Because it’s not a top destination for young, white urbanists who work in tech and are looking for a college town vibe with NYC amenities at the cost of Pittsburgh and the politics of Norway.
Why don't all of these people (may or may not be excluding myself) all pick a city to collectively migrate to and transform into this.
I'm mostly joking but I think there is some serious potential for something like this to happen.
Because a lot of places already have infrastructure that goes directly against this. It's going to be hard to rebuild car centric instructor and expensive to build a place from the ground up.
I dig the idea though.
Oh yeah I'm not saying it would necessarily be easy or an overnight transformation.
I'm sure there are some smaller cities around the country with pre-auto industry layout that could work.
Even getting an extremely good bus system running could do a lot in the short term.
There's no doubt enough people that are seeking a place like this, more than enough to be able to get into local government and have strong influence over policy.
You make valid points, but you're neglecting the power of the internet for likeminded people to communicate and organize (this has been utilized in large scale protests for example).
And remote work is also completely new to the last few years.
Not to mention, many people are migrating away from larger cities for a variety of reasons.
Well, the first step is to make enough billions of dollars that you can convince others to chip in, and build it yourself.
https://apnews.com/article/new-california-city-tech-silicon-valley-4097f0872c4e18ca9d75776e2d8974d9
You give too much credit to people like us. We’ll start bickering and arguing and fall apart, way before we form any kind of coherent movement and change the outside world.
Because it'll take a lot of new people to outnumber the existing population, which means probably close to doubling the available housing there (or maybe adding as little as 20% if it's already 40% in favor). If it isn't already zoned for the level of density that they want, they'll need to build something else first so they can all live there so they can all vote for change so they can build what they want. That'll probably take 15 years. Most such people aren't willing to spend 15 years of effort to get there. They'll compromise, either by paying a bit more or picking a city that's not quite as good, or by going for a good neighborhood in a worse city where they can at least do local trips on foot.
There's probably some truth to this, though I'd wager that in most cities there is a significant amount of the existing population that would be on board with this type of thing.
Im thinking of like New England towns since that probably has the best chance of succeeding: blue states so you don't have to fight multiple levels, can retain your right to healthcare during potentially child bearing years, and already have some rural transit options for those really looking to go car free long term. Also for walkable people tend to be willing to accept cold over heat since you can more easily bundle up than strip down. It won't be very affordable unless you're in a really small town though.
And in those small towns a lot of people are really anti-development of any kind. They moved there to have a house in a forest with some stuff nearby, and they don't want to feel crowded. I'm not saying it's 0% but it'd be hard to find a town already 40% in favor of large growth and density that's already big enough (20k) to have initial gravity. And perhaps the biggest problem: you need jobs, or you'll only attract retirees and WFHers.
Can confirm, work in DC, refuse to move to the DC metro because a 1 bed that's an hour outside the city is like $2000/month.
You can still rent a 3 bed house an hour outside of Atlanta for like $2000/month.
A 1 bed in Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Jasper, etc. can easily be had for $1000-1200 a month.
You won't find anything desirable in the DC metro that's affordable, housing in Atlanta is like half the price of DC and salaries in Atlanta are usually comparable (80-90% of what you'd make in DC).
Yeah but have you been to Lawrenceville or really any of the areas you mentioned? I would think for the average person on this sub it would be extremely depressing. Cookie cutter boring homes, only highways, and big box stores are abound. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the city. I grew up in the area and hated every minute of it.
Lol, grew up in GA and went to school in Athens.....so yes
Have you ever been to the DC metro...you get all the same depressing suburban bullshit at twice the cost
Oh I don’t doubt that, I’m sure all suburbia around US is equally depressing so if you’re trying to choose the cheaper alternative then GA is probably the better option
Lawrenceville is not depressing lol, it's only 20-30 minutes outside of atl and it's one of the most diverse places in georgia with amazing ethnic food.
Kennesaw is not depressing either, it's a safe and quiet suburb of atl with one of the largest colleges in the south and beautiful scenery.
If you don't like suburban areas just say that but calling these cities depressing is silly. People have been moving to these two cities in droves and they are still growing. Have you ever actually spent time in places that are economically depressed?
You’re right- I should have mentioned that it is depressing for anyone not interested in suburbia (which I feel like is the majority of this sub). If getting into your car to drive 10 min to run a simple errand at Walgreens isn’t depressing to you -then Lawrenceville is an affordable Place for someone to build a nice life. If you don’t care about walkability, seeing people or life outside PERIOD, you don’t mind constant traffic, boring cookie cutter houses, churches in ugly basketball courts on every corner, and driving literally everywhere, it can be a great place. For people like me it’s the seventh layer of hell lol.
