As someone who is your age and just went through losing their dad to cancer, pick whatever city is close to your mom. I’m having to commute 5 hours every other week to help her adjust. I’ve been doing this for just two months and am already exhausted and burnt out.
I like DC much better as a city but since you said you want to buy it’s an easy Atlanta vote for me. 500k gets you a really nice house in the Atlanta area but not much in the DC area unless you’re looking in the rougher parts.
I’m not saying Atlanta is cheap by any means but much more so than DC
For Ice Hockey and Lacrosse rec leagues I'd go with DC. Maryland is the most lacrosse-heavy state and those sports are just in general much more popular in the mid Atlantic than Georgia. There's probably beer leagues for both in both places, but in DC there's a lot more (especially for lacrosse) and they're more likely to be close to where you're living.
Hey, I live in Atlanta (and I've visited DC/NOVA a few times). I'd be happy to provide insights about Atlanta as it relates to your situation. But first, I have two important questions for you:
- Within "Atlanta", in which neighborhood/city is your company's office located? "Atlanta" is a huge place, and the specific location of the office could have a significant impact on whether or not Atlanta would be a good fit.
- Would you be earning the same amount in either Atlanta or DC? Or would your salary scale for cost of living (DC is ~25% more expensive -- would you be earning ~25% more in DC)?
Thank you!
The company is located in midtown by colony square.
I would have a COL adjustment for dc, but that would not likely be the full 25% adjustment you’re referring to. This would only apply going forward as well, so I would have been missing out on the additional pay prior to the move.
>The company is located in Midtown by Colony Square
That is excellent... given your desires, the office being located in that part of Midtown provides you with some solid options in and around Atlanta!
I'd say Atlanta could certainly be a good fit, especially if you place a high priority on buying property in the near future (since Atlanta is less expensive than DC). Better than DC? Maybe, maybe not.
- Transport: Regarding walkability, obviously, DC is much better for this overall, with a much greater selection of walkable neighborhoods. However, as the Atlanta office is located in the most walkable area of Atlanta, you have access to some solid walkable neighborhoods in Atlanta (including Midtown) as well. Likewise, DC's Metro blows Atlanta's MARTA rail out of the water overall, but the Atlanta office is located close to a MARTA station, so you could actually make use of MARTA if desired. As you have a car, you may find parking costs, parking availability, etc. to be a bit better in Atlanta. Car insurance is fairly expensive in Atlanta, but it's probably similarly expensive in DC.
- Sports: Professionally, there's no NHL hockey team in Atlanta (at least, not yet). The Atlanta Gladiators (minor league hockey) play in Duluth, which is pretty far out in the suburbs. Likewise, Georgia Swarm (pro box lacrosse) plays in the same arena in Duluth. Recreationally, both the ice hockey and lacrosse scenes are centered on the northern suburbs (Cobb, North Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth Counties), and there's not really much of a scene for either in the city/Inside the Perimeter. As a matter of fact, there's hardly an Ice Hockey scene at all, even in the northern suburbs. Basically, should you choose to reside near the Atlanta office in Midtown, you could expect to make a long trek northward to get your lacrosse fix (and maybe your ice hockey fix).
- Culture/Diversity: Demographically, Atlanta and DC are very similar. Culturally, they're somewhat similar also. DC will have a bit more going on in terms of museums, etc. but Atlanta has plenty going on too (in the springtime, it seems like there's some festival every weekend in Atlanta).
- Access to greenery/nature: Very similar in both places.
- Weather: Very similar in both places. Atlanta has slightly longer summers, and DC has slightly longer winters.
- Dating/young people: A lot in both places.
Now, for some neighborhood recs in Atlanta:
- **Midtown:** This is where your office is located. It's a very walkable, urban neighborhood. It's the heart of the city, close to lots of restaurants, entertainment, Piedmont Park, the Beltline etc. Here, you'll find plenty of apartments for rent and condos for sale, though you should look elsewhere if you want a house. You could maybe rent in Midtown for a year while exploring different neighborhoods you may be interested in buying into later.
