Among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States sits Atlanta, Georgia. Commonly referred to as “The ATL”, “A-town”, and “Hotlanta”, this culturally and historically rich city has a lot to offer its residents. Come for that famous southern hospitality, stay for the booming economy!
Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is the economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Though the city itself has closer to 450,000 residents, the metropolitan area is home to an estimated 5.8 million people, and is the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Read on to find out what it’s like to live and work in Atlanta!
Working in Atlanta
Industry
In 2016 Atlanta added 77,000 jobs according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Atlanta Regional Commission. This no doubt contributed to the year over year improvement in unemployment, which decreased from 4.8% in April 2016 to 4.5% in April 2017.
Dominant industry sectors in Atlanta include logistics, professional and business services, media operations, and information technology.
One growing industry in Atlanta is the financial technology world (fintech), accounting for around 100 financial technology companies there. In fact, Atlanta companies that digitally process credit cards and other online transactions contribute roughly 70% of the payments processed in North America.
It is thought that the city’s educated workforce draws many corporations to Atlanta. In 2015, 47% of adults 25 or older in the city have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to the national average of 28%. As such, Atlanta has been attracting companies and talent to the area, greatly benefiting the area’s economy.
Employers to Note
Those seeking employment opportunities in Atlanta have their choice of Fortune 500 companies, as the city boasts the third-largest concentration in the US.
In fact, the region hosts offices of over 1,250 multinational corporations including the global headquarters of corporations such as The Coca-Cola Company, CNN, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, AT&T Mobility, Chick-fil-A, UPS, and Newell-Rubbermaid.
Did You Know…?
Atlanta is a city that has risen from the ashes, as it is only US city to have ever been destroyed by an act of war. Atlanta has since adopted the phoenix as its official symbol.
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Living in Atlanta
Life in Atlanta
Considering its historical roots (think civil war and the birth of the civil rights movement), museums, and other attractions (like the second-largest aquarium in the world), it should come as no surprise that Atlanta ranks 7th in most visited cities in the US, with an impressive 35 million plus visitors each year.
Atlanta is divided into 242 officially defined neighborhoods, though most things are referred to as either inside or outside the “perimeter”, which is set by interstate 285 which encircles the city.
You’re also likely to know someone who lives on “Peachtree” as there are more than 70 roads with the word “Peachtree” in their name thanks to the city’s origins. So, make sure to double check your destination address before navigating anywhere!
Sports fans can enjoy professional franchises for four major team sports including the Atlanta Braves (Baseball), the Atlanta Hawks (Basketball), the Atlanta Falcons (Football), and the Atlanta United FC (Soccer). The Atlanta Braves, which happens to be the oldest continually operating professional sports franchise in the country, started as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871 before it moved to Atlanta in 1966.
When considering a move to Atlanta, one should take note that the city does have some higher than average crime rates though the city’s crime is thankfully on the decline (down 29% since 2009).
There are so many things to do and see in Atlanta. You can visit the the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, take a Zombie Tour (The Walking Dead is filmed here), or check out the Atlanta Botanical Garden which has a one of a kind Canopy Walk with a 600-foot long and 40-foot high urban forest skywalk.
Transportation in Atlanta
Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest and most efficient airport in the world, as well as being Atlanta’s number one employer accounting for 63,000 jobs there.
Though it’s estimated that most Atlantans get around by car (76% in 2015), the city offers a considerable public transportation system. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) includes a heavy rail rapid transit system, a light rail streetcar loop, a multi-county bus system, Amtrak service, multiple freight train lines, an Interstate Highway System, several airports, and over 45 miles of bike paths.
Like most of the major metropolitan areas, Atlanta suffers from terrible traffic conditions. As such, it’s recommended that you live as close to where you work as possible to keep commuting times low.
House Prices in Atlanta
According to US Census data from 2015, 43% of residents in Atlanta spent less than $1,000 in monthly housing costs.
In 2016 Atlanta’s median house price was the highest on record at $192,000, though this increase is in line with current Real Estate trends in the US. In spite of the city’s record high, the metro Atlanta area is one of the few major cities with median home prices below $200,000.
Education in Atlanta
Atlanta is considered a center for higher education thanks to the more 50 colleges and universities in Atlanta’s metropolitan area. Among these is the Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the most prominent public universities in Atlanta that has been consistently ranked among the nation’s top ten public universities for its degree programs in engineering, computing, management, the sciences, architecture, and liberal arts.
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