By Patrick Galvan, Storage.com
Finding your place in this world can be pretty difficult, not to mention how hard it can be to move there. Storage.com is here to help with the moving process, either by providing storage or helping you find the ideal place to call home.
Are you thinking about moving to Atlanta? Georgia’s capital city, locally known as A-Town, is home to a pleasant climate, a strong economy, and an abundance of stores, restaurants, parks, and clubs to satisfy one’s personal life. Since starting off here is easier and cheaper than, say, New York City or Los Angeles, Atlanta is a great city for singles and young professionals who are looking for a place to settle down and build a successful career. After all, Atlanta has been ranked by Forbes as the 14th Best Place for Businesses and Careers.
But which Atlanta neighborhood best accommodates your budget and social life? Here’s our list of the six best neighborhoods in Atlanta for singles and young professionals.
1. AN AFFORDABLE OPTION FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS:
ORMEWOOD PARK
Quick Facts:
- Population: 4,002
- Average Rent: $2,201
- Average Cost of Living: $66,000/year
- Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
Top Employers in the Area:
- Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School
- Beulah Heights University
Located on the east side of the city, Ormewood Park has numerous affordable options, which makes it ideal for young families and young professionals who are just starting off. Housing choices vary from condominiums to apartments to Craftsman-style houses to townhomes in this Atlanta neighborhood. It is less than two miles away from Glenwood Park, so you don’t have to travel far to visit someone in the community next door. Both Ormewood Park and Glenwood Park are abundant with trees, so you never have to worry about finding shade on a hot summer day!
For a good meal, you have plenty of options to choose from. Vickery’s Bar & Grill draws in residents with its ice-cold beer, handcrafted cocktails, and scrumptious entrees, which includes Southern Fried Chicken and Fried Green Potatoes. Little Azio Pizza & Pasta offers delicious Italian food at prices much lower than its downtown competitors. Have a pizza made to your liking and enjoy some New York style cheesecake when your sweet tooth is calling.
Ormewood Park is conveniently located less than than five miles away from Downtown Atlanta. So if you work downtown, you only have to commute a short distance and still have the satisfaction of living in a quiet, peaceful, affordable neighborhood.
2. THE MOST HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN ATLANTA:
INMAN PARK
- Population: 3,609
- Average Rent: $4,595
- Average Cost of Living: $76,000/year
- Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
Top Employers in the Area:
- Emory University
- UPS
- The Coca Cola Company
- AT&T
As the city’s oldest planned neighborhood, Inman Park features some of Atlanta’s most dazzling Victorian era architecture, including the Beath-Dickey House and the recently restored Callan Castle mansion.
You’ll have no problem meeting friends, for the Inman Park Festival that is held every single year and includes tours, a parade, live musical performances, and dancing! If you enjoy biking and wish to meet neighbors who share your passion, you’re going to love the BeltLine Trail. The neighborhood park, trees, and gardens make for enamoring scenery. Do you enjoy reading? Join the Inman Park book club!
Given its beauty, it’s not surprising many people have inquired about taking up residence in this pretty Altanta neighborhood. In response, construction of condominiums, rental houses, and bungalows have substantially increased. So finding a place to live in Inman Park isn’t nearly as difficult as it used to be.
Inman Park is also home to some unique restaurants. At Wisteria, you can gobble some oyster appetizers before enjoying your selection from a list of entrees including grilled and black Angus sirloins, beef & veal meatballs, and vegetable platters. Barcelona features salamis, hams, sausage, and a wine list voted best by Creative Loafing readers this year. Italian food fans: don’t miss out on the pastas and meats offered at Il Localino, which was voted by AccessAtlanta.com as the best local Italian restaurant of 2012.
3. BE A PART OF THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE:
MIDTOWN
- Population: 18,947
- Average Rent: $2,686
- Average Cost of Living: $69,000/year
- Unemployment Rate: 5.6%
Top Employers in the Area:
- Equifax
- Investco
- The Coca Cola Company
- King & Spalding
- EarthLink
- Georgia Tech
- AT&T
- UPS
- IBM
In most big cities, downtown is where the glitz and glam is at. But in Atlanta, the headquarters for the social life is Midtown! The area is full of bike-friendly trails, so getting around Midtown is easy. The area is also rich with condos, high-rises, apartments, and houses for rent. So traveling from your residence to your job or favorite attraction is a cinch.
In regards to entertainment, there’s a little something for everyone here. Socializing is easy at Piedmont Park, which is complete with ball fields and tennis courts and often hosts events such as fitness programs and art festivals. The numerous museums, which includes the Museum of High Art and the Michael C. Carlos Museum, justifies Midtown’s nickname as “Heart of the Arts.”
How about a good place to take your special someone out for a fun time? See a pre-Broadway show at the Alliance Theatre, immerse yourself with Grammy-winning music via the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, or take a romantic stroll in Atlanta Botanical Garden.
In addition, the headquarters for many notable corporations are located here, including: Equifax, Investco, and The Coca-Cola Company.