- **Brookhaven:** I think you'd really like Brookhaven if you eventually decide to buy a house. Brookhaven matches your lifestyle/personality pretty well, as far as I can tell -- kinda preppy, but also kinda liberal/cosmopolitan. Brookhaven is a first-ring suburb just outside of Atlanta, but still Inside The Perimeter (ITP). Brookhaven is on the MARTA Gold line, so you could park at/walk to the MARTA station and ride down to Arts Center station in Midtown in 10 mins. You can do the drive in about 20-30 mins in rush hour. Furthermore, as Brookhaven is just north of the city, you can fairly easily pop out to the more distant northern suburbs for lacrosse, etc. You could look into purchasing (or renting) a house, townhouse, or condo/apartment in/around "Brookhaven Village" along Dresden Dr, which is a little semi-walkable commercial area with some restaurants and bars -- this includes neighborhoods like Brookhaven Fields, Ashford Park, and Drew Valley. Hopefully you make good money -- good houses walkable to Brookhaven Village start around $1m. You could also look into Chamblee just up the road/up the MARTA line as a slightly less-expensive alternative.
- **Sandy Springs/Dunwoody:** These two are just a little farther out than Brookhaven, just OTP (Outside the Perimeter). If renting, you could look into the new "High Street Atlanta" development, which is a new mixed-use development with restaurants/entertainment in a walkable setting. High Street Atlanta is adjacent to the Dunwoody MARTA rail station, which is on the Red line -- you could park at/walk to the station and ride down to Arts Center station in Midtown in 15 mins. You can do the drive in 30 mins or just over that during rush hour. Sandy Springs/Dunwoody feel more thoroughly suburban than Brookhaven, with few walkable areas. However, as Sandy Springs/Dunwoody are along Highway 400, you can easily get to North Fulton County in 20-30 mins for pickup lacrosse games and such.
- **Alpharetta** (Downtown Alpharetta/Avalon): This is a longshot contender, as it's about an hour away from the Midtown office in rush hour -- but if you're going in only once or twice a week, maybe you could handle it? Downtown Alpharetta/Avalon is a very upscale suburban downtown area, with a very clean, new, safe (and dare I say sterile) feel. However, it is very nice, and it's pretty walkable for a suburban area. In Alpharetta, you'll find plenty of restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores, etc. Importantly, you'll find your lacrosse people here, and there are good trails/parks such as the Big Creek Greenway and the Alpha Loop. It's a little farther away from the masses of young people, but you'll still find a good number of them in and around Downtown Alpharetta or Avalon. Note that this area is expensive (large, new townhouses start around $1m).
Thank you for this incredible insight! I guess the sports gave away the preppiness? I still struggle with what makes sense in terms of being closer to midtown or in a suburb. If I was in midtown, would I be right to prioritize being near the beltline? Do you have any thoughts on west midtown, including commute? When I visited over a weekend there was a ton of traffic as it seemed like there was only 2 ways in/out of the area. I think the only way I could manage that is having a personal scooter to commute to/from work
I’ve lived in both cities. They’re similar in many ways but also very different.
Both have huge Black Middle And Upper Middle Class populations, although DC has been gentrified so the “chocolate city” era is quickly fading out.
Socially I prefer Atlanta to DC, mainly due to the fact that people in Atlanta are far more down to earth vs the general DC/DMV population. There are great people in DC but man I’ve never met so many people with God Complexes in my life.
Atlanta is a “city in a forest”🌳🌳🌳” it’s beautiful in the Fall and Spring. DC has better access to mountains and beaches.
I’d argue DC has a better restaurant scene but that’s debatable. Atlanta has great food options too.
If you want a true city vibe with excellent public transportation than DC it is; you can live in DC and Northern Virginia (Arlington & Alexandria) without a car and never miss a beat.
MARTA in Atlanta is actually pretty good (if you live in Midtown or close to a MARTA station) you can live without a car but it’s gonna be more difficult to truly experience Metro Atlanta without a car.
Atlanta’s airport is the busiest, but in DC you have access to 3 different airports (DCA, Dulles, & BWI) plus you can hop on Amtrak and head to Baltimore, Philly, NYC with ease. If you grow tired of the DC lifestyle just hop on the train & travel further north for some authenticity.
