Atlanta or Houston (Decatur, Dallas, Moreland: environment, transplants, medical)

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by honeyinhouston

MARTA hasn't reached these areas yet. That was my point. The OP made it seem like ATL has no sprawl and that MARTA reaches most suburbs in 20 mins...LOL

No such luck, and sorry, I misread your post
Can't wait to visit Houston again (cousins in River Oaks and League City); I have a ball whenever I go there...can't understand all the venom on this forum... I like it there.

[Tama]

honeyinhouston You are correct about the MARTA not serving Marietta or Roswell. It does serve Decatur, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and the North Springs station is doable for those who live in Alpharetta and that area. The point is if one wants to use it there are locations with apartments and condos and homes in nice areas that have access. Houston doesn't offer such options.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by Tama

honeyinhouston You are correct about the MARTA not serving Marietta or Roswell. It does serve Decatur, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and the North Springs station is doable for those who live in Alpharetta and that area. The point is if one wants to use it there are locations with apartments and condos and homes in nice areas that have access. Houston doesn't offer such options.

That's not true. Houston does have a rail system that goes through many areas of interest (Medical Center, downtown, Midtown) and has lots of condos along the route or close to it. The city also has a good park-and-ride bus system. And it's not exactly a concrete jungle either... there are lots of parks (Memorial Park, Hermann Park, Discovery Green) and the green spaces all along Buffalo Bayou which go through the center of town.

[Kofi713]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Some of this is due to many people in Atlanta being relatively new to the area and having come from somewhere else, usually for a job or other relocation. There isn't the same affinity for some as I would assume exists in Houston. Atlanta is also a much more urbanized city with a much more diverse population, in the true (not politically correct) sense of the word, while I don't think the same is true of Houston.

Oh wow, this isn't even close. Atlanta is not NEARLY more of an urbanized city than Houston. Houston is much denser in the city, and the urban area is much denser than Atlanta, too (about an extra 1,000 people or so per square mile).

As for diversity, Atlanta is not even on the radar. Houston has the third most foreign consulates in the nation (behind New York and Los Angeles). Also, Houston has the nations largest Nigerian population, third largest Salvadorian and Vietnamese population, and very large Korean, Chinese, and Russian populations.

Well ask any Texan about anything and the answer is that whatever you're talking about is better in Texas or can be done better by a Texan. Texans aren't shy about their love for their state.

After you get away from New York and Los Angeles, other US cities just kind of fall in little groups.

And as far as how Houston looks, get off the freeway sometime . Houston is VERY green. The northern suburbs have rolling hills and are in the piney woods. Most of Houston is in the piney woods actually. Only places that aren't are the Western, Southwestern, and Southern suburbs (flat prairie). The far southwestern suburbs actually have small rolling terrain, too.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Kofi713

Oh wow, this isn't even close. Atlanta is not NEARLY more of an urbanized city than Houston. Houston is much denser in the city, and the urban area is much denser than Atlanta, too (about an extra 1,000 people or so per square mile).

The two cities seem quite different. The core of Houston proper is large:

- City 601.7 sq mi (1,558 km²)
- Land 579.4 sq mi (1,501 km²)
- Water 22.3 sq mi (57.7 km²)

while the core city of Atlanta is smaller:

- City 132.4 sq mi (343.0 km²)
- Land 131.8 sq mi (341.2 km²)
- Water 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²)

but the two metro areas are close in their overall numbers

Houston:
- City 2,144,491 (4th)
- Density 3,701/sq mi (1,429/km²)
- Urban 3,822,509
- Metro 5,628,101 (6th Largest)

Atlanta:
- City 486,411
- Density 3,690.5/sq mi (1,220.5/km²)
- Urban 3,499,840
- Metro 5,138,233 (9th Largest)

Source of all data: Wikipedia.

[Kofi713]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

The two cities seem quite different. The core of Houston proper is large:

- City 601.7 sq mi (1,558 km²)
- Land 579.4 sq mi (1,501 km²)
- Water 22.3 sq mi (57.7 km²)

while the core city of Atlanta is smaller:

- City 132.4 sq mi (343.0 km²)
- Land 131.8 sq mi (341.2 km²)
- Water 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²)

Regardless, the City of Houston is still denser than the City of Atlanta.

but the two metro areas are close in their overall numbers

Houston:
- City 2,144,491 (4th)
- Density 3,701/sq mi (1,429/km²)
- Urban 3,822,509
- Metro 5,628,101 (6th Largest)

Atlanta:
- City 486,411
- Density 3,690.5/sq mi (1,220.5/km²)
- Urban 3,499,840
- Metro 5,138,233 (9th Largest)

Source of all data: Wikipedia.

Urban areas are much better to look at, since they only go as far as the development goes. Not far off counties:

USA Urbanized Areas: 2000 Ranked by Population(465 Areas)

Houston is denser than Atlanta by over 1,000 people.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Kofi713

Urban areas are much better to look at, since they only go as far as the development goes. Not far off counties:

USA Urbanized Areas: 2000 Ranked by Population(465 Areas)

Houston is denser than Atlanta by over 1,000 people.

That's 2000 data -- the Atlanta metro has added roughly a million people in the eight years since then.

Of course, it looks like Houston is not far behind in population gain. And your numbers are interesting.

It seems that suburban Houstonites don't believe in having yards? Either that, or neighborhoods are built in double-decker fashion in the Lone Star state? I don't think I'd want another suburb stacked on top of mine, thanks...

[TNRyan23]

Houston, trust me...

I can't wait to get out of the South East..

[Kofi713]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

That's 2000 data -- the Atlanta metro has added roughly a million people in the eight years since then.

Of course, it looks like Houston is not far behind in population gain. And your numbers are interesting.

It seems that suburban Houstonites don't believe in having yards? Either that, or neighborhoods are built in double-decker fashion in the Lone Star state? I don't think I'd want another suburb stacked on top of mine, thanks...

Yes, it is 2000 data for both cities. And Houston is only about 50K or so behind Atlanta in growth from 2000-2007, so the numbers won't be totally different.

The reason Houston is denser is because since most of the area is flat, neighborhoods are closer together. There isn't a ton of space between on community and another (generally speaking). Atlanta is more sprawly.

This is typical suburban Houston:





Plenty of room to breath.

[lifeasisrael]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Best overall for who?

You didn't list your age. Male or female. Profession? Student or working full time? Recreational activities you like to do? Budget? Type of weather you like or dislike?

Houston is better for some people. Atlanta is better for others. Seattle is better for others still. You have to tell us SOMETHING about yourself before people can even begin to suggest anything.

Well I wonder if "moving" is really our "sistah" from Seattle....you know the one. Unless I missed it, didn't really answer your question. Kind of skipped over you and thanked SBJ, real quickly and hasn't said much since.....just a thought.