people I know living there put their kids in private schools (they have good ones). An area that is growing is Forsyth (Monroe County). With Henry County having exploded, it is the next one south with any potential & nearby North Macon is where alot of new businesses are going in.
Good luck with DAL!