Albuquerque vs. Knoxville (live, cost, better, crime)

[preston39]

Which of these cities would you choose to live in, and why?

Scenery/outdoor recreation:
Culture:
Education:
Economy:
Food:
Cost of living:
Crime:
Infrastructure/transportation:
Urbanity:
Desirable suburbs:
Climate:
Other:

[Shakeesha]

Scenery/outdoor recreation: Knoxville
Culture: Albuquerque
Education: Knoxville
Economy: Knoxville
Food: Albuquerque
Cost of living: Knoxville
Crime: Knoxville
Infrastructure/transportation: Knoxville
Urbanity: Knoxville
Desirable suburbs: Knoxville
Climate: Knoxville
Other: Knoxville

I would choose Knoxville because it has more to offer and less isolated. I had a friend that moved to Knoxville from Albuquerque years ago and he said he could not be happier.

[Crazybreakfast]

Scenery/outdoor recreation: Knoxville
Culture: Toss up- Appalachia vs. Southwest- both with neat Native influences, but that's more noticeable in Alb.
Education: Knoxville
Economy: Knox
Food: Tie. Both have fine food.
Cost of living: I think Knox is cheaper
Crime: Tie, maybe Knox is slightly safer.
Infrastructure/transportation: Knox
Urbanity: Knox
Desirable suburbs: Knox
Climate: Knox
Other: Knox.

Knoxville just has far more facilities, has rafting, mountains etc like Alb, and the University helps keep it moving along a lot. Knox is also just a lot closer to far more big cities. Alb is 6 hours from PHX and roughly the same from El Paso.

[jjbradleynyc]

This is a close one for me--my take:

Scenery/outdoor recreation: Knoxville edges Albuquerque
Culture: Albuquerque
Education: Knoxville
Economy: Knoxville
Food: Knoxville a bit just due to variety, but Albuquerque has amazing mexican
Cost of living: Albuquerque might be a bit less but close
Crime: close here - tie
Infrastructure/transportation: Knoxville a bit better
Urbanity: Knoxville more dense downtown, built up a bit more
Desirable suburbs: Knoxville barely
Climate: Albuquerque
Other: Knoxville is less isolated, but Albuquerque has a stunning geographical desert/mountain region that is beautiful

Knoxville beats Albuquerque for me, but not by a lot--very close match up.

[sub]

Scenery/outdoor recreation: Albuquerque.
Culture: Albuquerque.
Education: Knoxville.
Economy: Maybe Knoxville.
Food: Albuquerque.
Cost of living: Tie.
Crime: Neither are great here.
Infrastructure/transportation: Tie.
Urbanity:
Desirable suburbs: Tie.
Climate: Albuquerque.


I often lament New Mexico on here, but it does have a few redeeming qualities. It has one of the better climates out there. Scenery can be nice in places.
Might could do Albuquerque in real life, at least for a short stint. Still not a place I'd want to raise kids or live long-term.
Never been impressed with Knoxville at all.

[Outer_Bluegrass]

Albuquerque is generally cleaner than Knoxville and has significantly better infrastructure. Road quality in particular is seriously good in New Mexico, especially around Albuquerque. I would imagine that nicely landscaped office parks and shopping centers (i.e., typical suburbia) are more common in Albuquerque than Knoxville. However, the greenery of Knoxville far surpasses the brown, drab scenery of Albuquerque, as well as its generally good proximity to “the rest of the country.” Albuquerque is “no man’s land” by comparison.