Relo options: Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, or Knoxville?

[Anonymous]

We will be moving with DH's job very soon, and he can pick which cities he'd like to move to. We've narrowed it down to this list of cities, plus Houston (which I know since we lived there before). Are there any of these cities that are markedly better or worse than another? I'd prefer Atlanta, but maybe it's way more expensive to live there than the smaller cities. Plus, I do kind of like metropolitan cities vs. sprawling urban ones, or at least find a small-town appeal in one of them.

Thanks for any perspective you might have!

[Anonymous]

I don't know if you have flexibility or not, but Asheville, NC is a great contender in that region - a city with a small town feel. Of the ones on your list, I'm only familiar with Atlanta, which I've loved on past visits, but I agree it's expensive in the city (I spent too much time/$$$ in Buckhead!) On the other hand, I had a colleague who relocated there a couple years ago and said that real estate prices outside the city proper were actually quite reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Charlotte. hands down. I'd love to move there. Great schools, good cost of living, good sized city. Great weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Charlotte. hands down. I'd love to move there. Great schools, good cost of living, good sized city. Great weather.

Schools are as good as or better than here? Meaning, Montogomery, Fairfax and Loudoun? The only strike against Charlotte is it's the furthest (17 hrs) from my parents in the midwest. That's still a 2-day drive, where ATL might only be 10 hours.

[Anonymous]

I hear that Charlotte has great homes and schools...

[Anonymous]

Knoxville is great for housing, small town advantages and nice schools. My SIL loves it and they moved there from Boston.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Atlanta- public schools in general are to be avoided- traffic is crazier than when i was there- I'd say Charlotte if this were me.. Houston is anot high on my list due to crime and just not my cup of tea.,., Nashville is fine if you don't mind country music (really) - only visited knoxville but too small town for me..

[Anonymous]

I am familiar with all but Knoxville. I like Atlanta - husband is from there - but it is a bigger city and you will have the same or worse traffic. Nice neighborhoods, but you have to do your homework... Charlotte is also nice, but a little sleepier than Atlanta. I also find that it is more of a one-industry town - banking - than Atlanta. Also has nice neighborhoods, but again need to do homework. I had friends from Myers Park. Nashville is nice because it is a state capitol and also has the country music scene. I love Green Hills - great neighborhood. Not sure if the schools are all so great there - I think there are a few that are great and some are so-so. I feel like Nashville has a lot more people who have lived there their whole lives, so it may be a little harder to break in.

[Anonymous]

Nashville is great! I didn't get into the whole country music thing, but loved my four years at Vanderbilt. It's true that many families have been there for many generations -- but the university and its medical center attract people from all over the globe.

[Anonymous]

OP here: so it's good to see that none of the cities flat out stink! DH prefers Charlotte 10:1 against my Houston 10:1 (for family reasons and my son wants to go to UT). The other cities would be compromises, most likely would be Atlanta. I like all the cities too, so I guess we can't really go wrong.

Just worried about the schools and universities (public) of each state, but I guess you choose the district you like and buy there...

[Anonymous]

I've lived in Houston. It's a tough transition from a more centralized, walkable city -- but you'd have that problem with Atlanta also. I found it to have really exceptional arts and educational opportunities. The people are really nice although they do trend conservative (I'm decidedly liberal). We were surprised by how quickly we became part of a close circle of friends -- who all had interesting jobs.

I think that UT is huge, but Rice is a top-rated school and is right there.

Biggest downside for me was the heat -- but many in Houston spend the month of August in cooler climates.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Knoxville, my sister lives in Charlotte, my brother-in-law lives in Atlanta, and my best friend from childhood/high school/college lives in Nashville.

Of the four, Atlanta is the most expensive and has by far the worst traffic. Its sprawl is on par with DC metro or LA. But it also has the most urban amenities, like cultural options and upscale shopping. Plus you can fly anywhere in the world direct. Charlotte is a great combination of smaller town pace of living with bigger city cultural scene. Housing is still affordable but apparently it is one of a handful of cities in the US where house prices are actually rising these days. Plus the NC university system is excellent, and the airport is a hub for United. Nashville is lovely, and probably the most Old South of the four. As a capital city it does have urban amenities, and it is absolutely possible to have nothing to do with the country music scene if that's not your bag. Knoxville is the smallest and most affordable, with probably the least urban amenities, but with the most gorgeous setting in the foothills of the Smokies and a great pace of life. I have to say it was a fabulous place to grow up. I had a true sense of community there that I have never found since.

Good luck whatever you decide. I am so envious- I would move to any of those cities in a heartbeat if I could!

[Anonymous]

If public universities are a consideration, that may help narrow it down.

The UNC system is great. Chapel Hill is one of the top schools in the nation. Many of the other UNC-system schools are also good with various specializations. I also think NC State is great and there are many other smaller, private schools in NC. North Carolina also has a top-notch residential magnet school for 11th and 12th graders - one of the best high schools in the nation.

Georgia has the HOPE scholarship for strong students and Georgia Tech and UGA are fantastic schools.

I am not sure if Tennessee is as strong with public universities (no offense everyone).

You obviously are familiar with Texas schools - also vey good.

[Anonymous]

Just to consider- Atlanta is the most racially divided- there is a huge difference between neighborhoods and a rift between whites and blacks- there are two major african american universities there and every spring expect "freaknik"- you can look that up and decide whether living in a spring break destination is desirable.. when i lived there- no one left there homes during that time- it was chaos.. and there was this huge looting and break ins in downtown the first year I lived in Atlanta..

[Anonymous]

My best friends live in Atlanta, I grew up not far from Charlotte, and my spouse went to grad school in Nashville. I don't know Knoxville at all but I would happily live in any of the other three. If you have a real problem with traffic, Atlanta should be at the bottom of the list, because traffic is the hardest to avoid there because of the city's sprawl.