How Different Is Atlanta From Other Southern Cities? (Decatur, Dallas: fit in, transplants)

[sunnysosweet]

Hi All...

Like others, I too am considering a move to Atlanta. I'm a single, professional female (mid 30's) and I want to be in a large, cosmopolitan city that isn't in the Northeast. Atlanta seems to fit...yet I am a bit concerned about moving back to the South.

At the moment, I live on the West Coast...but I lived in Memphis for a while before moving out here and I absolutely hated it. I have family there and they hate it as well. I know that many people like Memphis--and I certainly don't want to offend anyone--but it just didn't appeal to me at all. To me, it seemed provincial, run-down and just not very interesting. It felt more like a big town to me than it did an actual city...and everyone's social lives seemed it revolve around church. Not my style.

One thing I noticed while living in Memphis is that, while I think that Memphians know that Atlanta blows Memphis off the charts in just about every way, they seem to compare the two cities and feel that they are very similar. In fact, I have often heard Atlanta categorized as a bigger Memphis. Would anyone out there agree with this?

I'm looking for something totally different. I really want a "thriving metropolis"--something on par with DC or NY, but friendlier, more livable and not in the Northeast.

One of the things that appeals to me about Atlanta is that it is so well connected to the rest of the world. My career often takes me out of the country and many times I have connected in Atlanta. I have always figured that this qualifies Atlanta as a major city. Any thoughts?

Also, I have heard that single women far outweigh single men in Atlanta. Is this true? I'm hoping to meet people. One of the things I found difficult in Memphis was the lack of a single, educated, professional crowd. Most people seem to get married fairly young. Is it different in Atlanta? And is it more difficult for women?

I hear so many wonderful things about Atlanta...but I have never been outside of the airport. Could this be the place for someone like me? I just want to make sure that I am not heading to a "big Memphis." I really hated it that much. I think I may just be looking for someone to tell me I'm not getting myself into a similar situation.

[Pcola110]

Liking Atlanta or any other city, for that matter, will depend on your interests/hobbies & how friendly (open) you are to meeting people and making connections. Those that complain, base their perception on one or several experiences that happen to them, that automatically makes the whole City or metropolitan of Atlanta bad.

Back to topic; Atlanta has many neighborhoods (Midtown, Buckhead, L5P, Virginia-Highlands, City of Decatur, etc) to find fine-causal restaurants or mom and pop establishments for eating (foodies) and shopping, parties (if you in clubbing/dancing), museums, theaters & civic centers that various entertainment venues visit, festivals throughout the year, traffic is the only downside because of congestion, so commute time will depend on where you live and where you work.

Being near international airport is big advantage for business or personal traveling. Unlike DC or NYC/Chicago, Atlanta's Marta rail service does not extend out into the suburbs (car dependent). Rent rates (market) are all over the place so finding something won't be that difficult. Many universities and colleges to go back to school to complete MBA or PHD. The list goes on you have to base whether you will like Atlanta by staying here a 3 month period or shorter. You really can't take Atlanta all in, in one weekend or week-vacation. Good luck on deciding.

[FromCLTtoATL]

I've never been to Memphis; so to that extent, I can't make a comparison. But I have heard others compare it to one gigantic small town. I know that economically, it's never been the engine Atlanta or even Nashville are.

That said, I think Charlotte, N.C., is probably the only other Deeper South city that even comes close to Atlanta in terms of a more international, major-metro outlook, especially in terms of business and the sheer number of people living there from other places.

But they are both SOUTHERN cities still. Churches do a play a big role in both cities (especially Charlotte). Of course, as a church-goer, I see that as a positive, not a negative. There are a wide variety of churches in both cities, however. I'm fairly liberal (in most views, not all), and I had a nice pick of places in Charlotte and expect the same here. I think with the sheer bigness of Atlanta, you could find a social life without a church; and I hope you'd be open-minded enough to give some different churches a try. (For instance, First Baptist of Decatur has a woman pastor; now how conservative could they be? LOL)


On a continuum, with a place like San Francisco and Seattle on one end and a place like Memphis on the other, I think you'd find Atlanta (or Charlotte or even Raleigh) in the middle, perhaps leaning a bit toward the Memphis side. It's STILL the South, after all. But I knew plenty of small-town and small-city Southerners who are just horrified at the mere thought of big, bad Atlanta with its giant airport and traffic and MARTA and commutes and tall buildings and people from all over, etc. They wouldn't see a drop of difference between living in Atlanta and living in NYC or Chicago or San Fran.

