Moving to Raleigh from SanJose,CA-pros and cons about raleigh?

[architect77]

The Imaginary line formed where snowfall on the East Coast becomes less commonplace and more of a rarity just so happens to run about 30 miles north of Raleigh somewhere between Henderson and Louisburg. Henderson and Roxboro usually see more snow than Raleigh. Unlike other's posts, I grew up in Louisburg and remember many foot-deep snowfalls. In the nineties about five years passed without any snow for Raleigh, then came the 20" deep blizzard in 2000, and I remember in 2004 it snowed 6-7 times with at least 2". We're in a warm phase now, but it'll return.

[I'minformed2]

I was thinking it would snow this year....but it seems doubtfull now. It looks like the only place in the whole country that can get snow this year is Denver!

[raleighjayne]

I haven't read all the responses so I may be repeating what has already been said. My DH was offered a job in San Jose and we said NO WAY and now he commutes back and forth between Raleigh and San Jose. That is how much better we perceived the quality of life here in Raleigh compared to the SJ area. We just could not touch housing out there without spending a large percentage of his income on our mortgage payment and we didn't want to be house poor. We were able to buy a 4700 sq ft house in a very desirable neighborhood in Raleigh on 1/3 of an acre for less than $400,000. We don't have all the 'bells and whistles' but we do have a number of nice upgrades. We couldn't get half as much house for twice as much money out in SJ.

The schools here are good and there are lots of different magnet programs that you can apply to. The school system is not perfect here, but you don't have to live in the most expensive area to get good schools.

Its not as ethnically diverse as the bay area and the ethnic restaurant scene won't be as good but its still decent. We have lots of Hispanic immigrants so we do have some good Taquerias. Lots of 'Mexiclone' restaurants, but you can find some really good ones, you just have to look a little harder. More and more Indian restaurants are opening as well as other ethnic cuisine.

We've got some nice museums, several places to see live music, and the beach and mountains are only about 3 hours away. The beach here is very different from the beaches around the bay area. You can rent a cottage of almost any size that is right on the beach--we just did it for xmas. When we've visited the bay area, it seems like the beaches aren't as accessible as they are here.

You will probably be bothered by the humidity and the mosquitos here but you'll get used to it eventually. We've learned to screen in our back deck so we can enjoy being outdoors more in the summer. We don't see snow here very often and when we do get it, everything shuts down. Its like a big party. :-) My dh has gone out to SJ a couple of weeks this fall where it was colder out there than it was here in Raleigh.

Raleigh is a wonderful place and everybody that I have met who moved here from the bay area is thrilled with it. Cost of living is the biggest positive for them as are the friendly people.

[JustChar]

OMG, memories of growing up catching lightin bugs as a kid just hit my brain. When I was about 6-7 years old we lived in Pembroke MA on 2 acres and every summer night my mom would give us each a jar so we could catch lightin bugs. I think she did that just so my dad and her could laugh at us kids. Because as many times as I tried, those darn lightin bugs were uncatchable! Their little "lights" go on and off and on and off so in the dark they are hard as heck to follow. I lived in both Dorchester and Brockton and never saw lightin bugs there, just Pembroke. I can't wait to watch them. My friend who moved back there a year and a half ago is just amazed by them. Memories that come full circle I am so looking forward to.

[Tonia Z]

I have lived in Vermont, Boston, and Miami and love the weather here the most, most blue sky days ever!
I also live in downtown where the prices are a bit higher than the burbs, but the convenience to arts, entertainment, restaurants, shopping, and less traffic in general than North Raleigh and Cary are so worth it in my book. Plus the dog park and other parks rock!

[Monkey Toes]

I am planning a move to Chapel Hill. I have not lived in the area but I have visited and I can tell you that the biggest difference will be the people. I moved to Los Gatos (hated it) from Atlanta 6 years ago. I've started a short list of the differences. You can decide if they ar pros or cons.

1) You'll find that people in the south will be polite and considerate. Even if they don't like you. Yes, this is confusing but you'll get used to it.

