|
10-10-2006, 05:36 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
22 posts, read 23,505 times
Reputation: 11
|
|
Charlotte vs Raleigh area
Hello,
I just got back from a trip to Charlotte with my husband and another couple. We are in our early thirties and are thinking of moving there. We both really liked the area. I would like to get more information about the Raleigh area and compare it to Charlotte. We are both in healthcare so I think we can find jobs in either area, although we both see more postings in our fields in the Raleigh area. I am from NY and my husband from Florida. We are looking for an area with a more moderate climate than either FL or NY and a good quality of life. Please comment on the comparison of these 2 areas.
Thank you
|
|
10-10-2006, 06:28 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
22 posts, read 23,505 times
Reputation: 11
|
|
|
Thanks for the info. What about shopping, restaurants? Does the Raleigh area have a downtown like Charlotte? Also does Raleigh have suburbs with small towns? We noticed in Charlotte the towns were very small surrounding the city such as Matthews, but all the new shopping centers were very nice. I like that there were some older areas that had character plus new areas that seemed to not just be typical stip malls but they had some character to them. Is Raleigh like that?
Thanks
|
|
10-10-2006, 06:43 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2006
5,318 posts, read 6,323,485 times
Reputation: 2468
|
|
|
Personally, I think the shopping resources in Charlotte are better, but that's understandable considering the differences in population. Both have city cores surrounded by new suburban areas. Both have high growth.
|
|
10-10-2006, 07:47 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Concord, NC
1,416 posts, read 1,719,595 times
Reputation: 347
|
|
|
You really can't go wrong with either area. Both rank VERY high nationally. The city of Raleigh has a lower crime rate than the city of Charlotte, but the suburbs of both cities are very safe. Even with Charlotte, it's just certain areas that area bad. We just stay out of those and we never have felt threatened. The Raleigh area has more colleges and has some great schools. Both economies are very, very strong. Both have good airports, but Charlotte's is bigger and has a lot of non-stop and international flights. Charlotte has more recreational assets overall. Uptown Charlotte is lively and very "big city" with lots to do. The Raleigh areas cost of living is a little higher. Both are very clean, with lots of trees and beautiful landscaping. The climates are about the same. It's hard to say. Both are great areas. It just depnds on what you are looking for. Good luck in your search!!!
|
|
10-10-2006, 08:29 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Lexington NC
11 posts, read 9,469 times
Reputation: 24
|
|
Charlotte
Charlotte is a great place to be and very pretty, very classy and clean, nice weather, and nice shops and homes.
Raleigh is ok, not so clean, Charlotte is just so much better.
|
|
10-10-2006, 08:33 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
22 posts, read 23,505 times
Reputation: 11
|
|
|
Thanks, all of your information is very helpful!
|
|
10-10-2006, 08:36 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
484 posts, read 604,075 times
Reputation: 132
|
|
|
Both areas are nice.. but I would argue that the Triangle is a better location and is "classier". Crabtree Valley Mall has plenty of high-end shops and is the largest mall in the state. Overall, Raleigh is extremely clean and has more "nice" areas. Charlotte's Uptown IS better than Raleigh's downtown, but when you combine the accessibility of three downtowns (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), the Triangle area offers much more. Also the Triangle has three big well-regarded universities and Charlotte has none. Nightlife in the Triangle is much better than in Charlotte. Also you are closer to the northeast... and there are way more jobs in the healthcare field. You will also find more of a mid-atlantic culture whereas in Charlotte the culture is way more southern. Meaning more sweet tea and country music...
|
|
10-10-2006, 08:44 PM
|
|
Not a member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Cornelius
2,309 posts
Reputation: 287
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tarp
Both areas are nice.. but I would argue that the Triangle is a better location and is "classier". Crabtree Valley Mall has plenty of high-end shops and is the largest mall in the state. Overall, Raleigh is extremely clean and has more "nice" areas. Charlotte's Uptown IS better than Raleigh's downtown, but when you combine the accessibility of three downtowns (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), the Triangle area offers much more. Also the Triangle has three big well-regarded universities and Charlotte has none. Nightlife in the Triangle is much better than in Charlotte. Also you are closer to the northeast... and there are way more jobs in the healthcare field. You will also find more of a mid-atlantic culture whereas in Charlotte the culture is way more southern. Meaning more sweet tea and country music...
|
Sorry I disagree...
Classier? South Park has many "High End" Stores. Actually Hanes Mall in Winston salem is the biggest followed by South Park then Concord mills.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Mills
In Charlotte we have Johnson and Wales as well as UNC-Charlotte which offers many good programs. Charlotte has some great Hospitals Carolina Medical as well as Presbyterian.
Not sure when you were last in Charlotte but some of you comments are a little dated.
|
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
|
|
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
Linear Mode
