Atlanta ranked #95 in best places to live (Columbus, Sandy Springs: apartment, home)

[MichiganderTexan]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Yeah man, when Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, Nintendo of America, Costco, T-Mobile US, and Zillow and Redfin are headquartered in Huntsville, and when Huntsville has 4 major league sports franchises, and average highs in the 70's all summer, I'll take a look at it. Until then, it's that town you visit for the kids to go to the space center.

They listed good air quality as one of the things for Huntsville, well we have that here too, probably even better. I'm good on moving to Huntsville just because it's affordable for right now. Again, there's a reason why places cost what they do.

Housing prices have gone up significantly in Huntsville though it's still cheaper than other areas but I it's essentially doubled in the last 3-4 years as well. Houses that were 150K or so in 2018 are selling for 280-290K. It does have a very good economy but it's pretty one dimensional for the most part focused in the defense and aerospace industry.

[Smocaine]

The very act of trying to rank Atlanta in this sort of list is ludicrous. I mean, what the hell are we even defining as 'Atlanta'? Is it the City of Atlanta, or are we going with the 'Atlanta = North Half of Georgia' definition where Cartersville is included? Is Riverdale 'Atlanta'?



And then, to whom does this list actually apply to? It seems like these lists always apply to people in their late 30's, medium-high earners (but can't quite afford good private schools for their multiple kids) with a preference for exurban life...but there are more types of people than that. Atlanta would be an absolutely horrible place to retire. It would be at the bottom of the list of desirable cities for young white/Asian urban professionals, but it would probably be #1 for young black people who want to break into some sector of the entertainment industry. It would rate fairly well among middle-aged parents who want a detached house and decent public schools, but wouldn't do much for equivalent people who don't have kids.


So...what is this article even talking about? It's just all over the place. Des Moines, IA at #14 but Atlanta at #94? Boise at 15? Myrtle Beach at #37? And then they put Atlanta over Honolulu, Hawaii??? What are their criteria??? It's madness. I'm not even pro-Atlanta, think it's a C, and would place it near the bottom of the 'big city' category, but at least the region has a real economy which bumps it ahead of 90% of that list for literally everyone who's not retired.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by skiime

Augusta was ranked a good bit higher than Atlanta. That tells me all I need to know about the validity of this list.

I have family who live in Fulton and Newton counties. One family member lived in Dekalb previously. In terms of the normal daily activities there’s not a lot of difference. Twenty waffle houses vs eighty of them. One Top Golf vs three. One Dave & Busters instead of four. Of course Atlanta is a much bigger metro, and offers a lot more. Just speaking on the normal daily routines.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by MichiganderTexan

Is a such a low ranking concerning with the direction that this city is headed? Cost of living has become insane, traffic is as bad as its ever been and still getting worse, crime in the high visibility areas is out of control. #95 for a city growing at the rate of Atlanta is bad.

https://realestate.usnews.com/places...places-to-live

Huntsville, Alabama is no. 1? lol what a joke.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Yeah man, when Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, Expedia, Nintendo of America, Costco, T-Mobile US, and Zillow and Redfin are headquartered in Huntsville, and when Huntsville has 4 major league sports franchises, and average highs in the 70's all summer, I'll take a look at it. Until then, it's that town you visit for the kids to go to the space center.

They listed good air quality as one of the things for Huntsville, well we have that here too, probably even better. I'm good on moving to Huntsville just because it's affordable for right now. Again, there's a reason why places cost what they do.

Seattle is a great, top 12 city in the country, but your complex is alarming. We know that Huntsville can't compete with Seattle overall.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by cdw1084

Seattle is a great, top 12 city in the country, but your complex is alarming. We know that Huntsville can't compete with Seattle overall.

But yet somehow Huntsville, AL is the #1 place to live in the US? I mean, that's an objective no.

[bobspez]

Originally Posted by MichiganderTexan

Is a such a low ranking concerning with the direction that this city is headed? Cost of living has become insane, traffic is as bad as its ever been and still getting worse, crime in the high visibility areas is out of control. #95 for a city growing at the rate of Atlanta is bad.

https://realestate.usnews.com/places...places-to-live

I don't know who compiles these rankings or how. NYC placed 120 on the list. More than 50 places behind such metropolis utopias like Toledo and Youngstown Ohio, and Detroit Michigan.

[SEAandATL]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I would also move the ATL up. Yes, we have problems with crime, but who in heck doesn't?

San Diego, which is ranked lower than Atlanta.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by primaltech

But yet somehow Huntsville, AL is the #1 place to live in the US? I mean, that's an objective no.

Based on the methodology used to rank Huntsville, it's #1.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by cdw1084

Based on the methodology used to rank Huntsville, it's #1.

Yeah, well, my methodology would probably factor in, you know, whether a place is literally the cultural CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. And maybe, rank NYC a little bit over Kalamazoo.

Just saying, that's some seemingly odd methodology.