Dallas vs Atlanta - Quality of life (Houston, Plano: beach, architectural)

[aceplace]

Originally Posted by turtleman

For me, the high energy cost, property taxes and extreme hot weather in Texas is something I will not get used to.

Does Georgia have a state income tax? How does that enter into the total tax burden?

Also, if the Atlanta suburbs have a lower property tax for an equivalent house, doesn't that mean that the public services are inferior to that of the Dallas suburbs? California county and city services are third-world compared to their Dallas equivalents.

There probably many advantages of Atlanta over Dallas, and there are many advantages of Dallas over Atlanta. Dallas' advantages are a superior cultural and metropolitan life due to its much larger metro population, and its better job opportunity, again due to its being a larger marketplace. Also, the Rail Transit in Dallas is better because its more extensive. Dallas will soon have one or two hundred miles of rail, whereas Atlanta's MARTA is about 49 miles. Atlanta is crippled by havinfg a so-called "heavy rail" system, and the cost of expanding it is $100 million to $200 million PER MILE. The Atlanta suburbs are hostile to transit, whereas the Dallas suburbs love it.

[USA_Mom]

Originally Posted by aceplace

Does Georgia have a state income tax? How does that enter into the total tax burden?

Yes it does and our experience with my husband's $15K increase in pay when we moved there last year was a whooping $100 per check (so $200 a month). Gas was more, food was more, believe it or not for us electricity was more ($500 average for a 2100 square foot house in Georgia versus $500 month average for a 3000 square foot house here), and homes were more--to have a house of similar quality there would be $100-150K MORE...hardly worth the move. The sites that do comparisons don't take into account that a 4 bed/2 bath house in Georgia (because they do not sell homes based on square feet there) would be around (and I wish I was kidding) 1300-1800 square feet and probably 30-40 years of age...definitely at least 25 years old. Heck my contact lens exams were the only thing that stayed the same price. Moving back gas is less, electricity has been cut in half (so far I mean it's fall/winter), and my grocery bill is at least $200 less a month.

It is beautiful and has nice trees. Everyone I've met that moved from Dallas to Georgia and back says that though.

[aceplace]

Originally Posted by USA_Mom

It is beautiful and has nice trees. Everyone I've met that moved from Dallas to Georgia and back says that though.

USA_mom, I don't think you'll hear that from me. But isn't that like some boys arguing about which mom is the best looking? "... yesh, but yo mama wears army boots!"

[USA_Mom]

Originally Posted by aceplace

USA_mom, I don't think you'll hear that from me. But isn't that like some boys arguing about which mom is the best looking? "... yesh, but yo mama wears army boots!"

LOL I guess I met it's funny..the people I have come across that moved to Georgia and back fish to say something nice, and all they can comment on is the trees.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by USA_Mom

LOL I guess I met it's funny..the people I have come across that moved to Georgia and back fish to say something nice, and all they can comment on is the trees.

I remember the first time I flew into DFW. It was way back in the early '80s
and I thought this must be what it looks like when one lands on the moon, because the place was so treeless it looked like pictures we've all seen of the face of the moon.
I'm from around KC which is right on the Missouri river with lots and lots of trees, and it was just that the surface of the land at DFW airport looked so wierd without any trees. Actually looked kinda neat to, but also really weird.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I remember the first time I flew into DFW. It was way back in the early '80s
and I thought this must be what it looks like when one lands on the moon, because the place was so treeless it looked like pictures we've all seen of the face of the moon.
I'm from around KC which is right on the Missouri river with lots and lots of trees, and it was just that the surface of the land at DFW airport looked so wierd without any trees. Actually looked kinda neat to, but also really weird.

Hope you never have to go to someplace like Phoenix, LA, many places in Mexico (Cabo for one) and even places in Florida if you think coming into DFW was treeless.........

[TrueDat]

That's funny because when my mom and sister came from Los Angeles last July, after that very rainy/stormy spring we had last year, they were shocked at how green Dallas is. Guess it just depends on one's perspective.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Hope you never have to go to someplace like Phoenix, LA, many places in Mexico (Cabo for one) and even places in Florida if you think coming into DFW was treeless.........

Sure I've been to Phoenix & LA, but not Cabo.
But the thing about the desert is that while it is certainly treeless, many including myself think it has its own kind of beauty, however I dunno of
anybody who ever said the praire-country was a thing of beauty ? I like
the wide-open, free feeling one gets in the wide-open expanse of praire country. But beautiful ? Nope.

[Lakewooder]

Unless I was dreaming when I went to the KC airport several years ago, it was all farms and very few trees. I almost expected to see old Bessie pulling a plow. I wouldn't judge the whole area by that anymore than I would judge Dallas by DFW airport.

[aceplace]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I dunno of
anybody who ever said the praire-country was a thing of beauty ?

The question might be... why should we judge the DFW area, or anyplace else, by the opinions of your circle of friends?