LA vs Atlanta (Roswell, Alpharetta, Dunwoody: environment, relocate, real estate)

[chitownbred]

Okay here's the deal. I live in Chicago, been here all my life. I'm 28, Single black male, no kids, no real responsibility besides rent, and I'm looking for a change. If you were to ask me why I'm looking for a change I'd tell you because I do not want to endure the winters here any longer, and I know what the city has to offer. So i want to experience something new. I've narrowed my selection down to the two places that are still "city" enough for me to live, and have milder temps in the winter. I have a bachelor's degree and work in the supply chain field. My current job has allowed me the flexibility to go in a lot of directions. (I'm a senior market analyst, so I work with sales/marketing/forecasters/and consultants).

I've been toying with the idea of Atlanta or LA. I've been to both and like them both for different reasons.

LA:
Pros
1.Weather cannot be beat. I want to wear shorts in February.
2.Entertainment capital.
3.In the same state wth many other fun cities. (San Diego, love the beaches. San Fran. Love Fisherman's Wharf. Long Beach.)

Cons:
1.Cost of Living. (Do not want to be paying rent for the rest of my life). Median Single Family Home Price in LA is $550,000.
2. Keep hearing about the black vs brown tension. Had a friend who lived there last year, and said its very real.

Atlanta:
Pro's:
1.Constantly growing. Job oppornities seem abundant.
2.Lots of beautiful black women there.
3.Cost of Living is cheap. I realize Atlanta is becoming more expensive by the day, but is still a bargain compared to cities like LA and Chicago.
4.Nightlife is vibrant as well.

Cons:
1. No lakefront or water base in the city. (Ocean is 3 hours away)
2. Because the COL is cheaper, the salary wages are also cheaper. (Because of this, I imagine it would be harder for me to command a higher salary if I relocated to a city where the wages are higher than Atlanta.

Neither cities have the transit system that Chicago does, but thats something i could learn to deal with.


I guess I can't have my cake and eat it too, and no city is perfect.
ATLiens and Californians chime in. People who have relocated from either state to the other, chime in as well. I'd like to hear your feeback.
Thanks.

[atlantamoi]

Well, you won't be wearing shorts in Atlanta in February very often. That's really all I can offer since I've never lived in LA, but think it would be a very interesting place to be.

[BobKovacs]

I've spent enough time in LA (lots of family there) to tell you that what you see on TV is a far cry from reality. While you may make a little more money there, it's nowhere near enough to give you a similar standard of living to what you could do in Atlanta- you're likely to end up renting for a really long time, and in some pretty shady areas. And yes, the black/brown tension is real- and lets just say that your side isn't winning that battle- LA will be a third world country in another 10 years if something doesn't change (it's pretty close right now).

[chitownbred]

Whats weather like in Atlanta in Jan and Feb? These weather sites report anything from an average of 52 to 57 degrees. Is that accurate? Sometimes these websites can be completely off from current trends. We didn't have 57 degree weather in Chicago until late April/May. I remember my apartment complex still running heat in May a few days.

[RainyRainyDay]

Atlanta gets wintry weather in Dec-Feb, with a lot of overnight lows well below freezing. However, temps can pop into the 60s for a few days at any time (although this is not the average, of course). If you moved to Atlanta with your Chicago wardrobe, you'd probably find you'd never be able to wear out the sweaters you already own. There's just not enough occasion to wear 'em here. Winter gloves and hats are practically never needed.

Overall, Atlanta does have winter, unlike Florida and southern California. However, to people from more northerly parts, the Atlanta winter seems very mild.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by atlantamoi

Well, you won't be wearing shorts in Atlanta in February very often.

Speak for yourself. I wear them all year around here.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by chitownbred

Whats weather like in Atlanta in Jan and Feb? These weather sites report anything from an average of 52 to 57 degrees. Is that accurate? Sometimes these websites can be completely off from current trends. We didn't have 57 degree weather in Chicago until late April/May. I remember my apartment complex still running heat in May a few days.

It can dip down into the teens for a few days in Jan/Feb, and there can be a few days in a year where it stays below freezing, but that's rare. Normally the highs are in the 50's and the lows in the mid-to-upper 30's. When it gets below freezing you'll see freezing warnings.

[BravoFan]

I really don't know if this means anything to you but I just saw on TV that California temperatures have risen 5 degrees from what they were in the 20's or 30's and that because of all the concrete in LA and San Fran Cali will always have wildfire seasons. If you move there be ready to evacuate.

