I am in the preliminary stages of considering taking a job in Atlanta. I really haven't spent much time there (except, of course, at the airport!), so I know virtually nothing about the city.

Have looked at some postings here, and one thing seems evident -- Atlanta doesn't seem to be handling its growth well. Is this really true? After all, who doesn't complain about the traffic in their area?

If I were to move, I would want to live in a rural area, not in the city or suburbs, yet, I don't want to spend my life commuting. What about MARTA? Is it convenient? Safe? Any area recommendations?

I'm really interested in hearing from anyone who has recently moved there from another city . . . are you glad you moved there? Why/why not?

Thanks!

I am from atlanta originally. My family still lives there and I visit frequently. It is a great city with lots to do, fantastic restaurants and nice weather. While the traffic has increased dramatically, there are some great places in mid-town. Depending on where you work, check out Decatur, Buckhead and Brookhaven. These are up and coming areas which are very convenient to downtown. If you're looking for a larger space on some land, you will have to do some driving. My personal opinion is that MARTA really hasn't quite hit its mark. Most people have to drive to the station and then have to take a bus unless their work is right near the station. Think of Atlanta like Los Angeles - you really need a car.

That being said, some other nice places to live include Alpharetta, Old Roswell, Dunwoody, Peachtree City and Newnan (further out). You can definitely have a nice life without spending a fortune.

Hope this helps! ps. if you post what area of town your job is in you'll probably get a few more replies!

If you don't like traffic, don't move here! I live in the suburbs, 22 miles from my job. It takes me about an hour each way to commute. If you want to live in a rural area, your commute would be a minimum of 1.5 hours each way.

MARTA is safe and convenient, but it basically only runs in town. Suburban residents have to drive almost to town to catch MARTA, since it does not connect with the suburbs with most commuters.

The weather is fabulous. The people are nice, and it is a short trip to the mountains and 6 hours to the beach!

I know I usually bash Atlanta but I'll try not to this time.

Atlanta is tremendously spread out, so a decision on where to live depends alot on which area you work. If you work in Decatur but live in Kennesaw you've got a whale of a commute. If you work in Decatur but live in Decatur or Lawrenceville or Stone Mountain it's alot easier. In any case, make sure you have a good car because you'll need it.

MARTA at this stage is a non-issue. It's unlikely that you could use it on a daily basis unless you're very lucky and work it out so that it can help you.

The people are friendly and the weather is generally good. If you like the beach, 6 hours to the beach is a bit much but there's nothing you can do about that. You know the deal sports-wise -- the Braves are the Braves and every other team stinks. The "powers that be" in the city also tend to inflate Atlanta's self worth to the point where the locals actually believe they're a major force in the world because they get the Super Bowl once in awhile. But that aside, there are alot worse places to live, and if your job opportunity is a good one, go for it. You can always leave.

RP, it would help if you tell us where the firm you'd be with is located. Wherever you decide to live, the other posters are correct: you will probably end up driving to work (you may want to learn whether your new employer offers parking); and the odds are you won't find much use for MARTA. The system in Atlanta doesn't fan out. Another aspect of Atlanta: you need to live reasonably near a Mall ... the traffic situation is rough most of the time, so you want an easy shot to get places. Ciao

Thanks for the input. It appears that the job would be in the downtown area, but I haven't officially "thrown my hat in the ring yet," so I'm not sure.

I'm disappointed to hear that MARTA is pretty much worthless; I would have thought that they expanded it for the Olympics, if nothing else.

What about housing? I used to hear that it was reasonable, but then, it really seemed to skyrocket. How much should I be prepared to spend for a 2br. apartment or townhouse? again, keep in mind that I would prefer to be in a more rural setting -- I really don't care for the city or suburbs, and I'm willing to commute a little further to achieve this.

Thanks for the comments! Please keep 'em coming!

First, Willy, I congratulate you on your post. It was very fair and pretty accurate.

RP, I suggest you come to Atlanta for a weekend and check out some of the neighborhoods to get a feel for the place. Yes, we have bad traffic but for the weather and the laid back attitude, I think it's worth it.

I live in Smyrna (Cobb County), which is on the Northwest edge of the 285 loop that circles Atlanta. I also work near downtown (Ga. Tech.) and it takes me about 20 minutes on I-75. Mind you, I like to get to work early, by 8 a.m. The further north you go up I-75, to say Kennesaw, the longer your commute is going to be.

One area you might consider is Mableton, which is becoming a popular area. It's in West Cobb and lots of new housing has sprung up there. It also has the Silver Comet, a terrific walking/biking path that is being expanded all the time.

Dunwoody is a straight shot north up Ga. 400 and I lived there for a year. Easy access to downtown. Very nice but rather pricey.

Go further north up into Alpharetta and the prices get even higher. Nice countryside but yikes, you could not pay me to sit on Ga. 400 the way these folks do, either. I don't like 1.5 hour commutes.

Many people live on the Northeast side in Gwinnett County/Lawrenceville, but to me it seems horribly overdeveloped and I-85 backs up early.

Decatur/Tucker is a nice area that has caught on fast and the prices are starting to reflect it. But it is a great area with funky shops/restaurants.

