Where Young College Graduates are Choosing to Live (Atlanta: mortgage, credit card)

[Mutiny77]

It's the economy, stupid.

When you're looking at a trend like this from 2000-present, this essentially becomes a list of cities that have bounced back more quickly since the recession.

It also needs to be understood that as time goes on, there will be more competition for college grads as more cities urbanize, develop, and come into their own. The pretty new girls on the block will always draw a measure of attention, at least until they aren't so new anymore.

I wonder if NYC, Philly, DC, Chicago, Boston, etc did all this hand-wringing, slow singing, and flower-bringing in the 80's and 90's when Atlanta was really beginning to make its mark nationally.

[Gulch]

There's a lot of "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome in this thread.

[Pemgin]

Originally Posted by Gulch

There's a lot of "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome in this thread.

No kidding.

So, who is moving into these new towers and apartments going up all over town if not young college grads?

[chimama1]

Originally Posted by hautemomma

College students / graduates are broke and going where the (entry-level) jobs are. More established professionals continue to move here in droves, due to job opportunities and corporate relocations.

Yes. That was us. Went to college in Atlanta. We would have liked to stay in Atlanta, but we were willing to go where we found the best job. Ended up in Chicago 100% due to the best fresh-out-of-college job offer. Fell in love with that city, but when the opportunity arose to return to Atlanta it was for a huge promotion and subsequently huge gains in career experience, growth and compensation.

And, of course, by "Atlanta" I mean: Metro Atlanta area

[jpk1292000]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Not surprised. I want to get the hell out of here as soon as possible...I'm completing the intership now, then I will begin looking for software developing jobs out west and up north. SF, Seattle, LA, D.C., and NYC are my top choices. Unless I get a very attractive offer here, I don't play on staying here for much longer.

It's just far too sprawled and unwalkable for my liking and it's simply taking far too long to urbanize this city. On top of that, the economy just sucks.

Look at the comments on Atlanta tour guides and articles mentioning it's sprawl....the young people certainly don't seem to take to kindly to Atlanta anymore....many cities are passing it up(Seattle, Denver, Austin, Minneapolis) and just because you have 5.5 million in your metro doesn't make you an attractive city.

Atlanta is in a world of pain 10 years from now. This is just the beginning. The demographic changes do not favor this city at all.

What's so great about Austin? I spent a week there last year and couldn't wait to leave. Traffic that was worse than Atlanta's and those damn ugly sprawling trees that they have all over central Texas.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

What's so great about Austin? I spent a week there last year and couldn't wait to leave. Traffic that was worse than Atlanta's and those damn ugly sprawling trees that they have all over central Texas.

Walkable college town, with a river, great nightlife. And their trees are better than all Atlanta's pine trees.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Pemgin

No kidding.

So, who is moving into these new towers and apartments going up all over town if not young college grads?

Probably transfers. Atlanta is not great place for a college-grad to start a career. More like get the experience elsewhere and return if you want. We had someone on this board lament that their company couldn't fill a position. Apparently, they weren't training from within, they just needed to poach someone else's expert.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Probably transfers. Atlanta is not great place for a college-grad to start a career. More like get the experience elsewhere and return if you want. We had someone on this board lament that their company couldn't fill a position. Apparently, they weren't training from within, they just needed to poach someone else's expert.

I disagree; Atlanta is indeed a great place for a college grad to start a career. The issue is that at the moment, it doesn't offer as many opportunities for college grads. That's an important distinction to make.

But I'd say there are more mid-career professionals moving into these new residential units as opposed to college grads. I know I couldn't afford to rent most of the new apartments going up when I first got out of school.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Walkable college town, with a river, great nightlife. And their trees are better than all Atlanta's pine trees.

Atlanta has a mix of pine and deciduous trees. Pine trees don't produce a canopy like this:

[DaBurgh]

According to this analysis things are just fine here for college grads

Best Cities for Recent College Graduates - NerdWallet Credit Card Blog

Perhaps the message just isn't getting out.