what about Hickory? (Charlotte, Lenoir: renting, wage, tax)

[flycessna]

When I first started to look at NC Hickory was one of the first places I looked. I took a relocation quiz (google hot/top spot quiz) and hickory was my first recomendation. As I continued to look further into NC I saw there were still plenty of opportunities(affordable housing) in Union County and I thought that I might as well be as close to Charlotte as possible. But I must admitt I havn't written off hickory. I currently live in Lewiston Maine. An old mill town thats been hit hard the last 25 yrs with loss of jobs ect. and though the city has worked tirelessly to improve its image and bring some growth, I am just so sick of hearing about "revitalization" and front page stories of how there are 40 new low wage service jobs coming to town. I am not disgruntled, just tired of waiting for the big change. Hickory, though it may have had a similiar demise, I wonder if its location (South, and proximity to a major city) has a stronger and brighter future.

Has hickory seen the growth like the charlotte area?

Does Hickory have a poor reputation among charlottonians as a place not to live ect.?

Pro's/Con's Hickory vs Charlotte area?

[DUKE1989]

I visit the area several times a year I have not seen any new businesses other then retail. Someone mentioned that Google was moving to Lenoir to start a business that will employee about 250 people. Problem is Lenoir gave huge tax payer consessions to attract google. Many wonder if if Lenoir will break even in the deal or if they paid to much.

[Carolina_native]

Originally Posted by flycessna

When I first started to look at NC Hickory was one of the first places I looked. I took a relocation quiz (google hot/top spot quiz) and hickory was my first recomendation. As I continued to look further into NC I saw there were still plenty of opportunities(affordable housing) in Union County and I thought that I might as well be as close to Charlotte as possible. But I must admitt I havn't written off hickory. I currently live in Lewiston Maine. An old mill town thats been hit hard the last 25 yrs with loss of jobs ect. and though the city has worked tirelessly to improve its image and bring some growth, I am just so sick of hearing about "revitalization" and front page stories of how there are 40 new low wage service jobs coming to town. I am not disgruntled, just tired of waiting for the big change. Hickory, though it may have had a similiar demise, I wonder if its location (South, and proximity to a major city) has a stronger and brighter future.

Has hickory seen the growth like the charlotte area?

Does Hickory have a poor reputation among charlottonians as a place not to live ect.?

Pro's/Con's Hickory vs Charlotte area?

To compare Charlottes growth to almost any city in the country is almost uncomparable. Hickory is growing however.

I can not speak about Charlotteans opinion of Hickory, hopefully someone will chime in?

Hickory is still a "southern city". You can expect to hear a southern accent in Hickory much more common than anywhere in Charlotte. Hickory has alot lower transplant ratio. Traffic is a lot lower in Hickory than Charlotte. Hickory is located in the foothills, Charlotte is located in the piedmont. Charlotte is a major city, skyscrapers, everything. Hickory is a lot smaller, with all the basic things you would need. There are so many differences but also similarites between the cities....

Hickory does have a bright future. Hickory is around a little over an hours drive or so from the Charlotte city limits. The city is growing, and I think that the most recent growth owes part of it to the population explosion of the Charlotte area.

[niknaxx]

Originally Posted by flycessna

When I first started to look at NC Hickory was one of the first places I looked. I took a relocation quiz (google hot/top spot quiz) and hickory was my first recomendation. As I continued to look further into NC I saw there were still plenty of opportunities(affordable housing) in Union County and I thought that I might as well be as close to Charlotte as possible. But I must admitt I havn't written off hickory. I currently live in Lewiston Maine. An old mill town thats been hit hard the last 25 yrs with loss of jobs ect. and though the city has worked tirelessly to improve its image and bring some growth, I am just so sick of hearing about "revitalization" and front page stories of how there are 40 new low wage service jobs coming to town. I am not disgruntled, just tired of waiting for the big change. Hickory, though it may have had a similiar demise, I wonder if its location (South, and proximity to a major city) has a stronger and brighter future.

Has hickory seen the growth like the charlotte area?

Does Hickory have a poor reputation among charlottonians as a place not to live ect.?

Pro's/Con's Hickory vs Charlotte area?

I apologize, don't know a lot about Hickory. But before I met my husband, he lived there and loved it. He liked renting on Lake Hickory and taking out the jet ski. It's probably his favorite city in NC and he's lived outside of several more cities than I have.