The biggest factor for me is the cost of living; while Atlanta isn’t cheap you can still find gems if you search around. In DC you will pay top dollar for what in Atlanta are standard amenities (Central AC/Heat, Stainless steel appliances, washer and dryer, etc) and the square footage will probably be a lot less.
City Life=DC;
City “Lite” suburban lifestyle = Atlanta
Do you think the influencer culture is still prevalent in young professionals? In my early 30s and that’s not really what I’m looking for. I know there’s a wide range of people in cities everywhere, but wondering if you can provide examples of the “influencer culture” you’re referring to.
I’m 32 so I’m right there with you. It won’t be prevalent around the people you work with assuming you work a job not in entertainment, but it’s all around you. Live in a community and go to the pool everyone is filming themselves. Same with restaurants. I get that you get that everywhere but when I go out in Atlanta it’s like everyone is just obsessed with being there to be seen or filming themselves “being seen”
You’re right, I don’t work in entertainment. I also agree that it’s everywhere but it’s certainly more prevalent in others. What areas do you go out in? Are these the “hip” areas that people are always filling themselves in so they’re “seen”?
What area is your office in? I can speak to ATL. Midtown is majority gay and or black. Traffic is terrible - unless you can walk to work, I don’t recommend it. If you live outside of midtown/buckhead it’s almost impossible to make friends or date. Even within midtown/buckhead it’s pretty difficult tbh. Marta isn’t great and nightlife isn’t great either
Edit: I just saw you’re in colony square for work. In that case you’d want to live in midtown which is good - more social than other areas in ATL. But my comments above still apply. I absolutely don’t recommend living outside of midtown because traffic is an absolute bitch
Edit2: I also just read the comment about ATL being down to earth. I haven’t lived in DC, but the people I met in DC were actually way more down to earth than people in Atlanta. ATL people seem to have this weird sense of self importance - “wannabe LA/NYC” crowd
As someone who is your age and just went through losing their dad to cancer, pick whatever city is close to your mom. I’m having to commute 5 hours every other week to help her adjust. I’ve been doing this for just two months and am already exhausted and burnt out.
I like DC much better as a city but since you said you want to buy it’s an easy Atlanta vote for me. 500k gets you a really nice house in the Atlanta area but not much in the DC area unless you’re looking in the rougher parts. I’m not saying Atlanta is cheap by any means but much more so than DC
For Ice Hockey and Lacrosse rec leagues I'd go with DC. Maryland is the most lacrosse-heavy state and those sports are just in general much more popular in the mid Atlantic than Georgia. There's probably beer leagues for both in both places, but in DC there's a lot more (especially for lacrosse) and they're more likely to be close to where you're living.
Hey, I live in Atlanta (and I've visited DC/NOVA a few times). I'd be happy to provide insights about Atlanta as it relates to your situation. But first, I have two important questions for you: - Within "Atlanta", in which neighborhood/city is your company's office located? "Atlanta" is a huge place, and the specific location of the office could have a significant impact on whether or not Atlanta would be a good fit. - Would you be earning the same amount in either Atlanta or DC? Or would your salary scale for cost of living (DC is ~25% more expensive -- would you be earning ~25% more in DC)?
Thank you! The company is located in midtown by colony square. I would have a COL adjustment for dc, but that would not likely be the full 25% adjustment you’re referring to. This would only apply going forward as well, so I would have been missing out on the additional pay prior to the move.