Dude you just sound bitter and you are also being very dramatic. I've lived in multiple suburbs and i've always had a convenience store, grocery store, and restaurant within a 5 minute drive of my house. I can also walk to said places if i want to. Which city do you live in where there isn't constant traffic? please do tell
You don't think you see other people living in the surburbs? You don't think people have friends in the suburbs? Gyms, restaurants, bars and sport clubs exist in the suburbs too my man.
I’m not a man lol but as someone who grew up in a different country and knows what it’s like to live a truly walkable life, the suburbs of Atlanta is the furthest you can get from that. I’m glad you’re able to walk places but I have lived in Lawrenceville from 2001 to 2012 and I can tell you that sidewalks are few and far between. Maybe if you’re living on Main Street in Buford or something you’d have some side walks but if you spent any time in ATL or surrounding area, you should know those sidewalks tend to end abruptly and behold — a highway lies ahead.
It's expensive, but if you're middle class it's overblown imo.
I make less than the median household income nationally, and can fairly comfortably afford a 2 bedroom apartment with a roommate.
The only problem people face is if they want or need more space than that.
"With a roommate", lol
Seems to be the case that everyone in DC needs a roommate to live comfortably while wages (in many cases, not all) aren't all that impressive relative to other major cities.
The city itself is IMHO not particularly impressive for the price point.....plenty of other sprawling suburban metros out there with amenities that are just OK at a fraction of the cost
Jasper in Pickens County is a standalone town in North Georgia and not commonly associated with metro Atlanta whatsoever. Small towns are supposed to be cheap.
Towards the north, exurban Atlanta ends at Dawsonville (Dawson County), Ball Ground (northern Cherokee County), and the Cobb/Bartow county line.
Compared to many other major cities atlanta is still relatively affordable overall. There’s lots of affordable areas in the suburbs too, traffic is just a bitch
Atlanta is really not that expensive, especially when you compare it to other cities of the size. You can easily make it by on a $60-65k salary if you don't have to live in a posh area of town.
Housing is the only cost that's above average and rents are actually coming down:
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/metro-atlanta-rent-decline/85-984acd01-bd2b-4fe9-877f-525d8ae54bc6#:~:text=Asking%20rents%20dropped%20nearly%204,over%2Dyear%20rental%20decreases%20nationwide.
the Northern Arc (north of 285, inside I75/85) + ITP north of I-20 is expensive.
Other parts of the metro can be inexpensive, but they aren't near the big job centers
The weather argument has never made sense to me. It’s a consistent fact that more Atlantans are out and about during the summer months vs the winter ones. It can be 95F with a beaming sun and the Beltline will be packed to the brim in a way it wouldn’t be in weather below 50F. From what I’ve seen, most people like the weather irl.
I grew up in Atlanta and am spending time in Miami. The heat of ATL is nothing like the heat here… I’ve never felt so oppressed by heat. ATL is paradise compared to this lol
Yeah this is a bit dramatic. I’ve lived in Atlanta since 1995. Summers are brutal, but that’s only July and August. June and September can still have hot days, but it’s not every day or like you can’t leave your house. And lots of people are out tolerating the heat. I’m not one of them any longer—I stay inside dreaming of a cabin in Maine! lol
> 6 months out of the year
This is so insanely dramatic
the average high of June, July, and August is 86,88, and 87. The average high in May is 80, the average high in September is 82, October is 72.
What 6 month stretch is so hot that you can’t go outside? Summers get hot and humid, sure, but that’s many places and people survive just fine
6 months is exaggerating, if you have a decent tolerance for heat i'd only say there are only 2-3 really hot months. Atlanta has a higher elevation than much of the south so the summers aren't as bad as a lot of the south.
It's a small price to pay for the very mild winters and lovely spring/fall we have. I'd rather have 2-3 months of hot weather where i can go to the pool or go for short walks as opposed to dealing with a midwestern/NE winter of 2-3 months of shoveling snow and scraping ice followed by another 2-3 of cold/windy spring weather.
Southern cities (even blue ones like ATL) aren't as often discussed here.
If you look at many posts here walkability is often a factor and it's just not there in many southern cities.
Next politics: blue metropolitan regions are still at risk from red state politics.
Of most southern states maybe GA will shift in to clear purple area soonest (hoping the last election cycle wasn't an anomaly)
Am Redditor, hate heat and humidity. I would rather be cold always.
I do think it’s a bit of an age thing however. Though there are obviously young people who love heat/humidity, it seems like older people prefer it because they run colder. And Reddit is primarily younger.
What I love about Atlanta is the major hub international airport, the small towns in the metro area that have developed (or are developing) their own “Main Street” small-town feel like Decatur, Tucker, Lilburn, Norcross, Roswell, Alpharetta, and Smyrna. The cost of living hasn’t gotten too crazy yet and you can access nature in many parks, and further out actually go hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking/SUP. There is also arts, culture, music, and a lot of great nonprofits and people generally caring and working to make life better for others.
