Atlanta vs Dallas (Greenville: crime rates, homes, neighborhoods)

[Launi]

I am a recent college grad currently living in TX. I am having a hard time deciding between Dallas TX and Atlanta. I check statistics for both and Dallas is larger, more diverse but Atlanta seems to have a lot of cultural activities and events. But have high crime rates.
I am more impressed with ATL but is it really that bad of a city to live?

[south-to-west]

Dallas and Atlanta are often compared and share many attributes. Both are rapidly growing Sunbelt metropolises with strong economies and ample opportunity.

IMO, Atlanta has the advantage in terms of terrain--rolling hills covered by a forest versus flat, treeless prarie. Also, Atlanta has the advantage of having a more vibrant city center in Midtown, Downtown, and several intown neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong, Dallas has Uptown, Lower Greenville, and Deep Ellum; but Atlanta's neighborhoods have more character and the architecture is more stunning. Atlanta is also just as culturally diverse, if not more so than Dallas.

Both cities are served by great airports, but in terms of driving, Atlanta is the best bet because it's closer to the coast and several major cities and destinations--i.e. mountains, ocean, etc. Dallasites don't have many options when it comes to weekend getaways.

The two things that Dallas has over Atlanta is traffic and a somewhat cheaper cost of living.

[JPD]

Why does everyone on this board keep saying "is it really that bad"? What exactly does that mean?

[turtleman]

Originally Posted by south-to-west

Dallas and Atlanta are often compared and share many attributes. Both are rapidly growing Sunbelt metropolises with strong economies and ample opportunity.

IMO, Atlanta has the advantage in terms of terrain--rolling hills covered by a forest versus flat, treeless prarie. Also, Atlanta has the advantage of having a more vibrant city center in Midtown, Downtown, and several intown neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong, Dallas has Uptown, Lower Greenville, and Deep Ellum; but Atlanta's neighborhoods have more character and the architecture is more stunning. Atlanta is also just as culturally diverse, if not more so than Dallas.

Both cities are served by great airports, but in terms of driving, Atlanta is the best bet because it's closer to the coast and several major cities and destinations--i.e. mountains, ocean, etc. Dallasites don't have many options when it comes to weekend getaways.

The two things that Dallas has over Atlanta is traffic and a somewhat cheaper cost of living.

Well,no doubt that Dallas beats Atlanta in traffic. I moved to Dallas from Atlanta 2 years ago. I lived in Atlanta from 1991 thru 2006 and can't wait to move back to Atlanta. The cost of living is not cheaper in Texas due to:

1- property taxes ( twice as higer compared to Atlanta)
2- high energy cost ( derregulation of power in Texas sincd 2002) power rates are 2 to 3 time higher..
3- extreme hot weather here..

And your right, Texas lacks the beatiful green trees and scenary of Georgia..

[plessthanpointohfive]

And let's not forget the superiority of Atlanta's climate over Dallas. Atlanta has the most gorgeous weather...even if it's been a little dry lately.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by JPD

Why does everyone on this board keep saying "is it really that bad"? What exactly does that mean?

Atlanta has one of the higher crime rates of the major cities. The reputation has reached other regions in the last couple of years. People ask this because they hear and read the stories and are asking locals if they feel it's true or overhyped. I know people who live as far away as Oregon and Northern california and they've made comments to me like, "oh, I hear Atlanta is really bad with crime - tell me...".

[Paddington]

Dallas is more like a typical post-WWII sunbelt city, with 10 lane roads, lots of strip malls, big signs for "Taco Shops", and lots of ugly, trashy developments everywhere. There's no concept of making things "nicer", "decent" or even "not trashy", just "bigger" and "even more bigger".

Atlanta is about the exact opposite of that. It's laid out a lot more like old Northeastern cities, with a lot of walkable neighborhoods, classy old homes, rolling hills, trees, etc.

[Lakewooder]

South-to-West -- is this some of the flat, treeless prairie of Dallas???

[Lakewooder]

BTW Dallas is not Southern, it's not Western -- it's Texan. Something Atlanta cannot ever hope to equal.

[Paddington]

I will say this about Dallas: it's not as ugly as Houston, but that's not saying much.