Raleigh/RTP-metro vs metro-Atlanta comparison requested (Cary: real estate, jobs, hospitals)

[athensvaasi]

I would appreciate it if anyone can compare the following cities:

Raleigh/RTP-metro area vs. metro-Atlanta

with respect to --
(1) Jobs (especially software related)
(2) Public schools in residential communities, and public universities
(3) Culture / entertainment / diversity
(4) Reason to choose one over the other

Thanks in advance...

[stefanmro]

Hmm, Atlanta is a huge metropolis with a "downtown" and endless suburbs that are really small towns. Raleigh has a tiny downtown, although it's growing slowly it is still mostly reserved for government. Raleigh is however growing with real estate evaporating and appreciating quickly. Software/IT jobs here should not be a problem. RTP and Cary are close and offer plenty of oppurtunity but I know Atlanta's economy is doing well so job wise it might be a toss up, probably a slight edge to Raleigh do to the high concentration of tech here.Schools, can't comment on Atlanta, here I think it's like anywhere else really. My son is in year round at West Lake and I have been pretty satisfied, but I hear horror stories about other schools. Culture / entertainment / diversity - I'm sure Atlanta has more of all, but there is plenty in the Raleigh area as well. One thing Raleigh doesn't have yet that Atlanta does is 12 lane interstates (6 lanes each direction) packed all day...Ours are still 3-4 each way with a standard rush hour! lol.

[SeattlitefromNC]

Originally Posted by athensvaasi

I would appreciate it if anyone can compare the following cities:

Raleigh/RTP-metro area vs. metro-Atlanta

with respect to --
(1) Jobs (especially software related)
(2) Public schools in residential communities, and public universities
(3) Culture / entertainment / diversity
(4) Reason to choose one over the other

Thanks in advance...

(1) For software-related jobs, RTP does beat out ATL. RTP was one of the first communities to actively lobby IT businesses for a stake in the digital age. To that end, the infrastructure in RTP for IT jobs is better than ATL, although there are IT jobs to be had in ATL.

(2) The answer to this question depends very strongly on what you want to study. Georgia Tech is a preeminent technical school, so folks who want to become engineers or study robotics would lean very strongly towards ATL. A person seeking to enter the medical profession would be swayed by the world-class hospitals at Duke and UNC. African-Americans would find more of an amenable college culture in ATL. Business types may be split between the programs at Emory and UNC. It all depends.

(3) ATL wins this outright, largely for two reasons: first, it has been a bigger city for a lot longer than Raleigh and has had the time and resources to cultivate a lot of the cultural aspects that one expects in a city. Second, ATL attracts a much larger "creative class" that tends to demand and frequent more of these cultural events. RTP is more family-oriented, thus a bit quieter and more insular than ATL in general.

(4) That's a matter of personal preference. The places are fairly close (only 6 hours apart) but not at all similar. I'd recommend visiting both places before making a final decision.

[athensvaasi]

Thanks for all the great information. If I were to visit the Raleigh / RTP area (with wife and kids), during a Saturday thru Monday, what areas / locations / hotspots should I consider driving/stopping by to get a feel for the place. Thanks again....