2) Southerners are not nearly as obsessed with how they look. Sure there are vain yuppies everywhere but OMG, the cliche's about CA are cliche's for a reason. I was truly shocked by how superficial CA is. In CA, botox and restilin are as common as barbecue is in the south.

3) In the south, you'll be asked where you go to church. Not "where do you work out?". Truthfully, I am offended by both.


4) In the south, suprisingly, you're more likely to have friends of different ethnicities. People from different cultures socialize wtih each other rather than just themselves. CA is so diverse that there simply isn't a need for this kind of mingling.

5) If you step in front of a moving vehichle in the south, you will get hit. Yes, there are pedestrain laws, but my car is bigger and faster than you are.

6) In the south, you can afford a very nice home with a big yard for under $300k.

7) Considering a tattoo? Get it done in CA They just haven't mastered the art in the south yet.

8) There are restaurants open past 8:30 in the Triangle.

9) If you move, you won't need a wetsutit to swim in the Atlantic or a coat to stand outside to watch the 4th of July fireworks.

I could go on for days. Maybe someone else can add to the list.

[deuterdu]

I just moved from Sacramento and I am familiar with the bay area. The weather is going to me inconsistent compared to San Jose. You get 4 seasons out here. I understand that snow is not a problem, it may snow once in a while but usually melts off right away. It is not like Tahoe where it dumps 3-4 feet in 1 night. I like it here more than California. I do miss some aspects of Cal but allin all for me, this place has everything I had in Cal except that the cost of living is far less and the people are much friendlier. Seems that there are a lot of the same outdoor activities as Northern Cal except that the ocean out here is warm enough to swim in without a heavy wetsuit. I used to abalone dive in Mendocino and Sonoma, believe me I know how cold that Pacific water is!
Guess it really depends on what is important to you. If you have kids this is a great place to live. Not sure how it is for single people although I read somewhere that Raleigh was #17 in cities across the USA for singles.
Cons- more bugs out here and fire ants. Produce is a bit more expensive out here but not outrageous. You can still find Artichokes etc.. Tri tip is not sold out on the East coast however I found out that Wholefoods in Cary does carry tri tip. Woo hoo!

[rnc2mbfl]

Originally Posted by Monkey Toes

I am planning a move to Chapel Hill. I have not lived in the area but I have visited and I can tell you that the biggest difference will be the people. I moved to Los Gatos (hated it) from Atlanta 6 years ago. I've started a short list of the differences. You can decide if they ar pros or cons.

1) You'll find that people in the south will be polite and considerate. Even if they don't like you. Yes, this is confusing but you'll get used to it.

2) Southerners are not nearly as obsessed with how they look. Sure there are vain yuppies everywhere but OMG, the cliche's about CA are cliche's for a reason. I was truly shocked by how superficial CA is. In CA, botox and restilin are as common as barbecue is in the south.

3) In the south, you'll be asked where you go to church. Not "where do you work out?". Truthfully, I am offended by both.


4) In the south, suprisingly, you're more likely to have friends of different ethnicities. People from different cultures socialize wtih each other rather than just themselves. CA is so diverse that there simply isn't a need for this kind of mingling.

5) If you step in front of a moving vehichle in the south, you will get hit. Yes, there are pedestrain laws, but my car is bigger and faster than you are.

6) In the south, you can afford a very nice home with a big yard for under $300k.

7) Considering a tattoo? Get it done in CA They just haven't mastered the art in the south yet.

8) There are restaurants open past 8:30 in the Triangle.

9) If you move, you won't need a wetsutit to swim in the Atlantic or a coat to stand outside to watch the 4th of July fireworks.

I could go on for days. Maybe someone else can add to the list.

This is a really old thread but I had to respond to this one. My family moved to Raleigh from Los Gatos in January 1974. Back then, Los Gatos was a much different place. In more recent years, I have been back to visit on business and found the place looking very similar but the people being completely different.....and to think that my parents sold a 4 bedroom house there for under $50K makes them sick to their stomachs now.