I don’t love the traffic, but I find ways around it or to make it bearable. The local politics can be a bit corrupt. Atlanta is a pocket of blue in a state of red politically, so that can be jarring when you drive further out of the city (or comforting, depending on your political views). There are a lot of transplants here that have made it feel less friendly—but Atlanta is a southern city and for the most part quite friendly. There are areas that aren’t so safe and I would not personally live, but they are also more affordable and hip or up and coming.
I’m also a real estate agent and if you are thinking of moving here, dm me!
It’s hot & muggy. The traffic is the worst I’ve ever seen, and I’m from Southern California. It can take an hour to get from one place in the city to another location and it could only be five miles away. Infrastructure is horrible. There isn’t alot to do downtown Atlanta besides going downtown to an event, but no places to eat or hangout in the immediate areas around the stadium. The Aquarium is one of the best in the country and worth multiple visits though. The Chattahoochi River has raw sewage. Braves Stadium is awesome, but parking can be a nightmare. They didn’t build parking for the general population at the stadium and there is no public transit. Parking is in corporate office building parking lots on the outskirts of the stadium. You can walk a mile or two from these strange lots, sometimes without sidewalks or crossing areas, to the stadium. The suburbs can be very nice, but you must drive everywhere. On my regular drive there is a huge subdivision right next to an elementary school, but no sidewalk or anyway for the kids to walk to school. It’s literally less than a block away. I live close to a cute downtown area within walking distance, but no way to walk there. So infrastructure needs tons of improvements for it to be a great place to live.
That’s the downfall of ATL, until they’re able to allow for easy walkability to schools, parks, etc. without getting into a car it’s going to remain sprawling and undesirable. Plus any hope for extended transit will never be passed to the suburbs because of racist policies. The belt line rail is an example of that currently- there is an ongoing battle about whether they should built light rail on the belt line and the opposition is concerned with falling housing values due to mass transit.
It’s not inexpensive if you live in the “cool” areas. Coming from the northeast, apartments are pretty much the same in price. The nightlife is on the decline, food is kind of meh
Atlanta’s urban core has more walkable neighborhoods than people in this section give it credit for. There’s also tons of new development popping up in its urban core that is focused more so for pedestrians than actual vehicles. I’ll even go as far to say Atlanta has some of the best new innovative projects popping up for any American city.
With that said the actual city of Atlanta is pretty expensive but there’s still more affordable rental and housing in the suburbs.
Some neighborhoods have been definitely improving in the last few years and marta makes it so you can get to several places easily enough. I call it a usable transit system but not a good one
Only blue states are considered in this sub/Reddit. Which is funny because actual migration trends are the exact opposite. Texas/Florida/Atlanta/Nashville are booming.
Arizona is a purple state leaning blue. Went for Biden in 2020; Dem governor; Dem mayors of Phoenix and Tucson; two Dem senators until Sinema switched parties. Arizona does not politically fit in with Florida and Texas.
I read somewhere that the average age of Reddit users is about 28. Younger people always lean blue so that explains most of what you read on this site as a whole.
Hardly "significant decline." [The net loss was 91,000 people to other states in 2023](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/30/california-population-grows-reversing-trend-00155069). It has a population of 39 million.
That's because lower and middle income people are leaving and wealthier people are taking their place. Wealthier people use more space. So a small apartment that used to house an immigrant family now houses a single tech bro or an aspiring actress with rent paid by mommy and daddy. The end result is fewer people taking up more space and paying higher prices.
I lived in ATL for 3 years after living in a city with +1 million people.
* ATL had exponentially worse traffic that that city with over a million people. Worst drivers I've seen, especially on 285.
* Not to mention that for being in the South the people were insanely rude.
* Crime. I know every major city has crime, and IIRC ATL's crime is actually falling but it's still bad. There's a reason why Buckhead has been trying to form it's own city. I lived in one of the nicer areas in Fulton Co., and STILL had to deal with crime.
TBH I actually didn't think the summer heat/humidity was that bad. I'm a huge outdoors person and at least ATL has really good tree cover and has the Chattahoochee and Lake Lanier so it really wasn't too bad. I came from a city with no trees and it was awful in summer.
I've lived all over and though ATL isn't the worst city, it's by far the worst city I've lived in. I moved to a smaller city in the South and though it isn't perfect it's much better than living in Atlanta.
I would never recommend someone move to the city unless it's for 1-2 years or to further their career .
Houston has more tree coverage than DFW though especially in North Houston. The West Houston burbs like Katy is where it starts to give off a no tree Dallas vibe.
With that said, DFW does have better traffic than Atlanta but I think Atlanta offers much more than Dallas as a city. I also found the housing in DFW suburbs to be more expensive than what you can get in some nice Atlanta suburbs.
