NYC vs. Atlanta. (Jersey: hotel, house, neighborhood)

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by Christypetko

Hello all.

I know these two states aren't really comparable, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me their experience when it comes to leaving NYC for Atlanta? My Fiance and I have been planning on leaving for these following reasons:

- Crime (I know this is typical in every city) the crime statistics are skewed because of the way the city lines are drawn. many of the neighbourhoods that are more ritzy and have the political clout don't want to pay the city's taxes. if you live in the right area (it's painfully obvious whether the area you're living in is the "right" area, we have good neighbourhoods and bad neighbourhoods, not a lot in between), you won't have to worry much about crime.
- Expense: such as Rent/Food is too expensive. cost of living is much lower in ATL. but of course, you get what you pay for. outside of midtown/downtown, atlanta is much less dense. we have most of the amenities and diversity that NYC has, but you will have to drive to get to a lot of it. - Not much of a suburban lifestyle unless you want to spend A LOT of money.- Too crowded / No personal space. you won't have to worry about that here— we have a lot of space, even ITP. life is much more stressful and rushed in the suburbs north of the city, especially due to commuting.
- High Property Taxes (Mostly in New Jersey and Long Island if we wanted to buy a home. Taxes are up to 14k/year.) our taxes aren't cheap, but they're nowhere near that high. expect to pay under $5000 even if your home is valued in the millions.
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A little about us:

My Fiance and I really want to start a family in a few year, but we want something we grew up having; a back yard, space, and safety. I am from Florida, and my Fiance is from Slovakia. We are lost when it comes to finding something similar to this lifestyle in NYC, unless we want to pay a lot of less. However, I've only lived NYC for about 2 years, and he about 5 years.

My Fiance and I are planning to relocate to Atlanta by starting off with an apartment there first. We can afford up to $1,100/rent. My Fiance is a Pianist and I'm a Technical Designer. We plan on commuting to the city a lot if we end up outside the city in more suburban areas. We will be buying a car since we know it's not easy to get around like in NYC.

We will be starting a family one day, so once we've lived in the apartment for a couple years, we plan on buying a house. We would love to be in a county with great public schools also preferably an area that is very diverse. By the way: My Fiance and I are an interacial couple... (Black/White) if this matters.

Please let me know your thoughts. Safety is the most important factor. If there is no safety, we really don't want to be in that area even if there are great jobs and schools there. schools and great jobs go with safe areas here. unsafe areas don't have either. i would be more worried about safe areas that don't have great jobs and great schools, those are common here. i can't think of any areas that are unsafe that have great schools.

Thank you so much in advance!

some answers in bold with your post above, the rest is here:

mixed race couple, you will probably want to live ITP. if you want a more "suburban" area, we have a lot of those inside the perimeter. i apologize for a lot of the stuff in this thread, comparing NYC to atlanta is a sore spot for a lot of people.

[architect77]

Yes, NYC has much less crime than Atlanta. Lower murder rate, less property crime also. Atlanta's daily 3-hour long newcasts are nothing but murders, home-invasions, armed robberies, smash-n-grabs, car-jackings, etc. It really makes me question sometimes if the green trees and lower cost of living are worth being surrounded by this day in and day out.

North Carolina's smaller metros (Raleigh and Charlotte) may also be worth considering. Raleigh-Durham is an exceptionally good place to raise a family.

[Slowflow]

Originally Posted by ANDS!

If you have to rely on the bus during morning or evening commutes, you will come to loathe the bus system. If you are fortunate to live close to a transit station, all the better. People moan about MARTA trains, but it runs late and doesn't drop off cars during midday (I hated this about our train system). Save for happening to catch MARTA on a game day or concert late at night, there's always room. I hate MARTA pricing, but nothing is perfect.

I think the crime is massively overstated. Lets put it in context - would you really consider living in the outskirts of Atlanta where this is an issue? Probably not. If then you realign yourself to the "safer" neighborhoods (I think they call them Intown, but the terminology here I still haven't entirely grasped) it really is nothing. I live in a so-called "border" area, and the crime is nonexistent.

