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In regards to the following criteria in that order
a. Enjoyable/ Warmer tolerable weather year round, without harsh winters
b. Quality/Cost of living/cost of home or rentals
c. Sr level career opportunities (IT/Corporate/R&D)
d. Affordable quality education for kids through public schools
e. Tolerable traffic during peak hours/availability of public transportation (reasonable/livable commute time between 10 [preferable] to 40 mins)
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation
g. Peaceful / reasonably less crime rate
Which one would you choose Charlotte, NC or Jacksonville, FL or Triangle Area, NC (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill -Cary)
a. Enjoyable/ Warmer tolerable weather year round, without harsh winters: Jacksonville
b. Quality/Cost of living/cost of home or rentals: all are pretty cheap
c. Sr level career opportunities (IT/Corporate/R&D): as of right now, the Triangle for IT/R&D; Charlotte for corporate
d. Affordable quality education for kids through public schools: can be found in each, but I think overall the Triangle, specifically Raleigh, has a better school system
e. Tolerable traffic during peak hours/availability of public transportation (reasonable/livable commute time between 10 [preferable] to 40 mins): I don't think there's a major difference between the three, but Jacksonville might win out since it's the smallest metro area of the three (the Triangle is being considered as one area here)
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation: Jacksonville
g. Peaceful / reasonably less crime rate: probably the Triangle, specifically Raleigh
I prefer Charlotte overall, but given the categories that were listed, those are the answers from my perspective. But I find all three to be quite livable with their own unique set of advantages.
a. Enjoyable/Warmer tolerable weather year round, without harsh winters - Jacksonville
b. Quality/Cost of living/cost of home or rentals - Tie
c. Sr level career opportunities (IT/Corporate/R&D) - Tie
d. Affordable quality education for kids through public schools - Triangle
e. Tolerable traffic during peak hours/availability of public transportation (reasonable/livable commute time between 10 [preferable] to 40 mins) - Jacksonville
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation - Jacksonville
a. Enjoyable/Warmer tolerable weather year round, without harsh winters - Jacksonville
b. Quality/Cost of living/cost of home or rentals - Tie
c. Sr level career opportunities (IT/Corporate/R&D) - Tie
d. Affordable quality education for kids through public schools - Triangle
e. Tolerable traffic during peak hours/availability of public transportation (reasonable/livable commute time between 10 [preferable] to 40 mins) - Jacksonville
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation - Jacksonville
g. Peaceful/reasonably less crime rate - Triangle
I agree with all except sr. level career opportunities. Jacksonville is better than Raleigh in corporate presence as far as headquarters go but definitely lags Charlotte and lags both in terms of IT. I know this isn't exactly scientific, but doing a simple search on careerbuilder.com (as of this moment) shows that Jacksonville has 335 jobs available in IT. The Triangle has 602 jobs available and Charlotte has 912 jobs available. For executive positions, Jacksonville has 17 jobs available, the Triangle 29 and Charlotte 57. On sites like careerbuilder.com you'll have some jobs posted twice and such so the numbers themselves are probably lower, but you still get a general idea of what the picture is like for each metro area.
I agree with all except sr. level career opportunities. Jacksonville is better than Raleigh in corporate presence as far as headquarters go but definitely lags Charlotte and lags both in terms of IT. I know this isn't exactly scientific, but doing a simple search on careerbuilder.com (as of this moment) shows that Jacksonville has 335 jobs available in IT. The Triangle has 602 jobs available and Charlotte has 912 jobs available. For executive positions, Jacksonville has 17 jobs available, the Triangle 29 and Charlotte 57. On sites like careerbuilder.com you'll have some jobs posted twice and such so the numbers themselves are probably lower, but you still get a general idea of what the picture is like for each metro area.
a. Enjoyable/ Warmer tolerable weather year round, without harsh winters Obviously this is subjective, but Raleigh and Charlotte have more of the 4 season climate than Jax.
b. Quality/Cost of living/cost of home or rentals Tie
c. Sr level career opportunities (IT/Corporate/R&D) Raleigh , especially in IT
d. Affordable quality education for kids through public schools Raleigh, though we have our problems (huge bussing controversy, etc.)
e. Tolerable traffic during peak hours/availability of public transportation (reasonable/livable commute time between 10 [preferable] to 40 mins) Charlotte and Raleigh can be pretty rough, so Jacksonville.
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation A lot of people are putting Jacksonville but all 3 really have good access.
g. Peaceful / reasonably less crime rate Raleigh. Only a few rough areas.
In regards to the following criteria in that order
a. Enjoyable/ Warmer tolerable weather year round, without harsh winters
b. Quality/Cost of living/cost of home or rentals
c. Sr level career opportunities (IT/Corporate/R&D)
d. Affordable quality education for kids through public schools
e. Tolerable traffic during peak hours/availability of public transportation (reasonable/livable commute time between 10 [preferable] to 40 mins)
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation
g. Peaceful / reasonably less crime rate
Which one would you choose Charlotte, NC or Jacksonville, FL or Triangle Area, NC (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill -Cary)
Thanks!
a.The Triangle or Charlotte
b.probably Charlotte or Jacksonville but not sure how cheap Jacksonville is
c.IT-def the Triangle, corporate-Charlotte
d.I only know about Charlotte so can't say
e.I would think Jacksonville easily
f.Jacksonville for beaches, Charlotte for mountains and lakes
g.probably the Triangle overall, Charlotte is pretty bad on this, and I think Jacksonville is too
Overall, I prefer Charlotte, I'm from Charlotte, but honestly years ago I would say Triangle for the atmosphere, but Charlotte has impressed me more and more in recent years, and I have decided I love living here more and more. I've never lived in Jacksonville but I would think the proximity to the beach and the attractions in Florida would be a huge plus.
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation A lot of people are putting Jacksonville but all 3 really have good access.
Yeah, but Jacksonville is essentially coastal. And as much as Charlotte and the Triangle have going for them, "scenic" is the last term I'd use to describe both areas. Jacksonville has the majestic St. John's River running through its downtown with palm trees planted throughout downtown and the city in general. The NC metros just can't really compete with that.
Help. We are trying to find a place to move. Coming from Arizona. Have horses. A teenage daughter. Looking at Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, or Alabama. Does anyone have suggestions. My husband can not decide and is driving me crazy.
It was close between Raleigh & Charlotte for me until I noticed you said Triangle. Yes a whole metro can trumpva city. Triangle wins out in COL (though specifc areas like Chapel Hill are more expensive), senior level IT jobs specifically (though Charlotte has plenty, probably more, professional jobs in general), better public schools (Charlotte's are fine and has been nationally recognized for their innovation in making them better. Conversely, more of the NCs top ranked HSs are in the Triangle, though there is turmoil amidst one of the school systems.) Triangle has quicker access to Beach and Mountains.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spalam01
In regards to the following criteria in that order
a. Enjoyable/ Warmer tolerable weather year round, without harsh winters
b. Quality/Cost of living/cost of home or rentals
c. Sr level career opportunities (IT/Corporate/R&D)
d. Affordable quality education for kids through public schools
e. Tolerable traffic during peak hours/availability of public transportation (reasonable/livable commute time between 10 [preferable] to 40 mins)
f. Scenic beauty/easy access to recreation
g. Peaceful / reasonably less crime rate
Which one would you choose Charlotte, NC or Jacksonville, FL or Triangle Area, NC (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill -Cary)
Thanks!
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