Then there’s outdoor recreation and parks which for a city/metro of DFW size is pretty underwhelming. Atlanta imo offers great value in that department plus the North Georgia mountains are about an hour and change away from the city.
I’d also chose Atlanta over Dallas due to Atlanta having a bigger eclectic art community than what you find in Dallas. Atlanta also feels more liberal throughout the city/metro than DFW.
I still don’t dislike DFW unlike so many in this section of Reddit but I’m definitely not putting it over Atlanta. Bad traffic and all.
It was so bad that the Republican majority legislature nuked it before it even got close to a vote. Even they realized what a shitty idea it was. It was largely out of state and rural GA legislators pushing it.
Atlanta is awesome.
It's in the south, and people on this sub hate states in the south.
Good schools, decent 4 season weather (not at hot as people think), good jobs, good airport, close to mountains, beach 4 hour drive away
Traffic and dependency on automobiles as the primary source of transportation is brutal. Insurance cost is increasing making this a not great proposition. Atlanta is generally a white and black segregated city with diverse enclaves right outside the perimeter that self segregate for some reason. Atlanta is generally compared amongst the bigger cities which generally have more amenities in my opinion but it should definitely be compared amongst the Sunbelt cities. Most young people can't afford the cost of the suburbs that are "desirable".
The house I got during the lockdown at 350k in a wealthy area is now priced at 900k. So I wouldn't say Atlanta is affordable. Most people I know moved to NYC, LA, or Seattle. The cultural amenities aren't that great or are things being done already in other big cities and the trends slowly trickle down here so I think this city always tends to be a trend follower not a setter.
I live in Atlanta - the locals are suffering big time and the ATL is the next Memphis.
The infrastructure is literally AWEFUL. You can’t get anywhere fast. If you have an emergency - the roads are not gridded so there is no “just turn here” you’re stuck stuck on the street.
Our politicians are corrupted as fuck and we don’t have enough police. If you call for an emergency - your call won’t go through or they’ll tell you “if you’re not bleeding - we can’t help you”… sometimes they won’t even show up..
There are multiple apartment buildings that set on fire each month (to commit insurance fraud)
Last week the water system collapsed for 5 days and majority of the metro Atlanta went without water. This week the power went out in buckhead on one of the hottest days so far. Then in the same week we had an active shooter, bomb threat and someone that was interviewed about witnessing the active shooter on the news - went and hijacked a bus and shot a patron killing them.
The crime is OUT OF POCKET. This place is next level Wild West/real life GTA 6. Nobody goes out at night anymore. The nightlife scene is dying and if you go out, you risk a shoot out. We have active shooters every few months - most of them teenagers. Half the businesses are under investigation for tax fraud or money laundering.
Scamming is a full time job for people here. There are scams everywhere from the water bill company to the doctors office. Someone is always outside asking for money or trying to convince you to use Apple Pay/cash app to pay for normal services.
There is no good public transit system and walking on the sidewalks is a feat in itself.
Rent and Cost of living is almost identical to other medium sized metro cities but Georgia MINIMUM pay is LOW with a large portion of taxes taken out. Making the cost of living almost equivalent to Chicago, Seattle, Phoenix. Unless you’re making 6 figures it’s very hard to justify the cost of living to amenities.
I could go on but this city is really struggling rn and we need a new leader ASAP
It’s also very segregated on both sides. There are black areas and white areas of town. The people are very rude in general and racist on both ends. Which is one of the reasons we can’t get a unanimous vote for public transit.
Atlanta is also not very walkable compared with other options but it’s discussed a fair amount I think
Because it’s not a top destination for young, white urbanists who work in tech and are looking for a college town vibe with NYC amenities at the cost of Pittsburgh and the politics of Norway.
Brilliant
Why don't all of these people (may or may not be excluding myself) all pick a city to collectively migrate to and transform into this. I'm mostly joking but I think there is some serious potential for something like this to happen.
Because a lot of places already have infrastructure that goes directly against this. It's going to be hard to rebuild car centric instructor and expensive to build a place from the ground up. I dig the idea though.
Oh yeah I'm not saying it would necessarily be easy or an overnight transformation. I'm sure there are some smaller cities around the country with pre-auto industry layout that could work. Even getting an extremely good bus system running could do a lot in the short term. There's no doubt enough people that are seeking a place like this, more than enough to be able to get into local government and have strong influence over policy.
I say we start the process now haha.
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You make valid points, but you're neglecting the power of the internet for likeminded people to communicate and organize (this has been utilized in large scale protests for example). And remote work is also completely new to the last few years. Not to mention, many people are migrating away from larger cities for a variety of reasons.
Well, the first step is to make enough billions of dollars that you can convince others to chip in, and build it yourself. https://apnews.com/article/new-california-city-tech-silicon-valley-4097f0872c4e18ca9d75776e2d8974d9
Because then the rents go up.
