Coming to Gastonia (Charlotte, Mooresville, Cramerton: crime, chapel, townhouse)

[Cyn]

I am a single AA female with a 14 year old son. I am moving to the Charlotte area, probably Gastonia, summer 2008. I chose Gastonia because that is where I visited. I work in the accounting field. I have several questions: How far is the commute from Gastonia to downtown Charlotte? What are my options for a high school student both public and private? Where may I find a nice/upgraded 2 bdrm, 2 bath townhouse? What is the public transportation system like if I wanted to commute from Gastonia to downtown Charlotte for job purposes? This is a good start.

[Dakota4791]

I lived in Gastonia for 1.5 years around 1999 - wouldn't move there again if you doubled my salary. There's a reason it's known as "The murder capital of North Carolina."

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Dakota4791

I lived in Gastonia for 1.5 years around 1999 - wouldn't move there again if you doubled my salary. There's a reason it's known as "The murder capital of North Carolina."

You're kidding right? I have NEVER heard this term used to describe Gastonia - shame on you for trying to mislead the original poster!

Gastonia has a handful of murders a year, maybe 5 all last year - not bad for a city of almost 70,000. While I would not chose Gastonia as my first option when moving to NC, it is certainly no hell hole and has some nice surrounding areas. Commute into uptown Charlotte is also much better from there than other areas around Charlotte.

[GastoniaNative]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

You're kidding right? I have NEVER heard this term used to describe Gastonia - shame on you for trying to mislead the original poster!

Gastonia has a handful of murders a year, maybe 5 all last year - not bad for a city of almost 70,000. While I would not chose Gastonia as my first option when moving to NC, it is certainly no hell hole and has some nice surrounding areas. Commute into uptown Charlotte is also much better from there than other areas around Charlotte.

I've lived in West Gastonia for almost my entire life and my family has never been a victim of a single crime. I feel perfectly safe almost anywhere in this city. Yeah, it's a little run down in parts but the city has alot of character, more than almost any other suburban city in the Charlotte area. You could even say that Gastonia has more "character" than Charlotte itself.

I'm very excited about the future for my hometown. When Loray Mill is renovated, the city is absolutely going to explode. It's an exciting time.

[friendnc]

Originally Posted by Dakota4791

I lived in Gastonia for 1.5 years around 1999 - wouldn't move there again if you doubled my salary. There's a reason it's known as "The murder capital of North Carolina."

I lived in Gastonia nearly my whole life and NEVER had one crime problem. NEVER! I actually loved living there. It's has no more "run down" areas than any other city. Just take a few hours sometime, drop the stereotypes, and drive around town and you'll see (Union Rd., E. Garrison Blvd., New Hope Rd., Robinwood Rd., Kendrick Rd., nearly all of east and SE Gastonia, Chapel Grove/Crowders Mnt. areas, ect, ect, ect). The home prices are good and it's not growing at a break-neck pace (I consider a good thing).

It's got one of the best road systems in the metro. Commute time will depend on where you live. But it's one of the best commutes into Charlotte compared to other suuburbs. I'm not sure if it has an express bus into Charlotte.

The bad spot is the schools. Overall, they're not great. BUT, there is a very good school zone in SE Gastonia that I'd highly recommend (Bess or Robinson Elem., Cramerton Mid., Forestview HS). As far as private schools, Gaston Day School and Gaston Christain School are very good. There is an excellent technology magnet high school (Highland).

I hope this helps. PM me if you need anymore info. Good luck and welcome!!!

[Charlottean]

This website is becoming worse everyday. So much misleading and bad information from people that don't have the first clue as to what they are talking about.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Charlottean

This website is becoming worse everyday. So much misleading and bad information from people that don't have the first clue as to what they are talking about.

I think some people just love to come here to start trouble or stir things up - some kind of weird, pathetic power trip

[AOYAS]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

I think some people just love to come here to start trouble or stir things up - some kind of weird, pathetic power trip

I guess it's easier for people to be bullies when they're doing it anonymously online, rather than face to face in real life.

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by Dakota4791

I lived in Gastonia for 1.5 years around 1999 - wouldn't move there again if you doubled my salary. There's a reason it's known as "The murder capital of North Carolina."

Geez...that's news to me. A buddy of mine moved to Gastonia back in 1999. He wasn't at all crazy about living there but not once did he ever even imply that it was "Murder Capital of North Carolina". That's just bad info.

[Queen City Lover]

Gastonia is not that bad at all...true in the past it has had the worst reputation of any Charlotte suburb and I use to feel the same way until I moved to the Mountain Island Lake area of Northwest Mecklenburg and have gone to Gastonia many times in the last 12 months for different things...it is really growing and has a ways to go but it is at least growing...sad thing is that a lot of locals don't like change or outsiders there...and some don't even like people from Mecklenburg County but they drive themselves to Charlotte to work/eat/play...and I said some...not all.

It all depends on what you are looking for...talking about schools...I would not put a child in CMS (Charlotte-Mecklenburg) for anything...statistics prove it over and over and over again...the #1 and #2 rated school districts in Metro Charlotte are --FORT MILL & MOORESVILLE City Schools--.

You will find good and bad in all areas in all towns/cities...if you look for trouble...you can usually find it...if you don't...you usually will not...so good luck everyone.