[pickleswanson]

Grew up ATL; now in LA. Love both. LA will be easier to find a job where you can walk to work and save the tons of gas money. LA is much more crowed. You can be stuck in traffic 6-7 hours in either but LA traffic is more predictable. If you really search you can get a good job in ATL's cities (4/3 3200sqft waterfront 1 acre $399K new privacy) that offer the all in one package and get paid just as well as here in LA but some of those neighborhoods generally cost just as much or more than in LA with LA's horrendous real estate bust. (4/2.5 2000sqft hm/ 2540sqft lot gated 2 blocks from the beach 350K new; waterfront million+ convenience) Same goes for LA though you just really need to do your research. Some ATL suggestions other than select areas in the core considering your line of work as well: Roswell, Alpharetta, Kennesaw, Gainesville, Norcross, Athens and in LA I would really have a hard time recommending the inner core at all but some nearby areas are ok you just aren't going to find a decent SFD to match your salary in a good area so I would recommend: Santa Ana, Irvine, Burbank, Santa Monica, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks. I'm 3 years new to the LA area and still learning where everything is at. Both have much more to offer than the few I mentioned. Best of luck to ya.

[runnergrl]

Originally Posted by pickleswanson

Grew up ATL; now in LA. Love both. LA will be easier to find a job where you can walk to work and save the tons of gas money. LA is much more crowed. You can be stuck in traffic 6-7 hours in either but LA traffic is more predictable. If you really search you can get a good job in ATL's cities (4/3 3200sqft waterfront 1 acre $399K new privacy) that offer the all in one package and get paid just as well as here in LA but some of those neighborhoods generally cost just as much or more than in LA with LA's horrendous real estate bust. (4/2.5 2000sqft hm/ 2540sqft lot gated 2 blocks from the beach 350K new; waterfront million+ convenience) Same goes for LA though you just really need to do your research. Some ATL suggestions other than select areas in the core considering your line of work as well: Roswell, Alpharetta, Kennesaw, Gainesville, Norcross, Athens and in LA I would really have a hard time recommending the inner core at all but some nearby areas are ok you just aren't going to find a decent SFD to match your salary in a good area so I would recommend: Santa Ana, Irvine, Burbank, Santa Monica, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks. I'm 3 years new to the LA area and still learning where everything is at. Both have much more to offer than the few I mentioned. Best of luck to ya.

Ok pickle (fellow Ga native too)...we have been here about 2 and half yrs...and we live out in that Agoura,Thousand Oaks area. My complaint here ( I grew up small town Ga) is that is it very hard to connect with people. So unless you are an independant sort...you will do fine. Very expensive...not much middle class going on...unless you bought in when housing was affordable (400,000 to 500,000). Not alot of transplants in this area and not alot of blacks either (westlake and TO at least). I dont like it here....for much of the above reasons I mentioned...but I am speaking from the viewpoint of having a family and raising kids.

I, too, like fair weather...so I think your choices are good for that matter. I think, you should visit both places, and decide. Alot of folks from your neck of woods...like it in GA because the weather is milder and it is more affordable.

LA is like a concrete jungle...tons of super big hwys that are congested...Orange county is nice and newer developed...in my opinion...and out where we live in Thousand Oaks is pretty too. I hate driving anywhere in LA...it is just plain ugly. Pickle did mention some good areas...since you dont have to worry about school systems and the like that will open up some areas( burbank, glendale, montrose, monrovia).

To me...both places have their share of pros and cons...you have to decide what you are willing to deal with from that perspective. I personally would back to Atlanta...because it is cheaper and it is close to family for me ( and it is my home state)...those would be my driving points. It is more conservative and less progressive from a developing standpoint. The infrastructure cannot handle the population. If I would recommend an area...I would say maybe Sandy springs/Dunwoody area...it is suburban, but close to buckhead and intown areas...and it is a good area. Depending on your job though...that should probably be a driving factor on where you live....if you worked in mid town or top end perimeter...this area would be good...even if you worked in Alpharetta too...you would be going against traffic.

Plus side to being out here in LA...people are more environmentally concientous...cities and burbs tend to be walker/biker friendly. It is liberal and progressive. And you are close to alot of naturally beautiful, dramatic places. This whole state is like a vacation spot...except for LA...beaches, mountains, canyons, wine country...of course that is part of the price you pay for being here.

Do yourself a favor...and visit both places...narrow the areas down based your research done from home, meet with a realtor for a day or afternoon to help pick an area to suit your needs...even if it is for renting. IF you know someone in the area...try to meet up with them to get a better feel for the areas you explore. May be it might take couple of trips to make your decision...but it would be well worth it to make sure you make the right choice for you.

I would even look at some other southern cities (ie Charotte, or Raleigh Durham, NC area...or even Willmington, NC) Maybe the jobs wouldnt pay as much...but the quality of life would be nice. AND you still could be a homeowner too. Good luck to you!