[gimme it]

How do these two college towns compare and contrast? Which one is prettier, safer, family-friendly, walkable and charming? Which has the nicest downtown and schools? If you can only partially answer this, I appreciate whatever input you have. Thanks.

[Strel]

I'll admit my bias up front, I have lived in Tallahassee for 20+ years and can't think of a single reason to move. I did also spend a lot of time in Gainesville, but never lived there, so you can take all of this with a grain of salt.

Prettier: Both are very green places to live. Tallahassee is larger and therefore has more green, and is famous for the large number of green spaces and parks. Tallahassee is also (lately) good about not permitting too many billboards, strip malls, etc., and the architecture tends to be red brick Southern gothic. Both towns have their not-so-nice areas. If I had to point out the significant difference, other than size, it would be that Tallahassee has hills, which add something to the scenery that you don't get in Gainesville.

Safer: Difficult to say. Gainesville and Tallahassee have both had their share of campus serial killers, sadly. My impression of Gainesville was that it was relatively safe around campus. I wish I could say the same for FSU/Tallahasee, but the campus here is not in the best part of town. Again, size makes a difference. I live in a community on the northeast side of Tallahaseee, and crime is so low here that people often forget to lock their doors. I can't tell you about the rest of Gainesville but parts of Tallahassee are very safe, and some parts (mostly south and west) are not so safe.


Family-friendly: Tallahassee wins this one by knockout, I think. Gainesville is pretty much 100% a college town, with all that entails. Tallahassee has a lot more going on that has nothing to do with FSU or FAMU, and I find it a very kid-friendly place. College-student stuff is pretty much restricted to a specific area in Tallahassee.

Walkable: neither. Tallahassee does have a nice downtown these days, and they continue to improve and add to it. They also have lots of markets and festivals and that sort of thing downtown. It also has lots of parks for that sort of thing, as does Gainesville.

Charming: I'd say both are pretty charming, in the nice areas.

Downtown: Tallahassee by far has a nicer downtown than Gainesville, but this may also be a function of size (tallahassee is much bigger).

Schools: you are still in Florida, but both communities have SOME decent and even good public schools, again, depending on the area you are in. I'd be willing to bet the schools in both places are a bit better than other places in Florida, due to their relative size and that they both have major universities.

[her2001]

Tallahassee from 1990-1998
Gainesville From 2004 till now

In Tallahassee I was a broke student. In GV I am settled with a familiy.

There is a lot more within a little over an hour drive from GV

Tallahassee Is a little cheaper.

FSU was a blast but I think UF is layed out better.

The students at UF seem to have much more $$ than I remember at FSU

Its hard to say which would be best. It all Dependson were in life you are.

I think if your a professional making a good salary GV is better.

[grapico]

"I'll admit my bias up front, I have lived in Tallahassee for 20+ years and can't think of a single reason to move. I did also spend a lot of time in Gainesville, but never lived there, so you can take all of this with a grain of salt."

seconded I lived in Tallahassee from 88-02

I have lived since in other places, Chicago, Paris, Coral Springs... but just longing for that laid back northern florida tallahassee feel... I would definitely go for Tallahassee... but it is all what you are into... If I wanted something a tad bigger in the SE I would do Charlotte.

personally I don't need all kinds of stuff "going on" I want peace and quiet and nature and a little commerce...

Anyway I'm moving back in November, maybe there was a reason why my parents moved there after living everywhere also.

When I think about it I could have been saving the same amount of money back in Tallahassee as the other cities, b/c the price of "living" is so much more expensive here and the salaries just aren't that great. Referring to Chicago, oh yeah the weather sucks too...

[Gatornation]

I would have a hard time living in either city if I didn't have a connection with either University.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by Gatornation

I would have a hard time living in either city if I didn't have a connection with either University.

I just don't think that's true in Tallahassee. I practically never have anything to do with the University at all, except to go to the occasional football game.
Once you get to know your way around here, there is little reason to go into the student area at all. I only go there if I have to or have a craving for bad food.

[StJohnCane]

Tally is bigger but certainly not " much bigger." Gainesville is much better situated in the state than Tally. 90 minutes from Jax,Orlando and about 2 hours from Tampa. It is also about 30 minutes from the untamed beast also known as Ocala( which has a comparable metro population to Tally).
Tally probably has more options for teenagers as far as things to do. Gainesville is far behind in that area. Tally and Gville are both beautiful areas.

[mg83]

G'Ville by far. But, I'm biased.

Also, if you like to travel at all like I do, Gainesville is within 2 hours of 4 international airports (Sanford Intl actually has decent fares to Europe).