Are the people in Chapel Hill snobs? (Durham, Cary: college, income)

[IdaClaire]

Originally Posted by Girly

Chapel Hill is a middle class town of professional students who have never lived or worked in the real world. The Ivory Tower rules here. The local liberals make no room for anyone who differs with their liberal philosophy. The average person here seems to have been stunted at the emotional ages of 2 through 14. The college professors "know everything". I have heard the people here described as obnoxious, intolerant, hateful, narrow minded and bigoted. I have heard of parents who have had to pull their children from the Chapel Hill school system because they have differing political views and their children are harassed by both teachers and students. I do not like the closed mindedness of our local liberals. Chapel Hill is a wonderful town as long as you agree with the libs. Otherwise avoid this place like the plague. Very juvenile people with too much time on their hands to cause trouble. The professional students here try very hard to prove that they are snobs. The moniker "People's Republic of Chapel Hill" is very fitting.

Wow! I have to ask- have you actually lived in Chapel Hill or are these just your impressions from passing through or from other people?

I've lived all over the Triangle- the Raleigh/Cary border (Raleigh, but could practically hurl a stone out my window and hit Cary), Apex, Durham, Chapel Hill, rural Chatham County, and have now settled a few miles west of Carrboro, though my address is Chapel Hill. My graduate work was at UNC-CH, but I have worked at the other two major universities here, and though my husband's degree is from NCSU, he teaches in Chapel Hill. I guess that would pretty much make us familiar with the culture of the Triangle at large. I know liberals who live in Cary, and I actually know conservatives who live in Chapel Hill, though admittedly, the town tends to lean left of center. I have met nice people in all of these towns, and I have also met snobs across the Triangle as well. I simply cannot imagine making blanket statements about every single citizen of a city or town.

My husband has never heard of any of his kids being yanked out of the school system because of their differing political belief system. I'm not saying that it's never happened, but it certainly isn't happening on a wide-scale basis. He has co-workers who happen to be conservative.

Further, there are many, many residents of Chapel Hill who are neither UNC students or faculty. Quite a few people settle in Chapel Hill because of the school system, the small town atmosphere, or the proximity to work. I know people who live in CH and work in RTP, Duke, even SAS in Cary. It seems there is a large number of health professionals who live here as well.

Similarly, though Cary is not the best fit for us, I don't think all its residents are a bunch of snobs with no taste. Heck, if I worked at SAS, I'd consider living in one of the older neighborhoods near downtown Cary. I am not a fan of long commutes.

My husband and I may be liberal, but we don't require that all our friends have matching political beliefs and we do not at all fit the description you've laid out of Chapel Hill people. I've learned that in life, most people- conservative, liberal, what have you- want similar things from life- a fulfilling professional life, should they choose to have one, and meaningful relationships with friends and family. We are more alike as human beings than different, and it doesn't always serve one well to judge others by their political leanings.

In terms of the original poster's question, I agree that renting for some time first is the best option. I would wait to see where you'll be working first, as I got stuck commuting from Chapel Hill to Raleigh for some time, and it was a living Hell on earth. Chapel Hill and Carrboro seem to fit your description of what you want- small, quirky college town- but I would also take a look at some of the older neighborhoods in Durham, which have a similar feel. Good luck!

[coltank]

Well, I grew up in Chapel Hill, and I will say that when we moved(I was in 3rd grade), I was made to feel like I wasn't accepted because I wasn't from there. There is a lot of money in Chapel Hill, and if you don't have a lot, you can be looked down upon.

I didn't get the same feeling from friends I made who lived in Durham. And, these are friends who lived in Hope Valley or on large horse farms in Northern Durham, and were just as wealthy or far more wealthy than a lot of the kids I went to school with in Chapel Hill.

Now, that being said, I think you can find snobby people anywhere, but for me, growing up in Chapel Hill, I definitely felt that way, and still do. I live in Durham now, and all the time here from people who live in Chapel Hill or Cary, "I would never live in Durham". If that's not snobby, what is?

