Coming to North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh: transplants, renting, low crime)

[LONGISLAND2NC]

My family is moving from Long Island to North Carolina this year and we would appreciate some location advice. We plan on renting for a year or two before buying in the perfect location just in time for our two 3-year old boys to start school.

I work from home, so employment and commute is not an issue.

Our criteria is:
1. reasonable housing cost: 250K - 400K for a nice house
2. very good schools
3. family friendly, activities, sports, etc
4. very safe, low crime
5. mild winters, not too much snow
6. less than 10 hour drive to NYC, need to drive up 3 - 4 times per year for business.

I see lots of great suggestions for the Charlotte area, and I do love Charlotte but it might be just a little further from NYC than I would like.

We will probably end up in the Raleigh area - Cary, Wake Forest, etc, but I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions for eastern North Carolina?

Thanks!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by LONGISLAND2NC

My family is moving from Long Island to North Carolina this year and we would appreciate some location advice. We plan on renting for a year or two before buying in the perfect location just in time for our two 3-year old boys to start school.

I work from home, so employment and commute is not an issue.

Our criteria is:
1. reasonable housing cost: 250K - 400K for a nice house
2. very good schools
3. family friendly, activities, sports, etc
4. very safe, low crime
5. mild winters, not too much snow
6. less than 10 hour drive to NYC, need to drive up 3 - 4 times per year for business.

I see lots of great suggestions for the Charlotte area, and I do love Charlotte but it might be just a little further from NYC than I would like.

We will probably end up in the Raleigh area - Cary, Wake Forest, etc, but I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions for eastern North Carolina?

Thanks!

Post on the Raleigh board, I believe what you are looking for is all there.

[LONGISLAND2NC]

Thanks - I am already quite familiar with Raleigh, but what I was really wondering is there any place else that might work. For instance, I am currently researching Greenville.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by LONGISLAND2NC

Thanks - I am already quite familiar with Raleigh, but what I was really wondering is there any place else that might work. For instance, I am currently researching Greenville.

Again, you have already identified THE best spots for all you want - Cary and Wake Forest - don't go to Greenville if schools are important.

[anifani821]

No, I have no other suggestions for eastern NC - that would meet all your requirements.

[ryeager9]

Originally Posted by anifani821

No, I have no other suggestions for eastern NC - that would meet all your requirements.

Since you will be working from home, you don't need to live in the Raleigh area to fulfill your needs. I currently live in Wilmington and everything you are looking for is here. I used to live in Greenville and I would choose Wilmington over Greenville any day. I drive to NYC twice a year and it takes me exactly 10 hours (from downtown Wilm to Jersey City). Wilmington airport also has a direct flight to Laguardia that takes about 90 minutes. There are lots of New England transplants that live here as well.

For more info on Wilmington, visit the Coastal NC forum.

[Zoya]

Originally Posted by ryeager9

Since you will be working from home, you don't need to live in the Raleigh area to fulfill your needs. I currently live in Wilmington and everything you are looking for is here. I used to live in Greenville and I would choose Wilmington over Greenville any day. I drive to NYC twice a year and it takes me exactly 10 hours (from downtown Wilm to Jersey City). Wilmington airport also has a direct flight to Laguardia that takes about 90 minutes. There are lots of New England transplants that live here as well.

For more info on Wilmington, visit the Coastal NC forum.

Schools in Wilmington don't compare to most in the Triangle.

[ryeager9]

Originally Posted by Zoya

Schools in Wilmington don't compare to most in the Triangle.

That's true. When I lived in Cary up until 2 years ago, I found Wake Co. schools much more overcrowded than New Hanover Co. My 2 teenage sons agree.

[Zoya]

Originally Posted by ryeager9

That's true. When I lived in Cary up until 2 years ago, I found Wake Co. schools much more overcrowded than New Hanover Co. My 2 teenage sons agree.

Some Wake County schools can be overcrowded....we are building more.

However, there is much more to a school, good and bad, then how many students it has.

We had friends move from Raleigh to your area...and they were back in less then a year....basically because they found the schools sub-par.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Zoya

Schools in Wilmington don't compare to most in the Triangle.

Agree. Plus, coastal weather. Some will like it - some won't - being on the coast is not for everyone.

But OP can check out Wilmington. It gives another option and I would certainly prefer it to Greenville (having lived there).