The Southside is where I grew up and if you're single, it might be boring to you because it's largely family land. But that's starting to change. Henry County to the southeast is the fastest growing county in the state and has good housing. Newnan, over to the southwest, has great golf courses and is growing rapidly. Peachtree City is the land of golf carts and great for families.

Douglas County, to the west, has grown a lot, too. Don't know much about it.

Good luck in your quest!

I live in Sandy Springs now (just north of Atlanta up 400, only about 20 minutes away from downtown). It is very pricey for a apartment in and close to the city (think at least $1000/mth for a 2 bedroom).
However, in the suburbs and rural areas (you might actually have problems finding apartments out there...I am not sure), the prices drop dramatically. I know in Fayetteville (my hometown, 30 min south of the city) rent is very cheap (at least half of the rent in the city). South of Atlanta, while it is growing, is not as populated as the North side. Traffic is still heavy from this side, but you will find more rural areas. Recently there is a resurgance of people moving back to the city, which might make the traffic a little better, or not!
Traffic is pretty rough around here. However, if you work nontraditional hours, it isn't too bad. I work 7:30-4:30, so my commute is fine.
MARTA is great only if you live and work close to a station. Several people drive to a MARTA train station and take MARTA into the city. This seems to work quite nicely.
Good luck!

Well, I lived in Atlanta for 20+ years. I got really tired of getting leaving my house at 6:30 am and getting to work at 8am and getting off at 5 and getting home at 6:30pm...what a waste..I only lived about 25-30 minutes away with no traffic! If you are living rural....be expected to live in your car! It might be cheap out there but who wants to live somewhere that takes 1 1/2 hours to get to? The restaurants are great, but the people are ultra snobby and there are way too many "shady" people living there these days. You really are in a melting pot, a lot worse than other cities! Marta isn't in the suburbs because the people who live in the suburbs don't want the homeless and other types that live in the cities to be able to get to the suburbs! As far as the beach, it is only 4 hours away..Hilton Head, sc. Hope you make a lot of money and don't plan on having friends, no one is gonna drive that far to come see you.

My husband and I moved to Atlanta from San Diego about 1-1/2 yrs ago, if we had to do it again, we would not move here. Atlanta is a time bomb waiting to implode! There has been absolutely no growth management. Traffic is abhorent and getting worse daily. Forget about using the MARTA if you want to leave in a rural area. Air and water pollution is second to none. Atlanta is like LA about 25 years ago. The political atmosphere is corrupt and believe me the good old boy network and racial tension are alive and well. Lastly and most unfortunately, the portrayal of the southern redneck is not at all far from the truth--think about your move long and hard...good luck.

*The restaurants are great, but the people are ultra snobby and there are way too many "shady" people living there these days. You really are in a melting pot, a lot worse than other cities!*

What kind of statement is that? You're contradicting yourself.

What is a "shady" person, anyway?

And if you dislike living in a "melting pot", sounds like you're the snob to me.

Atlanta isn't for everybody. It got hit with a lot of uncontrolled growth and they don't always handle it well. Yes, it has its share of rednecks. But that redneck would probably pull over and help you change a flat tire before zooming by on his way to Bel Air.

I find it very amusing that most of the people living in Atlanta now aren't even natives, yet they complain about it every chance they get.

If it's so truly awful, the freeway runs both ways...even to California, where they can't get enough power to keep the lights on.

You can't get an honest opinion out of someone who's always lived there. They think it's the greatest place on earth. Only someone from somewhere else is able to compare and give an objective opinion based on what they've seen in other cities.

Note to the people of Atlanta: Just because someone in Atlanta died from the west nile virus STILL doesn't make you an international city, so don't get your hopes up.

Mr. New York, you are oh so humorous. I guess you don't mind having to spend thousands of dollars in rent for a tiny walk-up apartment, either.

And the gentleman asked about relocation, not the "international" issue that has already been picked over a thousand times.

Careful or we might send some of our killer mosquitos your way. Might improve your disposition.

Dear GGF:

The current strain of the west nile virus originated in the northeast, so don't go trying to claim this as an Atlanta thing. We had it, like most things, way before you did.

Nice try on the walk-up comment, but it doesn't apply to me.

The first paragraph of my original reply more than adequately answers RP's question.

Uhm, I think it was YOU who claimed the virus was an Atlanta thing. Not me.

And since it is the WEST NILE virus, three guesses as to WHERE it truly originated, Sherlock.

I wouldn't know if anything applies to you because I don't know you nor would I ever want to.

And contrary to you aSSumption, I have lived elsewhere besides Atlanta.

