NC vs. WA state - which to choose? (Charlotte, Cary: home, neighborhoods)
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I'm a Californian, but for the past five years have been researching a future move for my husband and myself. We're middle-aged and looking for a place to spend the rest of our days as well as work at least part-time. I work from home with an internet-based business so location for that is irrelevant, I just need good internet and USPS service. For him, he would need to be not too terribly far from a viable town.
Some of our requirements are:
- Trees/old growth forest, places to indulge in lots of outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking.
- Near body(ies) of water.
- Rural (as in 2+ acre properties, preferably 5+ acres), within 15-20 minutes of nearest town for grocery shopping. Although we'd like to grow some of our own produce.
- Preferably that town have live entertainment venues (Husband is also a musician and may want to pursue this. Single performer, contemporary jazz, ambient music.) He's also a skilled tradesman and would like to work out of the house, servicing local people with plumbing.
- We want to have horses again, so zoned for that, as well as chickens.
- Good medical care not too far away. We're not with health problems now, butcha never know as we age.
- Not too terribly far from an airport.
Here's the thing.....all this time I've been researching areas in Puget Sound and have some locations nailed down we think we really like. One area in particular we like, is in the Rain Shadow and doesn't get as much rain as other parts of WA. Recently, some family members as well as good friends have moved to or lived in North Carolina and with all they are telling us, we have a new antennae perked for checking NC out, now!
Have any of you happened to have considered both these states and what tipped you in the direction of NC??? I appreciate anything you care to share! Thanks very much in advance!
Research the Asheville area, it meets your criteria. Although there is very, very little true old growth forest left in NC. It was extensively logged between 1880 and 1930. Most of it has reforested, however.
Agreed, Cary is a stereotypical upscale suburban area with over 160k residents. It's not what you're looking for like BC1960 said. Maybe 20 miles west of west Cary within Chatham County? Your requirements even in Chatham County might be more expensive than what you have budgeted for though.
Cary is suburbia central and growing like crazy. Chain stores and big-box stores, etc. There are still some older local places, but it's one of the fastest-growing places in the US, meaning very little "character" of its own because everybody is fairly new there.
Asheville is the most West-Coast city in NC and also in the mountains. Check the Western NC forum for questions about Asheville and the surrounding areas.
Cary is suburbia central and growing like crazy. Chain stores and big-box stores, etc. There are still some older local places, but it's one of the fastest-growing places in the US, meaning very little "character" of its own because everybody is fairly new there.
Asheville is the most West-Coast city in NC and also in the mountains. Check the Western NC forum for questions about Asheville and the surrounding areas.
+1000000
It's not just that everybody is fairly new, but also the neighborhoods, they are absolutely depressing. Except for the builder who rolling in it.
If you enjoy hiking and mountain biking, there is nothing in Cary for that, except a couple parks, and that's not real hiking. There's no reason to live in Cary, unless you have a job that requires you here, or to be close to someone else specific.
I agree, but I think anywhere in the mountain section of the state would be the best bet, not only Asheville. It's a 4+ hour drive to the ocean though, they do have some lakes in the mountains though. It all depends on what you're looking for. Western Washington, is beautiful, the hiking is way better, the coast is much more scenic BUT it can be gloomier in Washington, and the water temperatures even in the summer are pretty chilly. On the flip side, hiking here can be a bit sweaty if you're not at high enough elevation.
Asheville you'd be looking at ~2 hours to Charlotte airport if you want a decent number of destinations (not just the regional), but seatac can be just the same if you're on the west side of the puget which is more rural. Both are equal sizes, but Charlotte has more options to Europe and Latin America, Seattle has more options direct to Asia. Both have a wide variety of domestic, but again it depends on your exact destination.
Both have medical care, it just depends on how rural you go. Worry about where you want to be first.
I'm here for employment, they are way different places though. Washington has much better on land recreation opportunities, NC better if you want to flop down at the beach.
Last edited by QuickJoin; 12-06-2017 at 05:11 PM..
Take a look at the Hendersonville area, about 20 miles south of Asheviile. We recently bought property near there where we will be building our retirement home. Hendersonville, consistently ranked as one of the top small towns in America, has a gorgeous downtown area. Lots of woods near there. 1.40 hours from Charlotte airport. Within an hours' drive of Lake Lure and the beautiful lakes in northern S. C. Property taxes are reasonable; unfortunately housing prices are a little high in this area, but probably less than those in Washington. We considered southern Oregon and the area in Washington you're considering , but ruled them out; your $ will go a lot further in N. C. Medical care is good; there are a couple of hospitals in the area.
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