Is Alpharetta very conservative (Atlanta, Duluth: schools, standard of living, restaurant)

[yaseen82]

We currently live in SF Bay area and have lived in Boston before. Both Boston and Bay area are heavily liberal areas. We re considering moving to Alpharetta because we have heard great things about the area and standard of living and also because Bay Area is getting way too expensive.

We are practicing muslims (not crazy type, but good ones ) and we have never had any issues living in Boston or Bay Area. Could someone please tell me if we are going to have a culture shock if we move to Alpharetta? will being muslims be a issue in a relatively conservative society there? Will we face any discrimination?

Thanks

[Ant131531]

It's pretty conservative but not to the point where Muslims will be harassed. The area has a growing Asian population.

[yaseen82]

Thank you for your response. I am not too worried about harassment honestly. I think American public is better than that. My family doesn't follow any hijab, but if i have any visiting family who does or if my wife decides to wear in future, i am concerned about social awkwardness they might face. Do you think it will be an issue in your opinion?

[ATLTJL]

It won't be any bigger issue than it would be in Boston.

However, Alpharetta is about as far north as I would go. Even though I don't think you would face any discrimination in Cumming, it gets less diverse fast. Just this past weekend, we ventured up to Norman's Landing, which is a restaurant maybe 3 or 4 miles north of Alpharetta, and my wife remarked, "this restaurant is nothing but white people."

I'd keep it south of exit 12 on GA 400 just to be safe, but Alpharetta would be fine.

[yaseen82]

Thanks ATLTJL. This really helps. We are thinkings Alpharetta and Johns Creek.

[Dude of Gwinnett]

Alpharetta, while conservative, tends to be pretty diverse overall. As another poster mentioned, there is a growing Asian community in the area (mostly overflow from Duluth which has a massive Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean population). I attend classes in Alpharetta and there are practicing Muslims (who do wear Hijabs), Hindus, and people of other faiths-they all seem to blend in just fine. I'd be shocked if you faced any issue.

[ATLTJL]

You'll be fine either place.

I live in Duluth, only about a mile or so from Johns Creek. I see kids on the street every day wearing hijabs waiting for the school bus.

I guess you'd have to ask them if they feel comfortable, but I can tell you that nobody has ever commented to me about them. And usually when people are racist, they'll feel comfortable making small comments about it to white men, and I've never heard a peep.

[BR Valentine]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

It won't be any bigger issue than it would be in Boston.

However, Alpharetta is about as far north as I would go. Even though I don't think you would face any discrimination in Cumming, it gets less diverse fast. Just this past weekend, we ventured up to Norman's Landing, which is a restaurant maybe 3 or 4 miles north of Alpharetta, and my wife remarked, "this restaurant is nothing but white people."

I'd keep it south of exit 12 on GA 400 just to be safe, but Alpharetta would be fine.

That's like telling the OP you dined at Piedmont Driving Club and determined that Atlanta is overwhelmingly white. There is a mosque not much more than a mile down 141 from Norman's Landing. There are students, not many, who wear hijab at S. Forsyth schools (nor are there that many hijab wearing students in Alpharetta schools). I'm not suggesting that the OP consider Forsyth, but am stating that annecdotal, isolated experience isn't an accurate measure of reality. I think the OP would be fine in Alpharetta. It's not as liberal as Boston (I've lived there), but it's not a place at this point were Muslims are going to feel terribly isolated either.

[sedimenjerry]

Alpharetta (and a lot of the metro area) is more of the fiscally conservative type and while bordering on socially conservative, they're not xenophobic. You won't be in rural GA

[Mattie]

Alpharetta has a mosque that recently expanded due to Muslims moving into the area. I see hijabs almost daily in the area. You'll be fine OP.