Hickory? (Charlotte, Asheville, Gastonia: for rent, crime rate, employment)

[l0stwithalice]

Hello,
I am thinking of relocating, i went through 6 years of school to become a teacher and there are no teaching positions where we are currently. I would like to move to NC, in the mountain/foothill region. I would not mind substitute teaching until i found a position but my husband will have to find work. He usually works in warehouse and is a blue collar worker. He would be fine with working at a local grocery market, in a deli, or a warehouse. Right now we pay 2k a month for rent in a horrible town for a small 3 bedroom house.
What we are looking for is a safe rural neighborhood which we can raise our two young girls. I am looking on citydata and the crime rates in north carolina are always so high! Is this true? Can anyone recommend safe clean rural areas? Im open to all of north carolina suggestions. We are looking for 1000 a month rent at the most. I like a night life, but i would rather be in a safe neighborhood where we can eventually purchase a home. I know north carolina unemployment rates are high but is this even for blue collar workers like my husband willing to work in the local chain store?

Thank you!

[nascarnancy]

Originally Posted by l0stwithalice

Hello,
I am thinking of relocating, i went through 6 years of school to become a teacher and there are no teaching positions where we are currently. I would like to move to NC, in the mountain/foothill region. I would not mind substitute teaching until i found a position but my husband will have to find work. He usually works in warehouse and is a blue collar worker. He would be fine with working at a local grocery market, in a deli, or a warehouse. Right now we pay 2k a month for rent in a horrible town for a small 3 bedroom house.
What we are looking for is a safe rural neighborhood which we can raise our two young girls. I am looking on citydata and the crime rates in north carolina are always so high! Is this true? Can anyone recommend safe clean rural areas? Im open to all of north carolina suggestions. We are looking for 1000 a month rent at the most. I like a night life, but i would rather be in a safe neighborhood where we can eventually purchase a home. I know north carolina unemployment rates are high but is this even for blue collar workers like my husband willing to work in the local chain store?

Thank you!

My neighbor works part time at our grocery store, her husband had lost his job and a position had opened up in the deli, luckily she got him in. They had over 200 applications for the one position. I would make sure at least one of you has a job before you move.

Asheville is a nice mountain town, it's 2 hours from Charlotte.

[southbound_295]

The supermarket chain that you want to check is Ingles. They are in the mountains & the foothills & are now moving into the western end of the Charlotte metro area. They have grocery stores & supermarkets. The most recent stores that I am aware of are supermarkets.

Keep their website to check for store locations & openings. Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies

Good luck

[anifani821]

That is excellent advice about Ingles.

Also, there are definitely decent towns in western NC and piedmont that would most likely provide the life you are looking for.

Some of the counties you should consider (and this is just a partial list but are counties where you might see a job listed)

Alexander (Taylorsville, Bethlehem)
Catawba (Newton, Conover, Hickory)
Caldwell (Lenoir, Granite Falls, Hudson)
Gaston (Gastonia)
Lincoln (Lincolnton)
Iredell (Statesville, Mooresville, Harmony

Those counties are not really in the mountains and have decent towns and school systems.

I would also check with Harris-Teeter, Lowes Foods, Bi-Lo and Food Lion just in case there may be openings in any of those counties.

I heard Target was opening a warehouse or distribution point in one of the counties - and it may have been Catawba County/Hickory. I think they were planning on hiring over 500 people, so be sure to check that IMMEDIATELY, as I do not recall when that is opening. You would want to get your hubby's application in or find out where to send it.

In Catawba County - there are 3 school systems (last time I checked) so contact Hickory City Schools, Catawba County Schools and Newton-Conover School system.

I hope this helps. You are paying way too much rent - that would be so demoralizing. Shoot for getting a job in the piedmont of NC - you will have a decent cost of living and your kids will be raised in a area that offers some town/city access and also some rural experiences - a good mix.

[l0stwithalice]

Thank you for the information, im concerned about the crime rate in North Carolina, when i look at city data it is a lot higher then what I am used to in NJ, is this the case?

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by l0stwithalice

Thank you for the information, im concerned about the crime rate in North Carolina, when i look at city data it is a lot higher then what I am used to in NJ, is this the case?

I can understand that. The FBI data makes this area look like Compton in California or Camden in New Jersey.