Thank you for the advice. Do you mind telling me around where the "border" area is? If not it's ok, but do you have any other "safe" areas you recommend? Thanks again!

[Slowflow]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

some answers in bold with your post above, the rest is here:

mixed race couple, you will probably want to live ITP. if you want a more "suburban" area, we have a lot of those inside the perimeter. i apologize for a lot of the stuff in this thread, comparing NYC to atlanta is a sore spot for a lot of people.

I loved your detailed response. Thank you so much, it's really appreciated. I was wondering if you can direct me to a site that may list the safe inside perimeter neighborhoods? Or if you know them off by the top of your head, that would be amazing.

Thank you again!

[Slowflow]

Originally Posted by architect77

Yes, NYC has much less crime than Atlanta. Lower murder rate, less property crime also. Atlanta's daily 3-hour long newcasts are nothing but murders, home-invasions, armed robberies, smash-n-grabs, car-jackings, etc. It really makes me question sometimes if the green trees and lower cost of living are worth being surrounded by this day in and day out.

North Carolina's smaller metros (Raleigh and Charlotte) may also be worth considering. Raleigh-Durham is an exceptionally good place to raise a family.

Thank you for your opinion. Unfortunately, I've checked North Carolina before and my job field isn't over there. I would like to know what your experience in Atlanta is like? Have the above things you mentioned happened to you, if I may ask?

[architect77]

Originally Posted by Christypetko

Thank you for your opinion. Unfortunately, I've checked North Carolina before and my job field isn't over there. I would like to know what your experience in Atlanta is like? Have the above things you mentioned happened to you, if I may ask?

No, I have not been a victim of crime fortunately. But I live in Midtown at the corner of Ponce and P'tree, and the area is crawling with homeless people sleeping in every nook and cranny available (I see about 10 per day), there are panhandlers everyday without fail, transvestite hookers at my intersection basically 7 nights per week, and lots of lowlifes lurking all about. I don't have a car, so I need to live where I can walk to everything.

Midtown Atlanta is quite nice, but as soon as I can I want to move above 6th or 7th street. Things go downhill very fast below 5th street and P'tree.

[noah]

This is my neighborhood too and I don't see it like this poster. It certainly has some of that but we walk around all the time and really like the neighborhood.

Originally Posted by architect77

No, I have not been a victim of crime fortunately. But I live in Midtown at the corner of Ponce and P'tree, and the area is crawling with homeless people sleeping in every nook and cranny available (I see about 10 per day), there are panhandlers everyday without fail, transvestite hookers at my intersection basically 7 nights per week, and lots of lowlifes lurking all about. I don't have a car, so I need to live where I can walk to everything.

Midtown Atlanta is quite nice, but as soon as I can I want to move above 6th or 7th street. Things go downhill very fast below 5th street and P'tree.

[Staysean23]

Originally Posted by noah

This is my neighborhood too and I don't see it like this poster. It certainly has some of that but we walk around all the time and really like the neighborhood.

That poster is known for over talking themselves. I know this section too I used to go to Djangos when it was open all the time and we had to park and walk over there. It was not a issue lol

[Staysean23]

Originally Posted by architect77

Yes, NYC has much less crime than Atlanta. Lower murder rate, less property crime also. Atlanta's daily 3-hour long newcasts are nothing but murders, home-invasions, armed robberies, smash-n-grabs, car-jackings, etc. It really makes me question sometimes if the green trees and lower cost of living are worth being surrounded by this day in and day out.

North Carolina's smaller metros (Raleigh and Charlotte) may also be worth considering. Raleigh-Durham is an exceptionally good place to raise a family.

I'm just waiting for you to start talking about highway signs

[FromGA]

architect77 has repeatedly said in the past that Atlanta has a big city mentality, and that he would never leave Atlanta. I recall his posts because his posts are quite balanced. To the OP - it is worth paying some attention to what he says. Of late, he has become a bit more pessimistic about Atlanta.

May be ask him a few more questions, but I think he is a fairly balanced poster.