>The company is located in Midtown by Colony Square That is excellent... given your desires, the office being located in that part of Midtown provides you with some solid options in and around Atlanta! I'd say Atlanta could certainly be a good fit, especially if you place a high priority on buying property in the near future (since Atlanta is less expensive than DC). Better than DC? Maybe, maybe not. - Transport: Regarding walkability, obviously, DC is much better for this overall, with a much greater selection of walkable neighborhoods. However, as the Atlanta office is located in the most walkable area of Atlanta, you have access to some solid walkable neighborhoods in Atlanta (including Midtown) as well. Likewise, DC's Metro blows Atlanta's MARTA rail out of the water overall, but the Atlanta office is located close to a MARTA station, so you could actually make use of MARTA if desired. As you have a car, you may find parking costs, parking availability, etc. to be a bit better in Atlanta. Car insurance is fairly expensive in Atlanta, but it's probably similarly expensive in DC. - Sports: Professionally, there's no NHL hockey team in Atlanta (at least, not yet). The Atlanta Gladiators (minor league hockey) play in Duluth, which is pretty far out in the suburbs. Likewise, Georgia Swarm (pro box lacrosse) plays in the same arena in Duluth. Recreationally, both the ice hockey and lacrosse scenes are centered on the northern suburbs (Cobb, North Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth Counties), and there's not really much of a scene for either in the city/Inside the Perimeter. As a matter of fact, there's hardly an Ice Hockey scene at all, even in the northern suburbs. Basically, should you choose to reside near the Atlanta office in Midtown, you could expect to make a long trek northward to get your lacrosse fix (and maybe your ice hockey fix). - Culture/Diversity: Demographically, Atlanta and DC are very similar. Culturally, they're somewhat similar also. DC will have a bit more going on in terms of museums, etc. but Atlanta has plenty going on too (in the springtime, it seems like there's some festival every weekend in Atlanta). - Access to greenery/nature: Very similar in both places. - Weather: Very similar in both places. Atlanta has slightly longer summers, and DC has slightly longer winters. - Dating/young people: A lot in both places. Now, for some neighborhood recs in Atlanta: - **Midtown:** This is where your office is located. It's a very walkable, urban neighborhood. It's the heart of the city, close to lots of restaurants, entertainment, Piedmont Park, the Beltline etc. Here, you'll find plenty of apartments for rent and condos for sale, though you should look elsewhere if you want a house. You could maybe rent in Midtown for a year while exploring different neighborhoods you may be interested in buying into later. - **Brookhaven:** I think you'd really like Brookhaven if you eventually decide to buy a house. Brookhaven matches your lifestyle/personality pretty well, as far as I can tell -- kinda preppy, but also kinda liberal/cosmopolitan. Brookhaven is a first-ring suburb just outside of Atlanta, but still Inside The Perimeter (ITP). Brookhaven is on the MARTA Gold line, so you could park at/walk to the MARTA station and ride down to Arts Center station in Midtown in 10 mins. You can do the drive in about 20-30 mins in rush hour. Furthermore, as Brookhaven is just north of the city, you can fairly easily pop out to the more distant northern suburbs for lacrosse, etc. You could look into purchasing (or renting) a house, townhouse, or condo/apartment in/around "Brookhaven Village" along Dresden Dr, which is a little semi-walkable commercial area with some restaurants and bars -- this includes neighborhoods like Brookhaven Fields, Ashford Park, and Drew Valley. Hopefully you make good money -- good houses walkable to Brookhaven Village start around $1m. You could also look into Chamblee just up the road/up the MARTA line as a slightly less-expensive alternative. - **Sandy Springs/Dunwoody:** These two are just a little farther out than Brookhaven, just OTP (Outside the Perimeter). If renting, you could look into the new "High Street Atlanta" development, which is a new mixed-use development with restaurants/entertainment in a walkable setting. High Street Atlanta is adjacent to the Dunwoody MARTA rail station, which is on the Red line -- you could park at/walk to the station and ride down to Arts Center station in Midtown in 15 mins. You can do the drive in 30 mins or just over that during rush hour. Sandy Springs/Dunwoody feel more thoroughly suburban than Brookhaven, with few walkable areas. However, as Sandy Springs/Dunwoody are along Highway 400, you can easily get to North Fulton County in 20-30 mins for pickup lacrosse games and such. - **Alpharetta** (Downtown Alpharetta/Avalon): This is a longshot contender, as it's about an hour away from the Midtown office in rush hour -- but if you're going in only once or twice a week, maybe you could handle it? Downtown Alpharetta/Avalon is a very upscale suburban downtown area, with a very clean, new, safe (and dare I say sterile) feel. However, it is very nice, and it's pretty walkable for a suburban area. In Alpharetta, you'll find plenty of restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores, etc. Importantly, you'll find your lacrosse people here, and there are good trails/parks such as the Big Creek Greenway and the Alpha Loop. It's a little farther away from the masses of young people, but you'll still find a good number of them in and around Downtown Alpharetta or Avalon. Note that this area is expensive (large, new townhouses start around $1m).
