I've lived in both Dallas and Atlanta and spent about the same length of time in each (around 2.5 years). So, I'll speak like an authority on this even though I'm not!
Both cities are great places, but I think they are very, very different - contrary to some of what other posters have said. I enjoyed both places for different reasons, but when thinking about the two I definitely have to give the nod to Dallas. Here's why:
Atlanta
Pros:
- Better weather/climate. Summers are much more moderate than in Dallas (highs peak in the upper 80s most of time vs. low 100s in Dallas). Fall and Spring feel like, well, Fall and Spring
- Very pretty topography and vegetation, much prettier than Dallas
- Easy access to the outdoors (mountains, flowing rivers & whitewater, access to *nice* beaches about 5 hours away by car)
- Proximity to the Atlantic Seaboard and the NE
- Trees, trees, and more trees
- Character (architecture, beautiful homes, Piedmont Park, Little 5 Points, etc.)
- Civics and public services: I can't get over Peidmont Park and the aboretuem. ATL was smart to put this near city center
- Strong ethnic communities (particularly a healthy Jewish population). Atlanta feels more like an Eastern city than does Dallas.
- Mass transit: BARELY... I ONLY say this because MARTA goes directly from the airport to downtown. AND, the downtown-midtown subway is useful if you come in from out of town. Otherwise, MARTA is useless lest you ride the bus. In which case, Dallas works just as well.
Cons:
- Crime... I don't care what you say, I never felt safe in Atlanta. Dallas has high crime ratings in statistics, but I can walk the streets here comfortably in parts without feeling vulnerable to violent crime. Not so in Atlanta. Atlanta violent crime is out of control.
- Traffic: the city lay-out is terrible, narrow roads with no dedicated left-turn lanes. Contrary to a previous poster, the drivers are TERRIBLE. I've never been to a place where so many people weave in out and out traffic with their arms or legs hanging out the window at 85 mph. And unfriendly...
- Roads: potholes plague these poorly maintained, meandering trails. The Interstates are wide and comfy at off-peak times, but much of the urban development in places like Buckhead are located off of the interstate.
- Economy: Atlanta has a strong economy but suffers from an old-south business mentality in many of its sectors. Dallas wins out here, I'll explain in a moment.
- Culture: I found Atlanta to be largely unfriendly. The urban ghetto motif of the city wears on you FAST if you don't identify with it. It's pervasive.
- Services: Getting stuff done in ATL was PITA. Cleanliness was an issue at all but the highest end resturaunts and facilities, and the attitudes of service workers... bad.
Dallas
Pros:
- Density: I was surprised by this as Dallas was once rated the least densely populated major city in the world, but Atlanta doesn't have anything that compares to Uptown/Oak Lawn/Victory Park/West End. The metroplex area cities are doing a good job of developing urban clusters (E. Plano, Las Colinas, Arlington, Frisco, Legacy, etc.). Atlanta is falling behind on this even with Atlantic Station... but even when built you won't feel safe in those places in Atlanta
- Economy: I have degrees from both a TX U and a SE U. The Dallas job market is much more accessible IMHO. Also, Dallas has much more vibrant technology and retail sectors... and financial services are growing fast with JP Morgan, Comerica, and Fidelity all moving HQ or other major operations here. In general, the "old boys club" has less control over the major market movers in Dallas from what I can tell... Options are good and DFW has a lot of them.
- Shopping: Hands down, Dallas has more to offer. Plus, Northpark and many of the outdoor shopping areas here at least FEEL safe. Lennox and Phipps were nice, but every so often you were reminded of where you lived when someone got shot at Lennox. I always felt uncomfortable at Lennox. Phipps is beautiful. There were no other Malls I could recommend in ATL, but they could be there. Outdoor shopping in Virginia Highlands didn't have much to offer vs. Knox/Henderson, Park Cities, and Uptown in Dallas. Really very little comparison on this one IMHO.
- Cost of Living: Housing is much cheaper in much of Dallas and its suburbs. Plus, quality of the home you buy is much better for the money (4 sides brick and stone vs. siding, etc.) for single family detached residences.
- Transportation: Although you drive, Dallas has a better highway system than Atlanta. DART is still in its nascent stages, but Dallas is effectively building new urban clusters up and down the rail lines to encourage pedestrian neighborhoods connected by mass transit. Smart move for a future with $5-$7/gallon gasoline.
Highland Park/University Park: Beautiful neighborhoods that remind me of the northeast and crisp, clean, safe outdoor shopping malls with fantastic selection
Culture: I'm not sure I've been to a friendlier place. Dallas is more friendly than Nashville, TN even.
Nightlife: Uptown, Greenville, parts of Deep Ellum and parts of Oak Cliff. Dallas nighlife isn't what it was when I lived here before, however I like it better than ATL. Midtown ATL was almost inaccessible on Fri and Sat, Buckhead was unsafe (truly - shootings, gang activity, and crowds of people loitering in streets after hours. It's unreal.). Virginia Highland was my destination of choice at which I had a handful of bars from which to choose.
Cons:
Heat: Dallas summers are hot as hell. One summer that I was here had 21 straight days of 100+ degree weather. It's a drier heat, but it's crushing. One nice thing about Dallas summers is that, once the sun goes down, it's nice outside despite being hot.
Schizophrenic winters: you don't really get winter in Dallas. It's 75 one day, 45 the next. Spring and Fall can feel an awful lot like summer.
Environment / Topography: Outside of the city, there isn't a lot to do here. If you like the outdoors - stay away.
Civics and public services: Dallas parks are small, cramped, dirty, and feel unsafe. We don't have anything here like Piedmont Park. Although the area around Whiterock is nice, it's not walkable from the city... It's effectively in a suburb. There are plans in the works for a new deck park over Woodall Rogers... I'll believe it when I see it
Illegal Immigration: Drug cartels are starting to become a real issue up and down the I35 corrider, which happens to pass right through Dallas
Having lived in the SE for 5 years (recently moved back to TX) I can say with confidence that Dallas is not "The South". I'm not sure if Dallas is Southwest or not, Fort Worth certainly is, but Dallas sure feels more western than southern to me. There are signs of the southern heritage - a blight to me - (Robert E Lee Park is a fine example), but I don't see confederate flags flying here like I did in GA (and TN). The general feel of the place and the people is more progressive (not liberal, just progressive) and faster than in the South. Dallas feels more like LA than it does Nashville or Birmingham. Atlanta shares more in common with its deep south neighbors than it does with the West or East coast.
I enjoyed rambling about this
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Dallas vs. Atlanta
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