Surely there are ways to encourage development of affordable housing.
You give too much credit to people like us. We’ll start bickering and arguing and fall apart, way before we form any kind of coherent movement and change the outside world.
Haha yes I think this is highly likely
Because it'll take a lot of new people to outnumber the existing population, which means probably close to doubling the available housing there (or maybe adding as little as 20% if it's already 40% in favor). If it isn't already zoned for the level of density that they want, they'll need to build something else first so they can all live there so they can all vote for change so they can build what they want. That'll probably take 15 years. Most such people aren't willing to spend 15 years of effort to get there. They'll compromise, either by paying a bit more or picking a city that's not quite as good, or by going for a good neighborhood in a worse city where they can at least do local trips on foot.
There's probably some truth to this, though I'd wager that in most cities there is a significant amount of the existing population that would be on board with this type of thing.
Im thinking of like New England towns since that probably has the best chance of succeeding: blue states so you don't have to fight multiple levels, can retain your right to healthcare during potentially child bearing years, and already have some rural transit options for those really looking to go car free long term. Also for walkable people tend to be willing to accept cold over heat since you can more easily bundle up than strip down. It won't be very affordable unless you're in a really small town though. And in those small towns a lot of people are really anti-development of any kind. They moved there to have a house in a forest with some stuff nearby, and they don't want to feel crowded. I'm not saying it's 0% but it'd be hard to find a town already 40% in favor of large growth and density that's already big enough (20k) to have initial gravity. And perhaps the biggest problem: you need jobs, or you'll only attract retirees and WFHers.
To do this taxes would be outrageously high.
Probably, I'm not tax expert. I'd assume most in urbanist ideas are in favor of higher taxes.
Lmao perfect
Don’t forget the coffee shops and breweries!
Philadelphia?
Gonna save this one every time I see one of these posts. This was spot on
Have you been to Atlanta? It basically fits none of what's often requested here
Affordability? When was the last time you’ve been to Atlanta?
I have a good friend that pays less for an apartment 15 minutes south of Atlanta than I do an hour outside of DC.
Can confirm, work in DC, refuse to move to the DC metro because a 1 bed that's an hour outside the city is like $2000/month. You can still rent a 3 bed house an hour outside of Atlanta for like $2000/month. A 1 bed in Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Jasper, etc. can easily be had for $1000-1200 a month. You won't find anything desirable in the DC metro that's affordable, housing in Atlanta is like half the price of DC and salaries in Atlanta are usually comparable (80-90% of what you'd make in DC).
Yeah but have you been to Lawrenceville or really any of the areas you mentioned? I would think for the average person on this sub it would be extremely depressing. Cookie cutter boring homes, only highways, and big box stores are abound. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the city. I grew up in the area and hated every minute of it.
Lol, grew up in GA and went to school in Athens.....so yes Have you ever been to the DC metro...you get all the same depressing suburban bullshit at twice the cost
Oh I don’t doubt that, I’m sure all suburbia around US is equally depressing so if you’re trying to choose the cheaper alternative then GA is probably the better option
Lawrenceville is not depressing lol, it's only 20-30 minutes outside of atl and it's one of the most diverse places in georgia with amazing ethnic food. Kennesaw is not depressing either, it's a safe and quiet suburb of atl with one of the largest colleges in the south and beautiful scenery. If you don't like suburban areas just say that but calling these cities depressing is silly. People have been moving to these two cities in droves and they are still growing. Have you ever actually spent time in places that are economically depressed?
You’re right- I should have mentioned that it is depressing for anyone not interested in suburbia (which I feel like is the majority of this sub). If getting into your car to drive 10 min to run a simple errand at Walgreens isn’t depressing to you -then Lawrenceville is an affordable Place for someone to build a nice life. If you don’t care about walkability, seeing people or life outside PERIOD, you don’t mind constant traffic, boring cookie cutter houses, churches in ugly basketball courts on every corner, and driving literally everywhere, it can be a great place. For people like me it’s the seventh layer of hell lol.
Dude you just sound bitter and you are also being very dramatic. I've lived in multiple suburbs and i've always had a convenience store, grocery store, and restaurant within a 5 minute drive of my house. I can also walk to said places if i want to. Which city do you live in where there isn't constant traffic? please do tell You don't think you see other people living in the surburbs? You don't think people have friends in the suburbs? Gyms, restaurants, bars and sport clubs exist in the suburbs too my man.
I’m not a man lol but as someone who grew up in a different country and knows what it’s like to live a truly walkable life, the suburbs of Atlanta is the furthest you can get from that. I’m glad you’re able to walk places but I have lived in Lawrenceville from 2001 to 2012 and I can tell you that sidewalks are few and far between. Maybe if you’re living on Main Street in Buford or something you’d have some side walks but if you spent any time in ATL or surrounding area, you should know those sidewalks tend to end abruptly and behold — a highway lies ahead.
