Does anybody lived in Raleigh, NC and CT? (Charlotte, Greensboro: property taxes, income)

[Andzia74]

We used to lived in NYC for 3 years and moved to Orlando, FL. We have been here for over 5 years and absolutely hate it. Weather, life-style are not for us. We have plan to move either to NC, Raleigh or somewhere in CT Hartford or Stamford) I prefer CT, my husband NC. And we really don't know what's to do. We have 3,5 year daughter, schools are very important for us, also we love fishing, we love to go out. My husband is a high class chef, he used to be executive chef in very famous deli in NYC, soon I will become RN. Do you have any suggestions for us, what should we do?? Where we should go??

Thanks!

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[mrbsf]

I have lived in both CT (Bridgeport area) and NC (Greensboro area) and both have different things to offer. You as an RN and your husband as a chef will provide you both with excellent job opportunities in either location, so I'll focus on other areas. The economy in CT is stagnant due to high taxes and cost of living, so unless your looking for a bedroom community for NYC, NC is the better choice in that departmant. Housing and property taxes in NC (depending on location) are about half what they are in CT.

The schools (K-12) are better overall in CT, but the taxes reflect that investment. NC has great secondary education though. I personally would choose NC over CT, but I think it depends on what you are looking for. If you yearn for the days of living in NYC, then SW CT might be best. If your looking for a growing state (and I mean growing!) with more affordable housing, lower taxes and better weather (at least in the winter) then NC might be your choice.

I would advise visiting both places as often as possible before your decision. Good luck!

[grifter]

I grew up in Stamford, lived in NYC, and am now in Raleigh. If I had a family, I would choose Raleigh over CT any day. Don't get me wrong - I love CT, but the cost of living there is out of control. Stamford today feels very congested. I barely recognize it from when I left there ten years ago.

[joanchris2000]

I lived in CT most of my life, moved to NC last summer. We have children, and schools are important to us.
NC has plenty of good schools, in fact I think my children are getting a better education in the schools we chose here than they were in CT. In CT we were unable to move to another house since we could not afford to sell then buy in the same general area. The schools were adequate, but not great. Anywhere you go there will be good schools and not so good schools, even in CT.
If you do your research on NC and pick an area with good schools, then I feel that NC is a better choice. Raleigh/Durham area is a good place for both career choices, we're moving to Charlotte next week and there would be plenty of options there as well for your careers, since it's a hugely booming area.
If I had it to do over again I would still move to NC, better climate, (though the real HOT is taking some time to get used to, but coming from FL you should be used to it!), and much better cost of living overall.

[Funky Chicken]

I left Fairfield, CT in May 2003 after spending most of my life within 60 miles of NYC.
Fairfield County is nice if you are rich. Really rich. Not just "I've got a 6 figure job" money, but real money. My wife and I both worked, no kids at the time, made very good money, and it became impossible to live a satisfying life there. Commuting was insane. Winters were unpleasant and long, and summers were no cooler there than here in Raleigh. I wasn't going to spend half a million dollars on a house that needed tons of work and was 10 miles and 25 minutes further away from work just so I could stay there.
I cut my commuting time in the car by 10 hours per week. That's 10 hours gained to walk the dog, play with the baby, work in the yard, whatever I want to do. My income dropped about 10%, but my cost of living dropped more, and I live in a house 3 times the size of the one we left.
I'm one of those people who could never go back. If you come visit the area and don't "get it", that's ok.
The only other thing I'll offer up is the fact that when you move here, you will be much happier if you explore your new world with a curious and positive attitude than if you mope around wishing you were "back home". If you don't let go of the idea that the Northeast is "back home", you won't ever feel like you made a good decision. I'm more than a little sick of the people who move here and feel like they need to advertise their New York roots. We get it-you are from New York! Try to assimilate. After 4 years here, nobody would EVER guess that I lived in NY/CT most of my life, and I'm pretty proud of that.

[wanderintonc]

I live in CT currently, closer to Hartford than Stamford, and will be moving soon (we hope) to Raleigh. I have to tell you, there is a difference between Hartford and Stamford, and of course CT from NC.

Really, it would be hard for a young family starting out here in CT-housing is absolutely absurd! I'm in the more 'affordable' (relatively speaking) area-I can't even fathom Stamford prices. Schools vary wildy by city/town. I mean, look at Hartford, awful, next towns over are nice but expensive. Taxes are very high here.

You, as an RN, could probably get work easily enough, although that is true in Raleigh too-I don't know about your dh's field so I can't speak to that.

To be fair, in CT you are close to NYC, if that is of interest to you. It's pretty in the spring. Winters are cold.

Do you guys have family in FL and up north? Raleigh appeals to my family because we will be a one day drive to both places-it's near 95 too.

[lifeguard_bss]

We are CT residents -- for 2 more weeks and then we will be NC residents. We currently live in a nice town outside Hartford. But the truth of the matter is that young people are fleeing CT as any real growth is not here. I have 3 kids and would rather get them lined up in a place that values progressive ideas and growth, rather than stay in a state so tied to convention it can't get out of its own way.

Weather is far better in Raleigh
Taxes are far less -- and that does not mean a difference in schools necessarily. Do you know that during a major snowstorm in CT that it costs $1 million an hour statewide for snow removal? That money comes from YOUR taxes.
Twice the house for the money.
Far better attitudes and far less "upper crusts". I am sick of non superior people who come off as such.

There are certainly things I will miss in CT, but I am excited at looking forward to the great things in Raleigh -- and not back.