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Hey all! Im a canadian RN in the process of relocating down to north carolina. Planning a scouting trip in the near future, have down my homework and have narrowed down my areas to either Greensboro or Raleigh durham area.
I want to hear from locals tho....which do you think is the better place to live?
Which is prettier, more hilly, more things to do in the way of biking, walking, outdoors stuff. I dont have kids, dont care about school systems and all that jazz....just want to get a good feel for either city. I want green spaces, something with a bit of culture (more then strip malls)....but im not artsy fartsy either.
What do you guys think? Lay it on me, i wanna hear the truth!
Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro are all kind of hilly, but the further west you go, the hillier it gets. So Greensboro may be a little hillier.
Greensboro has some nice parks where you can bike and walk. I'm not sure what other outdoorsy things there are here. I'm not much of an outdoors person. Pilot Mountain isn't too far. Neither is Hanging Rock or Stone Mountain. I imagine they're good for hiking and rock climbing.
Raleigh has pretty good museums. Art, history, science. They also have a symphony and I'm sure plays also.
Greensboro has a natural science center, history museum, and arboretum. Broadway shows sometimes come here. I'm sure they go to Raleigh also.
In my opinion, Greensboro is the most attractive of the three cities. Raleigh would be second.
Good luck making your decision. If you can make a trip down here and check out all three cities, I'm sure that would help.
There are more things to do in Charlotte or Raleigh, but the cost of living in Greensboro is WAY less....and the traffic isn't nearly as bad. It's right in the middle of the state....really a great place to live.
Hey all! Im a canadian RN in the process of relocating down to north carolina. Planning a scouting trip in the near future, have down my homework and have narrowed down my areas to either Greensboro or Raleigh durham area.
I want to hear from locals tho....which do you think is the better place to live?
Which is prettier, more hilly, more things to do in the way of biking, walking, outdoors stuff. I dont have kids, dont care about school systems and all that jazz....just want to get a good feel for either city. I want green spaces, something with a bit of culture (more then strip malls)....but im not artsy fartsy either.
What do you guys think? Lay it on me, i wanna hear the truth!
Thanks
Aimee
I have lived in Greensboro and Raleigh and I think Raleigh is, BY FAR, the better city. I felt Raleigh had many more things to do, better greenways, and is MUCH prettier.
Greensboro is more of a blue-collar city overall in my opinion. There aren't many places to go hang out, either. Winston is a dump (as is many area of Durham) and Greensboro doesn't even have a decent Mall. Raleigh has 3 malls that are all top-notch and nice shopping/dining areas like North Hills, Cameron Village, etc.
Raleigh also has more events such as concerts, plays, theater, etc.
Aside from the fact I met my current wife in Greensboro, and we got married there, I don't have any special fondness for the place.
I spend time in both areas for work. I also call on nurses in my line of work. I have a lot of transplanted RNs in Raleigh who love it. It is more "cosmopolitan" with more to do. Great, great medical facilities in both areas but overall the RN clients I call on just simply seem happier in Raleigh!
The previous poster mirrors my thoughts. I personally find it important to have arts, shopping, etc available. Raleigh reminds me of a smaller, cleaner Charlotte! Upscale shopping, friendly people. Not to knock Greensboro but if I had to choose, it would be Raleigh by FAR.
Good luck with your decision.
Actually, Greensboro has a very good mall. Four Seasons Town Centre. As well as Friendly Shopping Center. Both of which I shop at almost weekly.
I personally think Greensboro is more attractive (it's a matter of personal taste) and is certainly less hectic. I always get nervous in Raleigh with all that traffic.
I have lived in Greensboro and Raleigh and I think Raleigh is, BY FAR, the better city. I felt Raleigh had many more things to do, better greenways, and is MUCH prettier.
Greensboro is more of a blue-collar city overall in my opinion. There aren't many places to go hang out, either. Winston is a dump (as is many area of Durham) and Greensboro doesn't even have a decent Mall. Raleigh has 3 malls that are all top-notch and nice shopping/dining areas like North Hills, Cameron Village, etc.
Raleigh also has more events such as concerts, plays, theater, etc.
Aside from the fact I met my current wife in Greensboro, and we got married there, I don't have any special fondness for the place.
I agree with you that Raleigh has more night life than Greensboro. But our downtown is increasing getting to be a hot spot. There are a lot of young people that go downtown to socialize in the bars and clubs. However, I strongly disagree with you about Greensboro is a blue collar city. I am from Greensboro and lived there for 22 years and attend college there. There are very little industry and a lot of service and education jobs. Greensboro is a big college town. There are 6 colleges and universities alone in the city limits plus there are a lot of upscale neighbor hoods with nice homes. Greensboro is like a big neighborhood with a lot of trees.
Greensboro is also a better choice for family minded people. Raleigh has high crime and outrageous cost of living. Plus Greensboro has a more southern feel then Raliegh. Greensboro shopping is just as good as Raleigh. We have several new outdoor malls with top class stores and a indoor mall. It’s not a store in Raleigh that Greensboro doesn't have. In addition, we have malls in neighboring cities like High Point and Winston Salem which are minutes away.
I travel to Raleigh on occasion for work and have friends who live there. They all seem to love it. "They" are blue collar families and white collar singles.
That said, as a single person, I'd be interested in the fact that on Forbes Best Cities for Singles list, Raleigh ranked 6th while Greensboro squeezed in at 40th. (see link below for details)
We moved from NY, 12 years ago. We looked at the MSA's (Metro Statistical Area) of Greensboro-Winston, Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Having done the Metro thing, (lived in NY, Atlanta and Philadelphia) we were looking more for an area to settle down and raise a family.
All three areas have relatively the same populations. Charlotte is a wanna-be Atlanta. Raleigh-Durham is a pseudo-yuppie area. Greensboro-Winston lacks a big-time identity.
Let's face it, it is not where you live but what you do with where you live.
As far as NC being a good old boy/countrified state.. We are the 9th largest (by population) state in the US, ahead of most northeatern states. As a fact fact, if you were to discoutn NYC, we would be far larger than New York state.
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but if I had to choose, it would be Raleigh by FAR.
Greensboro Isn't Bad
Forbes Best Cities for Singles
