I'm looking for a camera under $1k, from the little research I've done, it appears that Canon and Nikon are the best choices.
My bet is that everyone who has a Canon will tell you to buy a Canon and the Nikon users will recommend Nikon.
If you want more informed advice you will have to give us more information. It's like asking "I need some speakers, what should I buy?" If I didn't tell you about the intended use any advice would just be random noise. But you will do fine with either brand. Both have a wide selection of products.
The thing with SLRs is that when you buy that first camera system you are pretty much committed to that brand for all future purchases "forever". Switching brands is like switching spouses - expensive and unpleasant. Think about the kit of equipment you might want to own in 5 years and buy the brand that will be best in the long run. saving $100 on a SLR body now is a trivial and short sighted reason to pick a brand even if it is the way most people do it.
The way to decide is to look at the full product line of both companies. Look at the used market too. $1K is a low budget when it comes to SLRs. You are looking at just about entry level. So do check out the used market. I'd recommend a new camera body and a "kit" lens. Put someof that $1K budget aside wile you shoot a few thousand frames with the kit lens. Then when you know what you want go shopping for a used lens so you can get the shots your kits lens can't.
I'd plan it out so that after a year or so you should spend about 50% of budget on a camera body and 50% on lenses. Year later most people have far more invested in lenses than body. Most start with the $110 kit lens. You never actually "finish" buying an SLR system. You will upgrade and change out parts for the rest of your life. You will need a budget. It can be $250 or $5K per year, forever.
