good place to move? (Charlotte, Matthews: crime, job market, living in)

[Rocknrollheart]

I'm open to any help, have been living in suburban Chicago and would love to relocate to somewhere warmer and less expensive. I'm a woman in my 50's, divorced, who loves outdoor activities. What is the job market like there? Are there many single people, or is it mostly families? I'd love to be part of a community, are people welcoming to newcomers? Thank you!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Rocknrollheart

I'm open to any help, have been living in suburban Chicago and would love to relocate to somewhere warmer and less expensive. I'm a woman in my 50's, divorced, who loves outdoor activities. What is the job market like there? Are there many single people, or is it mostly families? I'd love to be part of a community, are people welcoming to newcomers? Thank you!

Charlotte is certainly warmer, with nowhere near the severe winters of Chicago Ever heard of "Carolina blue skies"? They really do exist and are just lovely.

And it's a great city for newcomers because so many here are new themselves.

It's also a great jumping off point for many fun outdoor adventures. Check out the most popular meetup type club/group - CHOA Carolina Outdoor Adventures - sport social outdoor adventures

On the down side for you, Charlotte IS mostly a family oriented city. If you want to date a lot you may find it a tough place to do that.

In addition, the job market is tough. The unemployment rate is higher than the national average. That's because so many people want to be here. Not sure what your field is, but there is often very stiff competition for existing jobs. Still, you won't know until you try!

I'd suggest you come for an extended visit and get a feel for things first hand

[BethDiGiona]

If you have the money, Piper Glen is nice. If you don't have the money, Matthews and Mint Hill are still nice with reasonable property prices. The crime is a bit lower than the rest of the city, I think.