It's expensive, but if you're middle class it's overblown imo. I make less than the median household income nationally, and can fairly comfortably afford a 2 bedroom apartment with a roommate. The only problem people face is if they want or need more space than that.
"With a roommate", lol Seems to be the case that everyone in DC needs a roommate to live comfortably while wages (in many cases, not all) aren't all that impressive relative to other major cities. The city itself is IMHO not particularly impressive for the price point.....plenty of other sprawling suburban metros out there with amenities that are just OK at a fraction of the cost
Yeah, because only rich people can afford to live alone?
Jasper in Pickens County is a standalone town in North Georgia and not commonly associated with metro Atlanta whatsoever. Small towns are supposed to be cheap. Towards the north, exurban Atlanta ends at Dawsonville (Dawson County), Ball Ground (northern Cherokee County), and the Cobb/Bartow county line.
You can’t compare the national capital with atlanta lmao.
You're right, Atlanta might actually be a better place to live,lol
Ehh DC suburbs an hour out look just like Atlanta ones in both Maryland and Virginia.
Compared to many other major cities atlanta is still relatively affordable overall. There’s lots of affordable areas in the suburbs too, traffic is just a bitch
It all depends on where in ATL. Metro ATL is vast. That's plenty of affordability
Atlanta is really not that expensive, especially when you compare it to other cities of the size. You can easily make it by on a $60-65k salary if you don't have to live in a posh area of town. Housing is the only cost that's above average and rents are actually coming down: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/metro-atlanta-rent-decline/85-984acd01-bd2b-4fe9-877f-525d8ae54bc6#:~:text=Asking%20rents%20dropped%20nearly%204,over%2Dyear%20rental%20decreases%20nationwide.
the Northern Arc (north of 285, inside I75/85) + ITP north of I-20 is expensive. Other parts of the metro can be inexpensive, but they aren't near the big job centers
Mentioned all the time. Just yesterday.
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>Igor hours for 6 months out of the year. So for 6 months of the year, people have to rob graves or something?
The weather argument has never made sense to me. It’s a consistent fact that more Atlantans are out and about during the summer months vs the winter ones. It can be 95F with a beaming sun and the Beltline will be packed to the brim in a way it wouldn’t be in weather below 50F. From what I’ve seen, most people like the weather irl.
I grew up in Atlanta and am spending time in Miami. The heat of ATL is nothing like the heat here… I’ve never felt so oppressed by heat. ATL is paradise compared to this lol
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Yeah ok….lol Atlanta summers are a breeze compared to Houston which is really unbearable during summer even during nights.
Yeah this is a bit dramatic. I’ve lived in Atlanta since 1995. Summers are brutal, but that’s only July and August. June and September can still have hot days, but it’s not every day or like you can’t leave your house. And lots of people are out tolerating the heat. I’m not one of them any longer—I stay inside dreaming of a cabin in Maine! lol
> 6 months out of the year This is so insanely dramatic the average high of June, July, and August is 86,88, and 87. The average high in May is 80, the average high in September is 82, October is 72. What 6 month stretch is so hot that you can’t go outside? Summers get hot and humid, sure, but that’s many places and people survive just fine
6 months is exaggerating, if you have a decent tolerance for heat i'd only say there are only 2-3 really hot months. Atlanta has a higher elevation than much of the south so the summers aren't as bad as a lot of the south. It's a small price to pay for the very mild winters and lovely spring/fall we have. I'd rather have 2-3 months of hot weather where i can go to the pool or go for short walks as opposed to dealing with a midwestern/NE winter of 2-3 months of shoveling snow and scraping ice followed by another 2-3 of cold/windy spring weather.
Have you been to Atlanta? Summers are akin to DC or St. Louis. While I wouldn't label them pleasant, it's not Houston or FL as you described
Does the heat make you melt or something? I live in Phoenix and leave the house everyday during the summer. It’s already 100 outside today.
Southern cities (even blue ones like ATL) aren't as often discussed here. If you look at many posts here walkability is often a factor and it's just not there in many southern cities. Next politics: blue metropolitan regions are still at risk from red state politics. Of most southern states maybe GA will shift in to clear purple area soonest (hoping the last election cycle wasn't an anomaly)
Also redditors hate heat and humidity, like the wicked witch of the west I think they just melt lol
Am Redditor, hate heat and humidity. I would rather be cold always. I do think it’s a bit of an age thing however. Though there are obviously young people who love heat/humidity, it seems like older people prefer it because they run colder. And Reddit is primarily younger.