Those stats can color things to look a lot worse than they are. Most violent crime happens b/n folks who know one another (such as w/ drug related crime). So keep that in mind.

Property crime is more wide-spread, but it all depends on where you live, what kind of safety habits you have, etc. Now cars can be stolen anywhere, but some areas seem to get targeted.

I am a native and have never have been a victim of crime here. But again - I am in a pretty safe area and I am very careful w/ my property and security.

Don't know where you are now, but I bet you are careful and if you keep those habits, you will be fine.

[l0stwithalice]

i was surprised at the city data that a majority of the neighborhoods in nc have a high crime rate! The concern is for our children really.

is your name for ani difranco?

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

That is excellent advice about Ingles.

Also, there are definitely decent towns in western NC and piedmont that would most likely provide the life you are looking for.

Some of the counties you should consider (and this is just a partial list but are counties where you might see a job listed)

Alexander (Taylorsville, Bethlehem)
Catawba (Newton, Conover, Hickory)
Caldwell (Lenoir, Granite Falls, Hudson)
Gaston (Gastonia)
Lincoln (Lincolnton)
Iredell (Statesville, Mooresville, Harmony

Those counties are not really in the mountains and have decent towns and school systems.

I would also check with Harris-Teeter, Lowes Foods, Bi-Lo and Food Lion just in case there may be openings in any of those counties.

I heard Target was opening a warehouse or distribution point in one of the counties - and it may have been Catawba County/Hickory. I think they were planning on hiring over 500 people, so be sure to check that IMMEDIATELY, as I do not recall when that is opening. You would want to get your hubby's application in or find out where to send it.

In Catawba County - there are 3 school systems (last time I checked) so contact Hickory City Schools, Catawba County Schools and Newton-Conover School system.

I hope this helps. You are paying way too much rent - that would be so demoralizing. Shoot for getting a job in the piedmont of NC - you will have a decent cost of living and your kids will be raised in a area that offers some town/city access and also some rural experiences - a good mix.

Ani,

The OP's husband should not apply to Food Lion in Cleveland & Gaston Counties, because the existing employees have had their hours cut severely. The Kings Mountain & Dallas Ingles supermarkets are killing Food Lion. I have not heard about the other chains, but I have heard from 2 Food Lion employees that at least 1 store will probably close soon.

Since Kings Mountain & Dallas have both opened in the last year & are so successful, I'd guess that they will keep opening stores, in spite of the economy. Whether the next store will be in Hickory or if they will continue toward Charlotte is anyone's guess.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by l0stwithalice

i was surprised at the city data that a majority of the neighborhoods in nc have a high crime rate! The concern is for our children really.

is your name for ani difranco?

Well, I was raised here and my son was raised here for a while (we moved to Kansas City and came back here in 2002). My sister is putting 3 kids thru/ school here . . . and we all are doing fine. My friends have put kids thru/ the school system here - some are older but some have children in school right now. So all I can relay to you is that we have all done well and lived happy lives w/o being victims of crime.

If I knew where you lived now, I am sure that I - and others who are familiar with your state - could give you some comparisons.

Also - as far as jobs - sounds to me that SouthBound has more inside info on grocery stores than I do. I was just throwing some names out there. I would take her advice over mine, LOL!!!!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Well, I was raised here and my son was raised here for a while (we moved to Kansas City and came back here in 2002). My sister is putting 3 kids thru/ school here . . . and we all are doing fine. My friends have put kids thru/ the school system here - some are older but some have children in school right now. So all I can relay to you is that we have all done well and lived happy lives w/o being victims of crime.

If I knew where you lived now, I am sure that I - and others who are familiar with your state - could give you some comparisons.

Also - as far as jobs - sounds to me that SouthBound has more inside info on grocery stores than I do. I was just throwing some names out there. I would take her advice over mine, LOL!!!!

Thanks, Ani!

All of your advice is dead-on. I just wanted to mention that Food Lion should not be considered an employment option in this area, & why. Honestly, I don't have a clue what Ingles' effect is on Harris Teeter. There aren't a lot of them out here & the ones I've seen are mostly smaller, older, somewhat run-down looking places, so they may be getting steam-rolled by Ingles too. The Aldis are doing well, so that might be another option.

Alice, I came down from South Jersey. I don't know which town you're in, but your rent sounds like North Jersey. Don't get worked up about the crime stats. This is not the crime capital of the world.