Research Triangle compared to Austin (Raleigh, Cary: chapel, houses, job transfer)

[deeptrance]

I've never been to the R/D/CH/C/etc. metro area but a lot of facts and figures make it sound similar to Austin, TX. Was wondering if any of you have lived in Austin or spent enough time here to make a comparison.

Examples of similarities:
- lots of high tech
- similar populations and growth rates
- lots of university students
- state government
- good local music scene
- people move there from all over the world
- fairly progressive, politically and culturally diverse

Are these accurate comparisons? One obvious difference is that it's much wetter in NC than in central TX (for better or worse.) And Austin is a central city with lots of suburbs, whereas your area consists of separate cities that kind of merged into a single metro area, so each city probably has its own unique character rather than orbiting around a single urban hub.

[Tracy_Santrock]

Are you looking to move to the Triangle?

I'm originally from Plano, Texas and have spent a lot of time in Austin, Texas. What a great place to live!! They have lots of music, great restraunts, etc. I would say that each of the towns in the Triangle have their own distinct character. I would also say that Chapel Hill is most like Austin, with the exception that it is much smaller. Chapel Hill is culturally diverse, has great restraunts, great public university(Ask Mack Brown at UT he used to live here) and even a small local music scene. My two cents.

[deeptrance]

Thanks, Tracy. I'm not looking to move there, in fact I'm about to move back to my former home in Sonoma County, California! But I'm a nerd who just enjoys learning about places and have travelled all over the country. It's odd that I've never made it to your region.

[VickiR]

I actually had friends that moved from Raleigh to Austin, due to a job transfer. They actually said that Austin totally reminds them of Raleigh so they were happy with the move. Vicki

[Debdoyle]

hi ,
i have been to Austin and fell in love with it.. the houseswere great prices but the work pay was not great for my husband.. in construction. we are from Ireland so it would be more expensive for my parents to get to see me if i lived in Austin .. thats whey we are checking out NC... Cary alot of people seem to like i think its more for families in that area.. not sure have not gone there yet .. but i did love austin and if people say NC is like it then you cna't really go wrong...