Bottom line: I suspect you could find a neighborhood that's edgy and sophisticated enough, unless you're just totally devoted to a West Coast or Big Northeastern City vibe. If that's what you're seeking and you can't meet the city in the middle, you might want to pass Atlanta by.

You can't get to know a city in a week; however, a week is better than nothing. I say come for a visit, hang in the neighborhoods (not the tourist places) and see. I was in Austin, Texas, all of one day when I knew I'd love living there (and I did - and by the way, Austin might be just the place you're looking for. Highly educated people, LOTS of things to do for singles).

[RoslynHolcomb]

I've been to Memphis quite a bit, and now live in Atlanta, I can't imagine anyone comparing the two. They are not at all similar. For one thing, Memphis most of the people in Memphis are from Memphis or are at least from Tennessee or from the south. That is more or less not the case in Atlanta. Atlanta is more or less a suburb of northeastern cities.

[Tdallas]

I think Atlanta would fit you well based on what you're looking for. But I HIGHLY recommend living in an intown neighbord (especially Midtown or Buckhead).

Atlanta is unlike any other Southern city I've ever visited, including Charlotte.

[rswlguy]

Why on earth would you leave the West Coast? THINK about what your doing BEFORE you take any plunges, please?

Yes, one of the most positive things about ATL is that it is 2½ hours flight time to approximately two-thirds of the United States. You can leave easily and quickly;"Day" trips to NYC, DC, Chicago, PHL & BOS are the best.

One thing I do know is you'd better get used to drinking that City of Atlanta "kool-aid" if you expect to "fit in" there. I've lived here 17½ years transferring from Los Angeles and I don't like the 'taste' of it. But then again, I don't like following ANY crowd.

Check out the latest surveys/polls from T&L. Right on the mark in my mind: http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2008/city/atlanta (broken link)

Have you considered Chicago? But you'll need a fabulous [faux] fur coat!

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by Tdallas

I think Atlanta would fit you well based on what you're looking for. But I HIGHLY recommend living in an intown neighbord (especially Midtown or Buckhead).

Atlanta is unlike any other Southern city I've ever visited, including Charlotte.

I agree and think that Atlanta fits what you're looking for pretty well.
Atlanta is IMO very different than Memphis; much larger of course, but also much less provincial (mostly due to the fact that your average Atlantan is from somewhere else).

[michael1978]

Also, in case you did not know, Atlanta just got ranked by Forbes as the #1 city for singles.

I would recommend living in either Buckhead or Midtown. Those two places will definately fit the bill of what your looking for. If you want a more "granola" vibe, also try Virginia-Highland.

Atlanta is COMPLETELY different from any other southern city, and is becoming less southern and similar to those cities with every passing year. In my opinion, Atlanta just happens to be in the south, with people living there mostly transplants from the west and north, as well as a lot of international people.

Of course you cannot compare it to Seattle and San Francisco, nor Boston or NYC. But comparing it to Houston and Dallas, two major cities, is appropriate. Comparing it to Memphis would be like comparing Chicago to Des Moines.

[matt8325]

I think people in Atlanta seem a little less friendly than other southern cities such as Birmingham, Nashville, Memphis, and Jacksonville.

[sunnysosweet]

Thanks for all of the responses, guys. I have to laugh...it seems as though I have really made myself sound like a left-wing extremist here. I definitely lean to the left, but only because I seem to end up in some of the most conservative places in the world (thanks to my career).

