Phoenix, AZ vs Atlanta, GA vs Charleston, SC vs Jacksonville, FL vs Houston, TX? (best, better)
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Economy: depends on what you work in, if your in the energy industry Houston wins, Technology Phoenix wins. Phoenix is on a roll with economic expansion but it doesn't mean you'll find a great job in any field.
Weather: Phoenix easily wins this for me as I do not like humidity or snow. But some people have said they prefer humid climates so again personal preference will drive this.
Location: Only one location on this list offers skiing, beaches and big mountains within 3 hours of downtown, that city gets my pick. Phoenix also offers easy access to other big cities like Las Vegas, LA, San Diego. As the 12th largest metro and a huge tourist destination Phoenix also offers a ton to do right in the city. It's also the only city with all 4 major sports.
COL: Houston may be the cheapest but I'm not too sure.
Shopping/Dining: Houston/Atlanta are bigger but Phoenix packs a good punch in both of these departments, I don't think you'd struggle with either of these in the 3 big cities.
Economy
Weather
Location
Things to do
COL
Shopping/Dining
Economy: Atlanta has the best outlook currently. Houston is taking a hit.
Weather: Atlanta
Location: Charleston
Things to do: Atlanta then Houston
COL: Houston
Shopping: Atlanta
Dining: Houston
Obviously I know Jax, and pretty familiar with Atlanta and Houston. Don't really have experience with Phoenix and only been to Charleston once.
I would say:
Economy - Atlanta/Houston
Weather - Charleston
Location - Jacksonville (for me it's just preferential to be on the coast and surrounded by plenty of major cities)
Things to do - Atlanta/Houston/Phoenix...there is little you can find in one and not in the others
COL - Jacksonville easily
Shopping/Dining - Houston/Atlanta for plethora of ethnic foods, but Charleston stands out in quality per capita
Economy
Weather
Location
Things to do
COL
Shopping/Dining
Economy: Houston. The slump is just that, a slump. Something that can easily be rebounded from, and not the depression that people make it out to be. Second place would be Atlanta, as its economy is robust and diversified, but not as powerful as Houston's. Phoenix is third place, and Charleston and Jacksonville are just so much lower.
Weather: Jacksonville, with Houston and Charleston tied for a close second. Both Houston and Charleston have at least one flaw in their climate that is minimized/absent in Jacksonville (Houston's higher summer heat due to UHI and inland location, and Charleston's greater cold during winter, being furthest north). Phoenix is just too hot and dry of a climate to be redeemable, while Atlanta gets too cold in winter; they both tie for last place.
Location: Houston, or Jacksonville/Charleston, depending on access to Latin America (Houston), or Europe (Jacksonville/Charleston).
Things to do: Houston, then Atlanta for raw offerings. Charleston in terms of tourist appeal.
COL: Jacksonville, no doubt.
Shopping/Dining: Shopping goes to Atlanta, due to the presence of high end retail offered. Dining goes to Houston, for both strong local cuisine, plus the greater amounts of foreign options.
Economy: Atlanta > Houston > Phoenix > Jacksonville > Charleston
Weather: Jacksonville I guess. The Southern metros are pretty similar but Jacksonville doesn't get the snow or extreme humidity. Not familiar with Phoenix but 110 degrees doesn't sound comfortable.
Location: Atlanta (Southeast) = Phoenix (California and desert) = Jacksonville (Southeast and Florida) > Houston > Charleston.
Things to do: The big three are obviously a step above the other two. All five have good nature options nearby.
^^ Personally, I'd leave Jacksonville out of this too. Charleston is closer to Jacksonville size than Jacksonville is to the other three.
Economy - right now Atlanta. More diverse. Houston has the bigger industry obviously but it's taken a hit. Houston has diversified though.
COL: Houston suburbs are cheap. Outer parts of Houston are cheap. Inner Houston, the villages, and a couple of other places like Bellaire are pricy. I don't think there's much of a difference between Houston and Atlanta. But I'll say Houston=Atlanta>>Phoenix
Location: Atlanta>Houston>Phoenix. I like the South better but Phoenix is close to Houston being that it's only a skip and a hop to great scenic sights, Vegas, and California cities and beaches.
Weather: Atlanta>Houston>Phoenix. I only have Phoenix last because it's drier than the other cities. The older I get, the more I tolerate humidity. I also love the Southeast thunderstorms. If I add the other too, I'd put Jacksonville after Atlanta and Charleston equal to Houston.
Shopping: Close but I'd say Houston=Atlanta>Phoenix. I don't know if Atlanta and Houston has anything like a Scottsdale though.
Dining: Houston>Atlanta>Phoenix. Houston is a very underrated foodie city with more diverse offerings. Just a tad more than Atlanta which has a tad more than Phoenix. I do think Charleston per capita could hold it's own here though.
Weather: Jacksonville I guess. The Southern metros are pretty similar but Jacksonville doesn't get the snow or extreme humidity. Not familiar with Phoenix but 110 degrees doesn't sound comfortable.
Yes it does.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iMarvin
Location: Atlanta (Southeast) = Phoenix (California and desert) = Jacksonville (Southeast and Florida) > Houston > Charleston.
Charleston is in the Southeast too...
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