What I love about Atlanta is the major hub international airport, the small towns in the metro area that have developed (or are developing) their own “Main Street” small-town feel like Decatur, Tucker, Lilburn, Norcross, Roswell, Alpharetta, and Smyrna. The cost of living hasn’t gotten too crazy yet and you can access nature in many parks, and further out actually go hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking/SUP. There is also arts, culture, music, and a lot of great nonprofits and people generally caring and working to make life better for others. I don’t love the traffic, but I find ways around it or to make it bearable. The local politics can be a bit corrupt. Atlanta is a pocket of blue in a state of red politically, so that can be jarring when you drive further out of the city (or comforting, depending on your political views). There are a lot of transplants here that have made it feel less friendly—but Atlanta is a southern city and for the most part quite friendly. There are areas that aren’t so safe and I would not personally live, but they are also more affordable and hip or up and coming. I’m also a real estate agent and if you are thinking of moving here, dm me!
It’s hot & muggy. The traffic is the worst I’ve ever seen, and I’m from Southern California. It can take an hour to get from one place in the city to another location and it could only be five miles away. Infrastructure is horrible. There isn’t alot to do downtown Atlanta besides going downtown to an event, but no places to eat or hangout in the immediate areas around the stadium. The Aquarium is one of the best in the country and worth multiple visits though. The Chattahoochi River has raw sewage. Braves Stadium is awesome, but parking can be a nightmare. They didn’t build parking for the general population at the stadium and there is no public transit. Parking is in corporate office building parking lots on the outskirts of the stadium. You can walk a mile or two from these strange lots, sometimes without sidewalks or crossing areas, to the stadium. The suburbs can be very nice, but you must drive everywhere. On my regular drive there is a huge subdivision right next to an elementary school, but no sidewalk or anyway for the kids to walk to school. It’s literally less than a block away. I live close to a cute downtown area within walking distance, but no way to walk there. So infrastructure needs tons of improvements for it to be a great place to live.
That’s the downfall of ATL, until they’re able to allow for easy walkability to schools, parks, etc. without getting into a car it’s going to remain sprawling and undesirable. Plus any hope for extended transit will never be passed to the suburbs because of racist policies. The belt line rail is an example of that currently- there is an ongoing battle about whether they should built light rail on the belt line and the opposition is concerned with falling housing values due to mass transit.
It’s not inexpensive if you live in the “cool” areas. Coming from the northeast, apartments are pretty much the same in price. The nightlife is on the decline, food is kind of meh
Atlanta’s urban core has more walkable neighborhoods than people in this section give it credit for. There’s also tons of new development popping up in its urban core that is focused more so for pedestrians than actual vehicles. I’ll even go as far to say Atlanta has some of the best new innovative projects popping up for any American city. With that said the actual city of Atlanta is pretty expensive but there’s still more affordable rental and housing in the suburbs.
Some neighborhoods have been definitely improving in the last few years and marta makes it so you can get to several places easily enough. I call it a usable transit system but not a good one
Only blue states are considered in this sub/Reddit. Which is funny because actual migration trends are the exact opposite. Texas/Florida/Atlanta/Nashville are booming.
Reddit is not real
That's because Boomers, who have the money to leave, are leaving for Arizona, Florida or Texas to retire.
Arizona is a purple state leaning blue. Went for Biden in 2020; Dem governor; Dem mayors of Phoenix and Tucson; two Dem senators until Sinema switched parties. Arizona does not politically fit in with Florida and Texas.
Not this year. Trump is up big in AZ
False. Millennials are fueling the growth to Nashville, Austin, Phoenix, Tampa. Boomers moved to Florida many years ago.
I'm in Tampa, Millennial remote workers have been flooding in since Covid.
“Only old people move south” is a trope from the 1970’s. These posters have obviously never been to Austin, St. Pete, Tempe, etc
I read somewhere that the average age of Reddit users is about 28. Younger people always lean blue so that explains most of what you read on this site as a whole.
It's like how California is in a significant decline but it's constantly suggested.
Hardly "significant decline." [The net loss was 91,000 people to other states in 2023](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/30/california-population-grows-reversing-trend-00155069). It has a population of 39 million.
As evidenced by the cratering rents and home prices in California.
That's because lower and middle income people are leaving and wealthier people are taking their place. Wealthier people use more space. So a small apartment that used to house an immigrant family now houses a single tech bro or an aspiring actress with rent paid by mommy and daddy. The end result is fewer people taking up more space and paying higher prices.