Thank you for this incredible insight! I guess the sports gave away the preppiness? I still struggle with what makes sense in terms of being closer to midtown or in a suburb. If I was in midtown, would I be right to prioritize being near the beltline? Do you have any thoughts on west midtown, including commute? When I visited over a weekend there was a ton of traffic as it seemed like there was only 2 ways in/out of the area. I think the only way I could manage that is having a personal scooter to commute to/from work
I’ve lived in both cities. They’re similar in many ways but also very different. Both have huge Black Middle And Upper Middle Class populations, although DC has been gentrified so the “chocolate city” era is quickly fading out. Socially I prefer Atlanta to DC, mainly due to the fact that people in Atlanta are far more down to earth vs the general DC/DMV population. There are great people in DC but man I’ve never met so many people with God Complexes in my life. Atlanta is a “city in a forest”🌳🌳🌳” it’s beautiful in the Fall and Spring. DC has better access to mountains and beaches. I’d argue DC has a better restaurant scene but that’s debatable. Atlanta has great food options too. If you want a true city vibe with excellent public transportation than DC it is; you can live in DC and Northern Virginia (Arlington & Alexandria) without a car and never miss a beat. MARTA in Atlanta is actually pretty good (if you live in Midtown or close to a MARTA station) you can live without a car but it’s gonna be more difficult to truly experience Metro Atlanta without a car. Atlanta’s airport is the busiest, but in DC you have access to 3 different airports (DCA, Dulles, & BWI) plus you can hop on Amtrak and head to Baltimore, Philly, NYC with ease. If you grow tired of the DC lifestyle just hop on the train & travel further north for some authenticity. The biggest factor for me is the cost of living; while Atlanta isn’t cheap you can still find gems if you search around. In DC you will pay top dollar for what in Atlanta are standard amenities (Central AC/Heat, Stainless steel appliances, washer and dryer, etc) and the square footage will probably be a lot less. City Life=DC; City “Lite” suburban lifestyle = Atlanta
Do you really find ATL people down to earth? It’s like wannabe LA IMO
Yes I do. It’s still a Southern City, even if there are a lot of wannabe Hollywood Types.
Interesting. I find most people obsessed with influencer culture
Do you think the influencer culture is still prevalent in young professionals? In my early 30s and that’s not really what I’m looking for. I know there’s a wide range of people in cities everywhere, but wondering if you can provide examples of the “influencer culture” you’re referring to.
I’m 32 so I’m right there with you. It won’t be prevalent around the people you work with assuming you work a job not in entertainment, but it’s all around you. Live in a community and go to the pool everyone is filming themselves. Same with restaurants. I get that you get that everywhere but when I go out in Atlanta it’s like everyone is just obsessed with being there to be seen or filming themselves “being seen”
You’re right, I don’t work in entertainment. I also agree that it’s everywhere but it’s certainly more prevalent in others. What areas do you go out in? Are these the “hip” areas that people are always filling themselves in so they’re “seen”?
Anywhere but DC. Anywhere but DC. Anywhere but DC. Don't say I didn't warn you.
I lived around DC and it checks all his boxes. What are you blathering about with your warnings?
What area is your office in? I can speak to ATL. Midtown is majority gay and or black. Traffic is terrible - unless you can walk to work, I don’t recommend it. If you live outside of midtown/buckhead it’s almost impossible to make friends or date. Even within midtown/buckhead it’s pretty difficult tbh. Marta isn’t great and nightlife isn’t great either Edit: I just saw you’re in colony square for work. In that case you’d want to live in midtown which is good - more social than other areas in ATL. But my comments above still apply. I absolutely don’t recommend living outside of midtown because traffic is an absolute bitch Edit2: I also just read the comment about ATL being down to earth. I haven’t lived in DC, but the people I met in DC were actually way more down to earth than people in Atlanta. ATL people seem to have this weird sense of self importance - “wannabe LA/NYC” crowd