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It's also worth noting that NC was hit especially hard by the recession and the loss of low-skill jobs in the traditional sectors of textiles and furniture. Charlotte and Raleigh get a lot of attention from North easterners, but I'm not sure a lot of people realize that a large portion of NC is pretty poor.
NC is getting strained, partially (IMO) because the state and counties simply weren't collecting enough revenue. Growth was not made to pay for itself, (IMO) because of the fear the developers and builders would take their plans somewhere else -- without impact fees -- for example.
I think this is true of large parts of most SE states. Their rural areas tended to be poorer than New York's, and they haven't significantly improved because of the decline of local manufacturing and farming, which is just like what happened in NY's rural areas or the Midwest's. People who vacation in the touristy areas or retire to the bigger metros don't realize that all that "prosperity" that they see doesn't extend evenly across any state. Western NC is pretty poor country as is upcountry SC, southwestern Georgia, most of Mississippi and East Tennessee. There are pockets of prosperity like Asheville or Knoxville but they're exceptions, and that's no different than in New York or New Mexico or anywhere else that has lots of rural area.
Oh, come on. I can assure you that many of us who've moved to the south's metro areas are fully aware of what lies outside of them. We're not all living down here in some sort of isolated la-la land. And despite all the evils of the more rural south you might (in some cases rightfully) have in your mind, there are many cultural things that are worth embracing and appreciating.
Here in NJ, you can easily pay $1000 a month in property tax. That's just serious money to me. But, to be fair, I am finding that jobs here pay easily $12k more a year. So, all factors must be considered.
It's not 1:1 though. To pay $12,000 more in increased COL you really need to make closer to $20,000 more in income.
Oh, come on. I can assure you that many of us who've moved to the south's metro areas are fully aware of what lies outside of them. We're not all living down here in some sort of isolated la-la land. And despite all the evils of the more rural south you might (in some cases rightfully) have in your mind, there are many cultural things that are worth embracing and appreciating.
Plus with the money saved it'll easily pay for a couple of trips per year to NYC for other culture. How many non-commuting people on Long Island or in Westchester actually travel to NYC more than a few times per year anyway?
Oh, come on. I can assure you that many of us who've moved to the south's metro areas are fully aware of what lies outside of them. We're not all living down here in some sort of isolated la-la land. And despite all the evils of the more rural south you might (in some cases rightfully) have in your mind, there are many cultural things that are worth embracing and appreciating.
Its called city snobbery.I live in Atlanta and every since I moved from downtown to the suburbs ny friends act somewhat different but i giess I have changed a liittle too.
I grew up in suburbs all my life but then I bought my first place and I moved in the heart of the city and have never looked back,
In NYC unless your well off living in NYC LI tax area one is forced to relocate because of the cost of living...
I left 9 years ago when my property and school taxes went over $15,000 a year...That's a lot of scratch to cover when your retired...I believe the majority don't move to Florida to live,,it's more an affordable place to die.
I think this is true of large parts of most SE states. Their rural areas tended to be poorer than New York's, and they haven't significantly improved because of the decline of local manufacturing and farming, which is just like what happened in NY's rural areas or the Midwest's. People who vacation in the touristy areas or retire to the bigger metros don't realize that all that "prosperity" that they see doesn't extend evenly across any state. Western NC is pretty poor country as is upcountry SC, southwestern Georgia, most of Mississippi and East Tennessee. There are pockets of prosperity like Asheville or Knoxville but they're exceptions, and that's no different than in New York or New Mexico or anywhere else that has lots of rural area.
I posted before and I'll post it again:
Rural NY > Rural South
Citified South > Citified NY
NYC is the exception for many, but I don't like NYC so its not an exception to me. Also said, I still even like the citified areas of Upstate NY. I actually like Rochester and Syracuse quite a bit. But I like Raleigh, Nashville, Charleston and Austin quite a bit more. Straight up, they are better cities right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MinkeyM
Oh, come on. I can assure you that many of us who've moved to the south's metro areas are fully aware of what lies outside of them. We're not all living down here in some sort of isolated la-la land. And despite all the evils of the more rural south you might (in some cases rightfully) have in your mind, there are many cultural things that are worth embracing and appreciating.
This is 100% true. I love the Raleigh metro but I'm quite aware, and have posted many times, that the surrounding areas are not that great, and in some ways, downright scary.
Oh, come on. I can assure you that many of us who've moved to the south's metro areas are fully aware of what lies outside of them. We're not all living down here in some sort of isolated la-la land. And despite all the evils of the more rural south you might (in some cases rightfully) have in your mind, there are many cultural things that are worth embracing and appreciating.
I'm not knocking the South, and in fact, I like a lot of the Southern culture - probably only the overly religious aspect of Southern culture is seriously off-putting to me. I'm just saying that the "transplant culture" that seems to have grown up in many of the areas popular with retirees and other migrants seems to foster the belief among their residents (almost none of whom seem to be locals at all) that the South is the Land of Milk and Honey where there are so many jobs and the taxes are so low that anybody would be a fool to stay in NY. It seems like they traded their "normal" existence in the North for this fantasy existence where everybody is either upper middle class or a well off retiree like they are or is invisible. Maybe this is most noticeable in the relatively new areas that were built since about 2000 but I noticed it in both Virginia and especially in the Carolinas.
Plus with the money saved it'll easily pay for a couple of trips per year to NYC for other culture. How many non-commuting people on Long Island or in Westchester actually travel to NYC more than a few times per year anyway?
When living in OCofNY, most people there who went into the city were commuting to/from work, and that was the extent of it. It wasn't exactly a hugely cultural group of people, in general. They weren't in line for the latest exibit at the Met, or anything.
And I heard more much openly racist remarks when there than I have since moving here.
I'm not knocking the South, and in fact, I like a lot of the Southern culture - probably only the overly religious aspect of Southern culture is seriously off-putting to me. I'm just saying that the "transplant culture" that seems to have grown up in many of the areas popular with retirees and other migrants seems to foster the belief among their residents (almost none of whom seem to be locals at all) that the South is the Land of Milk and Honey where there are so many jobs and the taxes are so low that anybody would be a fool to stay in NY. It seems like they traded their "normal" existence in the North for this fantasy existence where everybody is either upper middle class or a well off retiree like they are or is invisible. Maybe this is most noticeable in the relatively new areas that were built since about 2000 but I noticed it in both Virginia and especially in the Carolinas.
You're right about some of those transplants down here.
We like to hang with the locals, lol.
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