Moving to clayton NC (Garner, Wake Forest: house prices, employment, neighborhood)

[cdleek]

We are a family of four looking to relocate to the Clayton area of NC. We are currently in Manahawkin, nj. My questions are how are the schools as far as academics. athletics, football, basball. I have two boys ages 14 and 12. It really means the world to me, as any parent, that they are happy and successful. The schools where we live now are very click-ish, as far as playing sports is concerned and very crowded. There are no racial tensions either where they go to school now, plz forgive me I mean no disrespect, I just want to know I'm making the right move. I do really like the area, I have been down there numerous times because family is in wake county. Visited Clayton HS everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Which is rough in NJ. Looked at homes in the developements there. Help Jersey is killing us in the cost of living. TyTy

[zthatzmanz28]

Clayton High School in top rated. There is a new school Cleveland, that is just getting its sports going. Not sure if you can escape the clicky-ness, especially in sports--unless the kids are all-American material.

[playnice]

A similar sort of question gets asked a lot here. Ya may wanna search the forum for a quicker response.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/ralei...y-schools.html

[cdleek]

Ty very much, we did visit the Clayton High School and was greeted w open arms. Everyone was very friendly and supportive. I will search other forums, TY.

[VickiR]

Many of us don't mind answering questions so if you can't find what the answers you are looking for in the older posts, please feel free to ask.

Any questions in particular?

Vicki

[newmom5497]

Originally from South Jersey here...moved to the Cleveland area in Clayton 4 years ago. Daughter is at Cleveland High and is doing well. Brand new high school...not overcrowded, supportive staff and the school is very sports-oriented. House prices in the area are @200,000 for a nice, NEW 2400 s f. 2 story in a nice, family neighborhood. Property taxes-$1600 annual..auto insur. $@1400 annual for 2 cars. Heating is less annually because of warmer weather.

Salaries are less though than in Jersey(about 20%) so take that into consideration. Dh is retired so I am the only one that took the $ hit(teacher). But its totally worth it to us...we'll never go back. Family visits often(and vice versa)--7-7.5 hour drive up 95.
GOOD LUCK!

[cdleek]

Ty so much for the responses, since staying in jersey for the long haul is out of the question. Finacially it is killing us. Over crowding, the list is endless. Again, Tyty

[CarolinaOnMyMind]

I'm with you! My wife and I cant wait to escape NJ! Its just ridiculously expensive and congested. We dont care for the rat race mentality and all the stress and ugliness that comes with it. We love the south, its people, life style and culture. We've been to the Clayton area and were very impressed. We have a newborn and Clayton's excellent school system is very appealing. We are also considering Wake Forest. When either my wife or I can secure employment in the area , we will be moving down ASAP.

QUOTE=cdleek;21029389]Ty so much for the responses, since staying in jersey for the long haul is out of the question. Finacially it is killing us. Over crowding, the list is endless. Again, Tyty[/quote]

[pkc789]

I grew up in Garner and my family moved to Clayton when I was a teenager (1990). Clayton is not a large town and I have lived in several areas of it. We recently moved from "town" area to the Flowers Plantation area which is NE of town and more rural. We also have a new high school (Corith) in the Archer Lodge community area. We LOVE it!!

[DJKB]

Hey - we moved from Toms River, NJ in 2005 and we've never looked back. We live in Holly Springs but I hear good things about Clayton...Good luck with the move. It's all full of relocated Yankees here anyway!!!