Memphis drove me nuts and I never want to be in another similar place. I honestly felt claustrophobic or "boxed-in" there. By the same token, my career has now taken me to Utah...and believe me when I say that I do not fit in here. (I realize that in my original post, I mentioned that I live on the West Coast...I should have said that I live in the West instead--now I'm sure that rswlguy gets why I feel such a need to leave )

I have given a lot of thought to other cities as well. I lived in DC for a few years and loved it. In fact, I have often thought about moving back, but I haven't done it because it was very expensive and the competition was fierce. Finding a well paying job was difficult without some serious connections because there were a zillion other young professionals with the same degrees that I had and from the same type of schools that I attended. So, while this really made DC an incredible place to live, it also made it very difficult to find a well-paying job and settle down.

What I loved about DC was that the crowd was educated, sophisticated and loved to have fun all at the same time. No one got married young and everyone concentrated on their education/careers. That is basically the boat I am in...and why I feel totally out of place in places like Memphis and Utah. I want to find another place like DC, but one that is less transient, more affordable and still has an international feel.

I have often thought of moving to Seattle, even though it is also very expensive. In fact, Seattle and Atlanta are the two cities that I am most interested in. Of course, I would love to be in San Francisco...but I could never afford to buy a home there. Portland also came up on my radar screen, but I don't think that it has the "metropolis" type feel that I am looking for. No small towns or cities for me...I really need a big city.

A couple of you also mentioned Chicago. I actually had a job offer there last year and spent quite a bit of time in the area. I loved being in the loop/downtown, but I am not a fan of the midwest...and outside of the loop, I didn't like it at all. It almost reminded me of NY. In fact, I ended up turning the job down because I wasn't sold on the feel. It just seemed cold, both in terms of temperature and in terms of people. The clincher, though, was the cost of living. I have lived in some expensive cities and I just can't seem to get ahead. I need a break in the expense department. (Note: I will be paying off grad school for the next 9 years...and that is circa $700/month)

I am really happy to hear some of you say that Atlanta is different from any other Southern city. That is what is so difficult to get a feel for from afar. I also thought I'd love Chicago, until I got there. I found FromCLTtoATL's post interesting. I have been to both Charlotte and Raleigh...and I'm positive that they aren't big enough or progressive enough for what I need. I do know that they are GREAT places, though. Would anyone else compare Atlanta to Charlotte or Raleigh?

Also, FromCLTtoATL, thank you for your candid thoughts on churches and their presence in life in the South. I don't have an aversion to church, per se...in fact, until recently, I was a regular church-goer. My problem is that recently I have lived in some unusually "church-obsessed" communities and I hate the feeling that everything revolves around being involved with a congregation. When I say that I don't fit in in Utah, I'm sure you get what I mean. Here, it really is oppressive and I honestly feel the tension in my daily life. I know that my colleagues look at me differently because I am not Mormon. Everyone here is very nice, but I am treated differently nonetheless. While not quite the same, Memphis was very similar. In both places, there is a church/ward on every corner. Maybe I am wrong, but I have felt that the more progressive/international a city, the less of that you see. Again, to each his own. I just want to know that I am heading toward a city that is tolerant, open and non-judgmental.

One thing I do know is you'd better get used to drinking that City of Atlanta "kool-aid" if you expect to "fit in" there. I've lived here 17½ years transferring from Los Angeles and I don't like the 'taste' of it. But then again, I don't like following ANY crowd.

So sorry...you're going to have to help me out on this one. What are we talking about? If we are talking about the quality of drinks available...remember, I live in Utah.

Any comments on the cultural scene in Atlanta? I love having access to museums, galleries, the symphony and opera. I also love all things international, including meeting people from all over the world. Does this sound like it could be Atlanta?

I also thought Atlanta might be a good place for me because I have an international career and there seems to be a high concentration of multinational/global corporations in the area. I do want to move somewhere that I can eventually find another international position.

I did read the article about Atlanta being the #1 city for singles. Has anyone out there tried dating there? I'll admit that I am not the most social person in the world and I am not one to join an online dating service. Do you think that Atlanta has a good pool of single, professional, educated men?