Michigan to Charlotte, NC (Raleigh, Gaston: sales, apartment, rent) - City-Data Forum

*MichiganGirl* · 10-27-2007, 12:37 PM

Hi All,

Just a simple question really. Anyone move to Charlotte, NC from Michigan? The reason I say Michigan is because it's really the only state I know having grown up here my enitre life. So it's easier for me to associate with. Other northerners feel free to reply if you like.

#1. Has anyone Moved from Michigan to North Carolina?

#2. Do you like it or dislike it?

#3. What are some differences (good and bad)?

#4. General cost of living higher or lower?

Thank you in advance!

megassel · 10-27-2007, 03:38 PM

Yes, we moved from MI 14 years ago. I'm from Kzoo and hubby is from Mount Clemens. We obviously love it - we're here to stay. Besides, my whole family has left MI so I have nobody to go back to.

It was a culture shock back then - I don't know how much it would be now. It's very rare that you meet a native here these days.

I miss being able to get to a real beach in under an hour (Lake Michigan), but we go to the ocean quite a lot. There are also many fabulous weekend trips to various mountain destinations. I love the location down here - we're so close to so many places. There are so many neat places to explore around here.

Charlotte tends to be the land of the strip mall, which I'm not crazy about - there is loads of shopping of every flavour. And it's also the land of the subdivision - the neighborhoods aren't integrated together as they are in MI. I'm used to that now so I'm less annoyed by it.

We moved here right out of college, so it's tough to comment on the cost of living. I know housing is more expensive than in Kzoo, but Kzoo is a smaller city so I'd expect that. And sales tax when we moved was 4% in MI - it's 7.5% in Charlotte (I think it was 6% in 1993). That was sticker shock - especially that we had to pay tax on groceries. If I had to guess, I'd say the cost of living is comparable to most areas of MI.

The weather and jobs were the main draws then. The weather is obvious - we have 1-2 months of mild winter here versus 5-6 months of crud up there. The job market is much better down here than in most areas of MI, but don't think it's the land of milk and honey. A quick review of some of the Charlotte threads will demonstrate that it's tough to get a job here these days.

All told, I think MI is a wonderful place to live, and if I could get a good job there and cut the winter in half, I might want to move back. However, I'm not sure how much of that is just nostalgia for my childhood.

My husband, on the other hand, could not be dragged back to MI.

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MichiganGirl*

Hi All,
Just a simple question really. Anyone move to Charlotte, NC from Michigan? The reason I say Michigan is because it's really the only state I know having grown up here my enitre life. So it's easier for me to associate with. Other northerners feel free to reply if you like.

#1. Has anyone Moved from Michigan to North Carolina?

#2. Do you like it or dislike it?

#3. What are some differences (good and bad)?

#4. General cost of living higher or lower?

Thank you in advance!

SuperchargedSS · 10-27-2007, 03:54 PM

our neighbors moved from Michigan, born and raised there and they seem to love it here. Though we are not in Charlotte, we are on the north end of Lake Norman.

UNCMetsGal · 10-27-2007, 05:46 PM

Hubby is a born and raised Michigander. I was raised in NYC, and moved to Charlotte (with parents) as a HS senior. I met/married hubby and moved to be with him in MI in 2001. We lived in Novi (suburban Detroit) for two years, before I got fed up with the winters there. Between the cold, and the gray, and the roads, it was time to leave. He found a job in Raleigh, and we moved. He's since found another job, and we're moving to Charlotte.

He could not be bribed with a million dollars to go back to Michigan. I am 100% with him on that sentiment.

Good Luck with your decision!

SuperchargedSS · 10-27-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaleighCEPark

He could not be bribed with a million dollars to go back to Michigan. I am 100% with him on that sentiment.

wow, for a million dollars I'd live almost anywhere, heh heh

mrsjdaniels · 10-27-2007, 08:29 PM

we are in the early relo stages now from Detroit area to Charlotte...I can only wait until June 08 so much longer...

megassel · 10-27-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjdaniels

we are in the early relo stages now from Detroit area to Charlotte...I can only wait until June 08 so much longer...

Hubby has relatives still on the NE side of Detroit, and we have a lot of friends in the Western burbs and Ypsi - it's tough up there right now, I know. Best of luck with your transition. You'll love it down here.

trishlee · 10-27-2007, 10:35 PM

We lived in Ann Arbor for a few years and near Toledo, OH for the last 16. We are moving to Charlotte. Hubby has been there for a month already and LOVES it. I can't wait to join him. We are sooooo looking forward to NC and no more long, gray winters. It is the gray more than the cold that I hate. We are sick of weeks and weeks of no sun. It has started already up here. NC here we come. I know I will love it and wonder why we didn't move years ago.

jaynarie · 10-28-2007, 06:17 AM

I moved from the Flint area to the Lake Norman area. I moved alone, so I can't say I LOVE it, as I miss my family and friends tons!! But, as for the area, I do love it! Traffic stinks, but I wouldn't live anywhere else! I chose this area because it reminded me the most of home. I actually commute nearly and hour to Rowan county, where I teach. It is smaller, and a more of the country type area. The cost of living is higher here. Groceries, rent. I pay more than double the rent that I did in Michigan for a one bedroom apartment, and in Michigan it included heat! I do not know that much about Charlotte, but I am familiar with surrounding areas. I applied for jobs in Gaston County and visited there, and I am familiar with the Lake area communities. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

muffinman · 10-28-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MichiganGirl*

Hi All,

Just a simple question really. Anyone move to Charlotte, NC from Michigan? The reason I say Michigan is because it's really the only state I know having grown up here my enitre life. So it's easier for me to associate with. Other northerners feel free to reply if you like.

#1. Has anyone Moved from Michigan to North Carolina?

#2. Do you like it or dislike it?

#3. What are some differences (good and bad)?

#4. General cost of living higher or lower?

Thank you in advance!

#1 Moved from Grand Rapids 4 years ago

#2 Happily married, employed so yes.

#3 Differences good: was able to find a job here
Differences bad: infrastructure (sewer, sidewalks, etc) is sorely lacking

#4 Cost of living...not sure. Heating expenses would be more in MI, but A/C expense would be higher here. Been here long enough that I can't really judge this one too well. We try to be conscious and, of course, invest.