BTW, I like Chapel Hill a lot, not trying to bash, it has a lot of great qualities. You just find more snobby people there, to answer the OP.

[Lauren Roberts]

The nice thing about both Chapel Hill and Carrboro is that you get so much variety. Between what the college brings in such as students, professors, staff, etc. and the artsy, rather funky side of Carrboro, both towns have drawn businesses and restaurants to accomodate them.
Yes, the area tends to be more expensive but that's because it is a desireable area. It is an area that has many older homes and not much land available to developers except for the outskirts where they are chomping at the bit to build. Many people in the city itself, tend to stay. They love the atmosphere.
They are not snobs. Come and visit some time to see for yourself.

[ausmerika]

Originally Posted by Monkey Toes

I don't judge someone buy how much money I think they have. I judge them by how they treat other people. I too believed that people are all pretty much the same not matter where you go. Reality slapped me in the face when I moved to California. I can assure you that being able to afford a home on the same street as a dot com millionaire, in no way indicates that we have the same values.

Money isn't the issue. There are plenty of pretentious people that are not wealthy and vice a versa. I never asked if Chapel Hill was a wealthy community. I asked if it was pretentious.

Monkey Toes, thanks for pointing that out: it's not about money. It's about how one treats another. Having lived in Chapel Hill for years, and my husband was born and raised there, we moved out specifically b/c it was no longer the town he grew up in. By that, I mean attitudes changed. It is sad to say, b/c it really was, and still can be a delightful town. I won't go into the ones who have moved in who have changed the attitude so much, but I will say that Carrboro is more like what Chapel Hill was (ok, maybe a bit funkier). The folks in C-boro aren't pretentious (unless they are pretending to be starving artists).

[UES]

Originally Posted by Digital_Duck

People in Chapel Hill tend to be philosophically liberal ... If you are from the Bay Area - you will probably adjust with no problem!

Chapel Hill is very liberal by NC standards. Compared to some parts of the Bay area or the East Village in Manhattan, it is quite conservative. It is one of the more interesting places to live in the RTP area. The center is quite walkable.

Cary is just a generic affluent suburb just like North Raleigh, I found it quite boring and souless.

[NC gal (aka Oregon gal)]

My in-laws live in Chapel Hill and whenever we go, I've always encountered very nice, down to earth people.
I like the mix of people that UNC brings to the area too.
I think you'll like it.

[sacredgrooves]

Originally Posted by UES

Chapel Hill is very liberal by NC standards. Compared to some parts of the Bay area or the East Village in Manhattan, it is quite conservative. It is one of the more interesting places to live in the RTP area. The center is quite walkable.

Cary is just a generic affluent suburb just like North Raleigh, I found it quite boring and souless.

It is a shame you did not get to experience Cary before the extreme growth, it had alot of soul. Cary was a great small town, but they sold out years ago.

[welovedurham]

I lived in Chapel Hill and Carrboro for many years. This is my story about the Chapel Hill "feeling": My child went to a preschool and a family that was new in town also sent their child there. The mom was the most giving and thoughtful person. One of the first things she did was to offer to bring Happy Meals to all the kids for lunch one day. Maybe everyone on the playground did not literally stop talking and turn around and stare, but it sure seemed like it. McDonald's?! Happy Meals?! The thought of it!

Now, mind you, there are TWO McDonald's in Chapel Hill. But you would never admit out loud that you GO to the McDonald's. Bear Rock with a playdate, maybe. Whole Foods cafe, approved. A localvore dinner at Acme, oh yes blog it, baby! But McD's on Saturday after soccer...shhh!

[iabhornc]

Originally Posted by Monkey Toes

I am relocating to the area soon. Chapel Hill sounds like the place for me but I'm not sure. I grew up in the burbs of Atlanta and lived in northern California for six years. After living in Los Gatos, