Jacksonville VS. Atlanta? (Miami, Tallahassee, Macclenny: houses, neighborhoods, school)

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by Prichard

I'm 1/2 Floridian and 1/2 Georgian. Dad's from Georgia and Mom's from Florida. I have a house in both states, but mainly live in Central Florida. I spent summers in Atlanta as a kid, lived in Atlanta for a short time as an adult, but consider myself a Floridian through and through.

To answer your question, I'd take Jacksonville, hands down for a lot of reasons. Atlanta is just too big for me. It is not near any water. And I'd want to avoid the state income tax. Easy drive from Jax to Atlanta, and North Georgia. Also near the Savanah area, Jeckle Island, Ameilia Island, etc.

Yea the drive is actually a short drive. 5 hours. 10 to 75

[Jax-Atl-Jax?]

Okay, I know this thread is now 4 years old or so. However I found it today searching Jacksonville verse Atlanta. It is pretty amusing to read some of them. I now have lived in both places for about 5 years each. I was born in South FL, went to UF and then Jax after college. After 5 years and visiting Atlanta a lot, I decided to give Atlanta a try. Of course I don't live in Atlanta but one of the many suburbs that surround the city. So here is my take on the topic (and I agree with most of the previous posts):

JAX & ATL both have similar traffic patterns - avoid working downtown if you don't live with-in 10 miles of it. "Rush hour" seems to last twice as long in ATL. Luckily when moving to ATL I was able to work from home most days. I tend to avoid even driving a few miles from my house during peak times. Yes there are back roads, yet they seem to be worse since they usually have one lane with a short traffic light that get way backed up. All of Jacksonville roads are laid out on a grid (N, S, E, W) which makes it easy to find your way.

JAX - I lived in the Southside which is nice. Great new St. John's Town Center Mall which was finished after I moved away. Beaches, no state income tax (GA is messed up with these taxes), hardly any temps below freezing, palm trees (that I miss), can swim in a pool 9-10 months a year verse 4-5 months up here. Why did I get one in my back yard?

ATL - Mountains (Kennesaw & Stone Mt. are the big ones), lots of hiking trails, tons of things to do. The only thing I don't like about it is that most things take a day to do unless you live right by it. Everything is wide spread so plan on driving 30-40 minutes each way without work day traffic to go do something. That said, about a little over an hour drive and you are up in the Blue Ridge Mts. and 2 hours from Chatt. TN. Tons of stuff to do if you don't mind driving!

I tell myself that I prefer ATL over JAX, yet I miss most of my friends and family from JAX and other FL cities. It is harder to visit even though it is about 6 hours for me and my family since we live N of Atlanta. And then 10 hours to S. FL (for me). So I may be moving back one day, a good thing my work can move with me. The funny thing is I say I miss the beach, yet I barely went when I was there. The things we take for granted! How is this for a soap opera?

[FlyiMetro]

Originally Posted by Kimmaranclh

thanks...I have family in FL also so I'm thinking about taking a look and seeing how I like it.

Atlanta is supposed to be a great city for singles but I'm really looking for the complete package..job, social life, housing..

Best of luck with your move too!

Atlanta versus Jacksonville.....my life story lol. I like one city & care for the other. Both cities have flaws that annoy the hell out of me. One is extremely overhyped, the other often overlooked. One has hills, the other flat with plenty of water. People suck in both cities, More to do in Atlanta, less hassle in Jacksonville. I could go on.

[John Boy]

I currently live in Jacksonville. The area is great. Southside is the best area to live in my opinion. It's close to downtown, riverside, and the beaches. We have a large city so you have a 15 min drive to each area from southside. There are plenty of social activities, I.E. clubs, bars, live music, outdoor activities, etc.

The only downside to Jacksonville would be the land mass 'problem' and somewhat of a hard job market, although the job market is hard anywhere. If you are experienced and educated, you wont have a problem finding a good job. There are plenty of supplementary jobs but those suck, so go for gold. lol

The cost of living is cheap relative to your earning potential. If your looking to rent, you shouldn't expect to pay more than $750, or less, for a one bedroom, $900 for a two, and maybe $1200 for a three. Obviously these are tentative. It's possible to find a place at a lower or higher cost, depending on how hard you look. Real estate is very cheap here too, if your looking to buy. You could find move-in ready townhomes and condos for 90 grand give or take, probably less if you play your cards right.

Be aware that you don't want to live on the Northside or Westside. Those areas are more run down than southside, downtown, and beaches. Although, the downtown and riverside areas have some bad areas as well; as goes for any city in the good ole' USA.

Come visit and experience each area! Good luck!

[Northside904]

Atlanta and Jacksonville shouldn't be in the same sentence. Jacksonville is a larger version of Tallahassee and Savannah. Atlanta is in a world of it's own.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by Northside904

Atlanta and Jacksonville shouldn't be in the same sentence. Jacksonville is a larger version of Tallahassee and Savannah. Atlanta is in a world of it's own.

Jacksonville is a big step up from Tallahassee and a little step up from Savannah and a large step down from Atlanta in most things. But a small step up in quality of life. And your right Atlanta is in a world of its own, just not sure what solar system that world resides in.

[cricketfan]

A major difference between Jacksonville and Atlanta is that Atlanta has a large upwardly-mobile African American population while the black community in Jacksonville is largely stagnant, and that is saying it kindly.

By a lower quality of life if you are referring to which city is more stressful it would have to be Atlanta but that may be because there is more industry in Atlanta. It is a busier city. It is not uncommon to sit in traffic and not move for an hour and not because of an accident or construction but pure volume. We don't have that kind of stress in Jacksonville. We live in a more laid-back less progressive but less stressful city.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by cricketfan

A major difference between Jacksonville and Atlanta is that Atlanta has a large upwardly-mobile African American population while the black community in Jacksonville is largely stagnant, and that is saying it kindly.

By a lower quality of life if you are referring to which city is more stressful it would have to be Atlanta but that may be because there is more industry in Atlanta. It is a busier city. It is not uncommon to sit in traffic and not move for an hour and not because of an accident or construction but pure volume. We don't have that kind of stress in Jacksonville. We live in a more laid-back less progressive but less stressful city.

Exactamundo...EEEEhhhhhh

[iMarvin]

Originally Posted by Northside904

Atlanta and Jacksonville shouldn't be in the same sentence. Jacksonville is a larger version of Tallahassee and Savannah. Atlanta is in a world of it's own.

Wow! Jacksonville is nothing like Tallahassee or Savannah. That's an insult. And Atlanta is definitely not in it's own world. Plenty of big cities just like it.

[Northside904]

Originally Posted by Jax-Atl-Jax?

Okay, I know this thread is now 4 years old or so. However I found it today searching Jacksonville verse Atlanta. It is pretty amusing to read some of them. I now have lived in both places for about 5 years each. I was born in South FL, went to UF and then Jax after college. After 5 years and visiting Atlanta a lot, I decided to give Atlanta a try. Of course I don't live in Atlanta but one of the many suburbs that surround the city. So here is my take on the topic (and I agree with most of the previous posts):

JAX & ATL both have similar traffic patterns - avoid working downtown if you don't live with-in 10 miles of it. "Rush hour" seems to last twice as long in ATL. Luckily when moving to ATL I was able to work from home most days. I tend to avoid even driving a few miles from my house during peak times. Yes there are back roads, yet they seem to be worse since they usually have one lane with a short traffic light that get way backed up. All of Jacksonville roads are laid out on a grid (N, S, E, W) which makes it easy to find your way.

JAX - I lived in the Southside which is nice. Great new St. John's Town Center Mall which was finished after I moved away. Beaches, no state income tax (GA is messed up with these taxes), hardly any temps below freezing, palm trees (that I miss), can swim in a pool 9-10 months a year verse 4-5 months up here. Why did I get one in my back yard?

ATL - Mountains (Kennesaw & Stone Mt. are the big ones), lots of hiking trails, tons of things to do. The only thing I don't like about it is that most things take a day to do unless you live right by it. Everything is wide spread so plan on driving 30-40 minutes each way without work day traffic to go do something. That said, about a little over an hour drive and you are up in the Blue Ridge Mts. and 2 hours from Chatt. TN. Tons of stuff to do if you don't mind driving!

I tell myself that I prefer ATL over JAX, yet I miss most of my friends and family from JAX and other FL cities. It is harder to visit even though it is about 6 hours for me and my family since we live N of Atlanta. And then 10 hours to S. FL (for me). So I may be moving back one day, a good thing my work can move with me. The funny thing is I say I miss the beach, yet I barely went when I was there. The things we take for granted! How is this for a soap opera?

LOL, we all have had that experience at some point in life. Great comparison since you spent time in both.

Originally Posted by iMarvin

Wow! Jacksonville is nothing like Tallahassee or Savannah. That's an insult. And Atlanta is definitely not in it's own world. Plenty of big cities just like it.

When it comes down to it, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Savannah are alike in more ways than one: All 3 have that old south/old money, Southern feel where everyone knows everyone. All 3 are in the Bible belt as religion is very big in all 3 cities. Savannah and Jacksonville have large rivers running through town. Only difference is that Jacksonville is 3x the size of Tallahassee and Savannah. Jacksonville has neighborhoods the size of Tallahassee and Savannah combined.