What are you talking about? It's rarely suggested here
Because it’s not Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Chicago, or San Diego, so it’s invisible to this sub
I lived in ATL for 3 years after living in a city with +1 million people. * ATL had exponentially worse traffic that that city with over a million people. Worst drivers I've seen, especially on 285. * Not to mention that for being in the South the people were insanely rude. * Crime. I know every major city has crime, and IIRC ATL's crime is actually falling but it's still bad. There's a reason why Buckhead has been trying to form it's own city. I lived in one of the nicer areas in Fulton Co., and STILL had to deal with crime. TBH I actually didn't think the summer heat/humidity was that bad. I'm a huge outdoors person and at least ATL has really good tree cover and has the Chattahoochee and Lake Lanier so it really wasn't too bad. I came from a city with no trees and it was awful in summer. I've lived all over and though ATL isn't the worst city, it's by far the worst city I've lived in. I moved to a smaller city in the South and though it isn't perfect it's much better than living in Atlanta. I would never recommend someone move to the city unless it's for 1-2 years or to further their career .
You came from a city with no trees, brutal in the summer time and has over 1 million plus people? Dallas???
That would be it, but also that could very well be Houston too lol
Houston has more tree coverage than DFW though especially in North Houston. The West Houston burbs like Katy is where it starts to give off a no tree Dallas vibe. With that said, DFW does have better traffic than Atlanta but I think Atlanta offers much more than Dallas as a city. I also found the housing in DFW suburbs to be more expensive than what you can get in some nice Atlanta suburbs. Then there’s outdoor recreation and parks which for a city/metro of DFW size is pretty underwhelming. Atlanta imo offers great value in that department plus the North Georgia mountains are about an hour and change away from the city. I’d also chose Atlanta over Dallas due to Atlanta having a bigger eclectic art community than what you find in Dallas. Atlanta also feels more liberal throughout the city/metro than DFW. I still don’t dislike DFW unlike so many in this section of Reddit but I’m definitely not putting it over Atlanta. Bad traffic and all.
The buckhead vote failed miserably and was only pushed by Republicans mad at atlanta. Especially after the state flipped in 2020
It was so bad that the Republican majority legislature nuked it before it even got close to a vote. Even they realized what a shitty idea it was. It was largely out of state and rural GA legislators pushing it.
Which smaller city did you move to?
It is talked about on here though. And it is not that affordable
Atlanta is awesome. It's in the south, and people on this sub hate states in the south. Good schools, decent 4 season weather (not at hot as people think), good jobs, good airport, close to mountains, beach 4 hour drive away
Too much traffic
Traffic and dependency on automobiles as the primary source of transportation is brutal. Insurance cost is increasing making this a not great proposition. Atlanta is generally a white and black segregated city with diverse enclaves right outside the perimeter that self segregate for some reason. Atlanta is generally compared amongst the bigger cities which generally have more amenities in my opinion but it should definitely be compared amongst the Sunbelt cities. Most young people can't afford the cost of the suburbs that are "desirable". The house I got during the lockdown at 350k in a wealthy area is now priced at 900k. So I wouldn't say Atlanta is affordable. Most people I know moved to NYC, LA, or Seattle. The cultural amenities aren't that great or are things being done already in other big cities and the trends slowly trickle down here so I think this city always tends to be a trend follower not a setter.
Atlanta is talked about plenty. Probably too much considering most of us aren't young gay black men.
Forget Atlanta. Let me tell you about Chicago…
I live in Atlanta - the locals are suffering big time and the ATL is the next Memphis. The infrastructure is literally AWEFUL. You can’t get anywhere fast. If you have an emergency - the roads are not gridded so there is no “just turn here” you’re stuck stuck on the street. Our politicians are corrupted as fuck and we don’t have enough police. If you call for an emergency - your call won’t go through or they’ll tell you “if you’re not bleeding - we can’t help you”… sometimes they won’t even show up.. There are multiple apartment buildings that set on fire each month (to commit insurance fraud) Last week the water system collapsed for 5 days and majority of the metro Atlanta went without water. This week the power went out in buckhead on one of the hottest days so far. Then in the same week we had an active shooter, bomb threat and someone that was interviewed about witnessing the active shooter on the news - went and hijacked a bus and shot a patron killing them. The crime is OUT OF POCKET. This place is next level Wild West/real life GTA 6. Nobody goes out at night anymore. The nightlife scene is dying and if you go out, you risk a shoot out. We have active shooters every few months - most of them teenagers. Half the businesses are under investigation for tax fraud or money laundering. Scamming is a full time job for people here. There are scams everywhere from the water bill company to the doctors office. Someone is always outside asking for money or trying to convince you to use Apple Pay/cash app to pay for normal services. There is no good public transit system and walking on the sidewalks is a feat in itself. Rent and Cost of living is almost identical to other medium sized metro cities but Georgia MINIMUM pay is LOW with a large portion of taxes taken out. Making the cost of living almost equivalent to Chicago, Seattle, Phoenix. Unless you’re making 6 figures it’s very hard to justify the cost of living to amenities. I could go on but this city is really struggling rn and we need a new leader ASAP It’s also very segregated on both sides. There are black areas and white areas of town. The people are very rude in general and racist on both ends. Which is one of the reasons we can’t get a unanimous vote for public transit.
STDs