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4. ATLANTA’S HIPPEST NEIGHBORHOOD:
LITTLE FIVE POINTS
- Population: 402
- Average Rent: $3,390
- Average Cost of Living: $75,000/year
- Unemployment Rate: 8.1%
Top Employers in the Area:
- UPS
- AT&T
- IBM
Are you set on finding the hippest neighborhood in Atlanta? Well, you’re going to fit right in at Little Five Points. This area is the city’s center for alternative culture. This is also a major center for tattoo parlors and body piercing, including Southern Star Tattoo, Kolo Piercing, and Sacred Heart Tattoo.
How are these for shop names? Criminal Records offers media-related purchases from CDs to DVDs to comics! Junkman’s Daughter features nifty trinkets, funky footwear, posters, books, and even costumes for Halloween! Psycho Sisters will settle your fashion needs from new trendy styles to vintage clothing. Little Five Points takes pride in being unique from other neighborhoods.
Little Five Points has a number of bars and diners. A few of the most popular hot spots are Tijuana Garage and Wrecking Bar Brewpub. The food’s great, too! Don’t just take our word for it. The Vortex Bar and Grill‘s Hell’s Fury Burger recently placed 30th in The Daily Meal‘s 101 Best Burgers in America list.
If you want a night of laughter, check out Dad’s Garage Theatre Company. Don’t forget about Variety Playhouse, complete with balcony seating, a nightclub, a theater, and performances of a variety of music genres: funk, rock, dance, and jazz. There’s a little something here in Little Five Points for everyone!
5. PRAISED BY ATLANTA RESIDENTS:
VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND
- Population: 7,834
- Average Rent: $2,560
- Average Cost of Living: $88,000/year
- Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
Top Employers in the Area:
- Emory University
- AT&T
- UPS
Virginia-Highland is one of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta, and you don’t even need to take our word for it! This neighborhood has been selected by residents as one of Atlanta’s best. Readers of Creative Loafing called the community the Best Overall Neighborhood in 2011 as well as the Best Walkable Neighborhood of 2012.
Affectionately known as VaHi by local residents, the neighborhood is made up of four commercial areas surrounded by bungalow homes. The Atlanta Beltline redevelopment project has made getting around easier than before with redeveloped pathways and trails.
There’s plenty going on here to justify residents’ love for this neighborhood. It has a concentrated bar and restaurant scene with establishments such as George’s Bar and Restaurant (“serving the best burgers and coldest beer in town since 1961,” their slogan says) and Paolo’s Gelato Italiano, run by Paolo Dalla Zorza since 2000 and featuring 62 flavors of delightful Italian ice cream!
Decorate for a wedding or party with the services of Faith Flowers, which also offers hands-own workshops for aspiring florists. Grab some coffee and pick from some clothing at Henry & June. Want to pretty up the house or apartment? Look no further than Ten Thousand Villages and its wide selection of handcrafted decorations.
There’s also plenty going on here, too! Community food drives, tours of antique homes, and most famous of all, the annual Summerfest! For 32 years now, this mid-year gathering supplies residents and tourists alike with foot races, kids events, scrumptious food, live music, arts shows, and more!
Also, don’t worry about a long drive out of town for work. If you work in Midtown, you’re less than two miles away!
6. THE SOCIAL DISTRICT OF ATLANTA:
BUCKHEAD
Quick Facts:
- Population: 84,895
- Average Rent: $4,874
- Average Cost of Living: $136,000/year
- Unemployment Rate: 4.2%
Top Employers in the Area:
- AT&T
- UPS
- Wellstar Health Systems
- Suntrust Bank
Although not technically a neighborhood, Buckhead is one of the most prominent districts in the city of Atlanta. Also known as the Beverly Hills of the South, the district presents plenty in the way of shopping, upscale housing, and entertainment, and yet all for a price considerably lower than what you would find on the west coast. Buckhead is also known as the fashion center for the city, with hundreds of boutiques in the district’s Shadowhaven subdivision. Much of Buckhead’s annual income is pulled from its hundreds of shopping outlets, including Phipps Plaza and the Lenox Square mall.
Once you have found the perfect outfit, where do you go for a good time in Atlanta? There are a number of first date-worthy restaurants in the area. There is tremendous diversity here to suit everyone’s personal taste. If you are looking for the perfect place to take a first date, try the fettucine and other pastas at Alfredo’s. Seafood-lovers, don’t miss out on the Hong Kong style seabass and cocktails at Atlanta Fish Market. In the mood for something, shall we say, more traditional? Buckhead Diner offers a variety of pleasant meals from tomato soup to steak and caesar sandwiches.
The Buckhead district is also located within sight of the lush trees and rolling hills. You also have access to some lovely parks. This includes Sunnybrook Park, which is beautiful with its foliage and stone bridges, and Tanyard Creek Park, complete with playgrounds and historic plaques. So you can enjoy the hustle and bustle while also enjoying the sight of Georgia’s lovely green countryside.
Buckhead is a great social center, and it’s also located within ten miles of the more economical Midtown. So young professionals with an eye on a great career can rest assured they don’t have to travel very far to work and can still enjoy the social extravagances of the Buckhead district!
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Are you a resident of any of these neighborhoods? Did we leave anything out? Let us know in the comments!
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All images have either been provided by a listed organization or are licensed under the Creative Commons.
All Quick Facts provided by AreaVibes.com and Realtor.com
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