Atlanta Or Houston? (White: crime, theatre, allergies)

[morenita]

I Am Not To Sure Which One To Go To Atlanta Or Houston!
I Like Them Both But Atlanta Looks Like They Pay Very Little And I Don't Want To Live Really Poor, And Houston People Keep Saying Things About Also! Anyone Have Any Idea Which Is Better. I Am A Secretary And I Wold Be Moving With My Son

[atlantagreg30127]

Hard call. Houston is actually hotter and more humid than Atlanta in the summer, has slightly worse traffic (though both are hell on the roads) and is a bit more prone to damage from hurricanes whereas Atlanta is more inland. Illegal immigration issues are a bit higher there as well.

Atlanta seems to be a bit worse in the overall crime department though, and you see more in terms of tense race relations here than you do in Houston. Atlanta does however, have more trees and is much more of a "green" city than Houston.

Houston was hit hard after Katrina, taking in tons of Katrina refugees who didn't leave after everything calmed down. Varied news reports have reported that certain crimes have soared in the Houston area as a result, since some of the people who relocated there were criminals. To a degree that happened in Atlanta too, though we didn't get as large a number of bad apples that Houston did.

If I just HAD to pick one, I might lean toward Houston just because you can get to a beach easily from there, as well as it not being too huge a drive from other more varied Texas cities.

[backfist]

Houston definitely is hotter and more humid than Atlanta in the spring and summer. Atlanta is colder than Houston in the winter. Traffic sucks in both areas, and pretty much for the same basic reasons.

In both cities and their outlying suburbs, there's an undercurrent of racial tensions. White and non-white should accept relative blame for it. But both areas are experiencing a lot of relocation by people from other parts of the country (and the world), so hopefully more new people will change that old dynamic.

The economy in Atlanta seems like it's a little more diverse and varied than Houston, which still relies significantly on the oil and gas industry. At the same time, Houston may be a bit cheaper than Atlanta in terms of cost of housing.

Not sure if you have kids, but look into things like natural museums, zoos, parks, etc., and compare. Atlanta just recently realized that there's more to a city than its past. While it's extremely important to retain and preserve all of our Civil Rights history, our leaders have only recently realized that a city can only be viable if keeps all families in mind. In that sense, the Georgia Aquarium is great. But some of the other attractions are a bit over-priced for what they are. I imagine that Houston is pretty similar in trying to catch up and bring back families that have fled to the suburbs for their recreation.

All in all, I'd pick Atlanta.

[Loiyan]

Houston and Atlanta were also my top choices as well. I can't really give much input on pay. I am a teacher and pay was about the same for both. But Texas has no state income tax, so you get a little break there BUT I think (according to people who I know who have moved there) the property taxes are way higher than Georgia. The weather!!! Oh my goodness, summer heat in Atlanta is bad enough, but Houston is just down right miserable! I have never been to a place that is steaming hot at midnight! And the big cockroaches, gross! Not to mention several people have told me about the flooding that occurs yearly in certain areas of the city, so be careful. Houston has a great arts culture, lots of nice museums, theatre, like the best in the south. Lots of great shopping (but so does Atlanta, to me at least). I do not think Houston is any more diverse or has any less race problems than the Atlanta area, seemed the same to me. There is a more even mix of people I guess, larger Hispanic and Asian population, although Atlanta is becoming more diverse (others besides White or Black). Housing is definetly cheaper in Houston and all over Texas, a lot cheaper from my research and people who I know who have recently moved to both places, BUT property taxes might make up the difference. All that said, I still picked Atlanta, overall, just liked it better, closer to Florida (where I currently live) and the physical environment is just more pleasant and prettier. Houston is so flat, and pollution is worse statistically, air quality and water quality. Atlanta is bad enough for people with allergies and asthma, most parts of Texas are much worse. I know I have spent time in both places and overall, I feel more comfortable in Georgia, I can breath better and I love the Aquarium. Plus those horrible Texas summers!!!! I don't want summers worse than Florida! Traffic seemed worse to me, granted I have only traveled in rush hour maybe 4 or 5 times in each, but there are more people using roads in Houston, its still bigger than Atlanta and growing just as fast as Atlanta. A