Conover, NC-what is it really like? (Asheville, Hickory: real estate, for rent, crime)

[april030280]

We are looking to move to NC this summer. I have a lot of family near Asheville, so I would love to be somewhere within a few hours of there. Conover looks like a great town online, but I would love some first hand info from people who know what it is really like.
Also my husband is a Fence Installer and is concerned about finding a job. I am currently a stay at home mom, but have experience as a medical secretary and will also be looking for a job as well. Any suggestions on where to look would be appreciated.
How are the area schools? I am orginally from FL, but moved to NJ in 2000 for better schools for my children (3 & 7). However, the quality of life has dropped drastically and I no longer feel that NJ is a safe place to raise my children. Therefore, I want to go back to my family roots in NC (my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, etc are all from the Asheville area). Anything you can tell be would be great. Thanks.

[Rufus33]

I have lived in Conover for a couple of years and I would have to say it is a great little town. It has a small town atmosphere, yet is minutes away from many amenities (10 min to Hickory). The thing that first struck me about the town is how clean and well maintained it is. I would recommend to anyone with a family. Hospitals: Frye Regional Medical in Hickory, and Catawba Valley Memorial in Hickory.

[sipejillo]

I grew up in Conover, in an area that was populated mostly by my family, the Sipes. I love it in Conover. I had to move away for 25 years after I got married, but am on my way back again! I can't wait!

Newton Conover High school and middle school seems a bit scary to me now, but there is schools of choice, so you can opt out for a better high school, like St. Stephen's.

If you relocate in Conover, let me know. I'd love to have you over for a glass of tea, the house wine of the South! Good luck!

[ddlove01]

Why are these schools "scary"? We are moving to Newton in a few months and I haven't heard anything really bad about them. Is St. Stephens a private catholic school and can residents of Newton attend this school?

Originally Posted by sipejillo

Newton Conover High school and middle school seems a bit scary to me now, but there is schools of choice, so you can opt out for a better high school, like St. Stephen's.

[april030280]

Thank you all for your comments. My husband is down there right now and must really like it, because he called me last night and said he found a house for rent and is waiting to hear back about it. I am really looking forward to the move. I can't wait to meet all you wonderful southern people and have some "real" iced tea, not the powdered stuff they have here in NJ. I'm comming home to my roots soon. Have a great day to you all.

Oh, and still need help in the job area and daycare for my kids. Any thing you can tell me (like where to look or about available jobs) would be really great. Thanks.

[whiplash]

Originally Posted by april030280

We are looking to move to NC this summer. I have a lot of family near Asheville, so I would love to be somewhere within a few hours of there. Conover looks like a great town online, but I would love some first hand info from people who know what it is really like.
Also my husband is a Fence Installer and is concerned about finding a job. I am currently a stay at home mom, but have experience as a medical secretary and will also be looking for a job as well. Any suggestions on where to look would be appreciated.
How are the area schools? I am orginally from FL, but moved to NJ in 2000 for better schools for my children (3 & 7). However, the quality of life has dropped drastically and I no longer feel that NJ is a safe place to raise my children. Therefore, I want to go back to my family roots in NC (my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, etc are all from the Asheville area). Anything you can tell be would be great. Thanks.

You will most likely enjoy Conover.It is a suburb of Hickory,or Newton.Conover has a small town atmosphere and the people are very friendly.Finding a job may take some time,but you should be able to find one.You might not be able to find a job in your exact line of expertise because there is a community college that has many graduates in your line of work.Since there are limited amount of jobs available many people are under employed outside of there expertise.The public schools are good and there are several private schools.I think crime is lower than most counties,at least violent.The weather is mostly 3 seasons,spring.summer,and a long fall.You have a short drive to the coast,and or the mountians.Housing is plentiful with price ranges to suit most anyone.Actually,real estate is a little lower than many other counties.The area is laid back,no one rushes at anything.Conversation flows easy among strangers.You can walk around without being paranoid.

[varcadipone]

Originally Posted by april030280

Thank you all for your comments. My husband is down there right now and must really like it, because he called me last night and said he found a house for rent and is waiting to hear back about it. I am really looking forward to the move. I can't wait to meet all you wonderful southern people and have some "real" iced tea, not the powdered stuff they have here in NJ. I'm comming home to my roots soon. Have a great day to you all.

Oh, and still need help in the job area and daycare for my kids. Any thing you can tell me (like where to look or about available jobs) would be really great. Thanks.

just moved to conover from jersey love it except job fell thru so have to hustle to find one quick