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Cary is pretty much like Columbia, sans CPRA and attitude. Can't comment about Raleigh because we have not seen much of it yet.
We picked Cary because of the schools (I have a 2-year old, but thinking ahead ), location and easy access to stores/restaurants/etc. we were used to. 200-250K won't buy much house in Cary, but you can certainly find something.
Crime in Cary seems to be non-existent. Coming from the Baltimore area, we can only laugh at the local "crime" statistics.
As I was searching for Cary real-estate for another poster I was struck by how much the older house in Cary (1970-80's) looked like Columbia Maryland. The same modern styles with earth-toned siding. The trees are substantial as in Columbia, and the streets are designed in curved patterns with many houses clustered on cul-de-sacs. The street plan leaves many green spaces. I have grown to like the looks of Cary. Has anyone lived in both places?
As I was searching for Cary real-estate for another poster I was struck by how much the older house in Cary (1970-80's) looked like Columbia Maryland. The same modern styles with earth-toned siding. The trees are substantial as in Columbia, and the streets are designed in curved patterns with many houses clustered on cul-de-sacs. The street plan leaves many green spaces. I have grown to like the looks of Cary. Has anyone lived in both places?
Yes. I lived on the border of EC and Columbia now, and I lived in Cary for 6 years and am an NC native.
There are houses in Cary that are of a similar generation to Columbia. But it would be a huge stretch to say that makes Cary "like" Columbia. The older houses in Cary are probably less than 25% of the town, and they were developed in a series of small developments, not as a large planned community like Columbia. The green spaces are either owned by individual HOAs or by Wake County or the Town of Cary, not by a single big HOA like the Columbia Association. There is a lot of new construction in Cary, and there is very little in Columbia. There is nothing in Howard County like the big new developments in west Cary with mixtures of residential and strip malls. You can get a wide range of construction styles in Cary; there is something for everyone. If you want that 60s-70s Columbia look it can certainly be found, but it is not the sum of Cary.
I am (potentially) transferring from Maryland to NC also. My father grew up in Fayetteville and my sister has lived in NC for a vrey long time in various areas (Cary, Greenville, and now Garner). I've learned alot reading these posts. Gave me a lot to think about. Thanks to all the posters for your input. Glad I found this.
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Columbia MD and Cary
), location and easy access to stores/restaurants/etc. we were used to. 200-250K won't buy much house in Cary, but you can certainly find something.