Geesh people... get worked up over something worthwhile, not over debating whether Atlanta or NYC is better!! The point of this was to answer someone's ? about whether they should move to Atlanta... not whether my city beats your city! Anyway, to get back to the orginal questions concerning Atlanta... the way i look at is there's give and take to whereever you move. Atlanta totally works for me! I live in a rennovated house in Decatur in an up and coming neighborhood, so I can get to my favorite hangouts/restaurants within 5 minutes (East Atlanta, Virginia Highlands, Midtown). My boyfriend lives in a loft in Inman Park, and we both love it here. But we were both raised in the South, so we like the culture here too. I think where you're coming from makes a difference. If you are from NYC and have to have the big city feel, then Atlanta is not for you. Atlanta is a young, growing city, but it is clearly not NYC (which is why I like it. I love to visit NYC, but at the same time, I wouldn't be happy living there.) Also, I'm a big hiker/camper, so living in Atlanta allows me to drive an hour and a half north and be in the mountains where it is BEAUTIFUL! And another thing I like about it here is that you can road trip to alot of places... Florida, the Carolinas, Nashville, Chattanooga, Charlotte, Savannah, and so on. Atlanta works for me, but that doesn't mean that it's for everyone. (Also, I love getting all four seasons here!) Now, you mentioned that you want to live in a rural area. Well, that might be a little tough with a commute to downtown. Good luck!!

By the way... you asked about pricing... I live in a 2BR/1BA bungalow house in an up and coming neighborhood in Decatur and I paid $172K about 4 months ago, but I heard prices have already gone up for my size house to the $180K's. That's the good thing about intown property... the price goes up quicker than you can imagine, especially with the influx of people moving back into the city to avoid commutes. I lived in a 550 sq. foot condo in Midotwn. I lived there for a year and a half and made $20K when I sold it. Small space to deal with, but it helped me buy my next home. And people make the same kind of profits in the suberbs too from what I've heard! My commute isn't bad.. I commute from intown in Decatur to the perimeter area (Dunwoody). It's about 30 minutes.

Hi, RP. We moved to Atlanta from Minneapolis last fall, and like it well enough. We live in Smyrna and work in Buckhead, so we don't hit the crazy traffic like everyone else. If you really do want to live in a rural area, DO NOT MOVE HERE. You will spend at least an hour in your car each way, possibly two. I have a friend who lives in Buford (a far-out NE suburb) and works downtown, and she is desperately looking for a different job due to the fact that she is spending her life in her car. Atlanta is sprawled out quite a bit, so a "rural" setting that is not suburban could be hard to come by anywhere near the city. That said, Atlanta doesn't feel that bad if you consider the parks and all the trees (you can't believe it until you drive around some of the older neighborhoods), and the fact that the mountains and the beach are so close.

If it's a great job, I'd recommend sucking it up and living very near downtown or on Marta, and going out to the country on the weekends. Also, due to all the trees, many of the older neighborhoods in the near suburbs seem almost rural. We run some back streets in Smyrna, and they are quiet and very wooded. Not like what you'd imagine that close to the city. There is an apartment complex near me that is on the Chattahoochee (Cobb Pkwy at Paces Ferry) where trails connect you directly with the Chattahoochee Rec. Area for hiking along the river.

We don't regret moving to Atlanta at all - it has a lot to offer. However, you really need to live near where you work, or love being in your car for hours a day. If you can find a commute that doesn't involve freeway, you're even better.

Good luck with your decision!

WOW!!

Many, many thanks for the helpful responses!!

After thinking about the fantastic job opportunity down there, I decided to bite the bullet and apply.

I currently live in a small town in Ohio (but right outside a major city), but the job situation here is really bad. So, in one way, I really don't have a choice if I am given an offer . . .

That having been said, while I really prefer the rural lifestyle, I have worked in L.A. and D.C. (where I had a 1-1/2hr. commute, one-way, daily), so I am a veteran of bad commutes. And, like I said, for me, if I could get in a nice, small community, it would be worth it to me to spend some extra time in the car. But, it sounds like the best I'm going to get in Atlanta (at least at this point) would be the suburbs.

One thing -- the west side sounds like it isn't as developed as the northwest/northeast side, plus, I looked on MARTA's website, and it looks like the train runs pretty far out there, so perhaps I could park and ride? Any suggestions for towns west of the city?

T.M.: Thanks for your especially helpful comments!

xxx: I really appreciated your perspective, since you're not only a relative newcomer, but also from the midwest. Yes, I, like you, would only plan to be there for a year or two. The company I am applying with has an office in the midwest (which I have unsuccessfully tried to get in to), and I am hoping that I could transfer there when a position opened up. I just have one question for you -- are you going through Big 10 sports withdrawal?!? I think that I would have to make several trips back in order to catch my beloved Buckeyes in action!!

Again, many thanks to those of you who responded with helpful, cogent comments, and again, please keep 'em coming!!!

We moved to Marietta exactly one year ago this month. It is everything described here to a tee. I don't see us staying here for the long term but for the next 5 years or so it will be great. As for college football, well if you come you will find many rapid fans, people in the south live and breathe college football, although you had better brush up on your SEC knowledge, definitely not much Big Ten here! The job market here is pretty good and if you get here and your current job doesn't work out you will probably be able to find comparable work somewhere (although the commute factor weighs heavily in these things) Check out www.accessatlanta.com for all kinds of info on the city, including very good descriptions of our traffic patterns! Good Luck! Hope you enjoy it here.............Kate why did you ever leave San Diego........my husband and I would be there in 3 seconds if we thought we could get an affordable house! I can understand why you hate it here coming from S.D..........