Atlanta vs Seattle (Raising a Family, Economy, Education, Culture, Diversity, etc.) (state, better)

[theATLien]

I've been to both cities...

Atlanta:

Atlanta is a larger city and has a more diverse economy.
The cost of living is lower.
The weather is warmer
east coast connections
better nighlife
demographics: more diverse lots of AA's

Seattle.
Beautiful city
Excellant public transportation
great seafood
great economy
less crime
really cloudy, rains a lot
demographics: less diverse, but more asians

What I would watch out for is that the bad schools in ATL are VERY bad. If you move to Atlanta make sure you thouroghly investigate the school if you have kids, because it can be some of the worst in the nation. However there are a lot of benefits to ATL... it is one of the fastest growing cities for a reason. Also I believe ATL has a better post-secondary education. Furthermore it has a more exciting entertainment industry. With movie productions, more celebrities, entertainers, and events. Better fine dining with a few 4 star restaurants and celebrity restuarants. More 24 hour options and better nightlife and of couse temerate climate and low cost living.

The strengths of Seattle is that it is a very safe and very urban city with some of the best public transportation in the nation. In fact, during rush hours public transit around the city is free. It is a very safe and very urban city. Surely one of the best on the west coast.

That's what I observed...

[ironcouger]

Originally Posted by theATLien

I've been to both cities...

Atlanta:

Atlanta is a larger city and has a more diverse economy.
The cost of living is lower.
The weather is warmer
east coast connections
better nighlife
demographics: more diverse lots of AA's

Seattle.
Beautiful city
Excellant public transportation
great seafood
great economy
less crime
really cloudy, rains a lot
demographics: less diverse, but more asians

What I would watch out for is that the bad schools in ATL are VERY bad. If you move to Atlanta make sure you thouroghly investigate the school if you have kids, because it can be some of the worst in the nation. However there are a lot of benefits to ATL... it is one of the fastest growing cities for a reason. Also I believe ATL has a better post-secondary education. Furthermore it has a more exciting entertainment industry. With movie productions, more celebrities, entertainers, and events. Better fine dining with a few 4 star restaurants and celebrity restuarants. More 24 hour options and better nightlife and of couse temerate climate and low cost living.

The strengths of Seattle is that it is a very safe and very urban city with some of the best public transportation in the nation. In fact, during rush hours public transit around the city is free. It is a very safe and very urban city. Surely one of the best on the west coast.

That's what I observed...

Seattle has more 4 star restaurants than Atlanta ,downtown Seattle has several.

[theATLien]

Originally Posted by ironcouger

Seattle has more 4 star restaurants than Atlanta ,downtown Seattle has several.

Not really, but you make a good point. Seattle has four star restaurants too

Forbes Travel Guide: 2010 Four-Star Hotel, Restaurant and Spa Award Winners

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by theATLien

Not really, but you make a good point. Seattle has four star restaurants too

Forbes Travel Guide: 2010 Four-Star Hotel, Restaurant and Spa Award Winners

What's really weird about that Forbes restaurant ranking it that you get the exact same list when you click on 4 star OR 5 star restaurants! Something's obviously not right with that.

That being said, both cities have absolutely excellent restaurant scenes, but I would give a very slight edge to Atlanta simply due to its larger size. Because of this, the depth of offerings here is slightly better.

They are both wonderful cities, though. Seattle happens to be my favorite American city, as a matter of fact.

[ironcouger]

[quote=theATLien;16837728]Not really, but you make a good point. Seattle has four star restaurants too
ok

[johnatl]

A good comparison as far as restaurants go:

Zagat Survey Food Raw|1 Atlanta

Zagat Survey Food Raw|1 Seattle

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by ironcouger

Seattle has more 4 star restaurants than Atlanta ,downtown Seattle has several.

According to whom?

Certainly not Michelin which only rates restaurants in Chicago, NYC, Las Vegas and Napa.

And the other top restaurant reviewer, Gayot (which rates restaurants in all cities in the U.S.) placed Atlanta's Restaurant Eugene in it's latest top 40 list. None for Seattle in the latest rankings as seen here, though Seattle has made it in the past with it's last showing in 2006 for The Herbfarm, a list that also included Atlanta's Seeger's.

Now don't get me wrong, I've heard great things about Seattle's restaurant scene and it is definitely below Atlanta's level. From what I know and heard they are probably pretty equal all things considered. But I do believe you are down playing Atlanta's restaurant scene which has in recent years moved up to the upper echelons of foodies and is making some series waves in the biz.

With that said, a quick Zagat search for both cities yields a large amount well rated restaurants:

Food Tops - Seattle - Restaurants & Menus in Seattle - Zagat Survey

Food Tops - Atlanta - Restaurants & Menus in Atlanta - Zagat Survey

[seattlefanatic]

Just to clarify, the City of Seattle is bigger than the City of Atlanta, but the Atlanta metro is vastly larger than the Seattle metro.

[DANNYY]

I love Atlanta and honestly would probably raise a family there over Seattle. But Seattle is a place I would definitely live in my 20's and enjoy to the fullest before having a family.

[newlitchil]

i think seatle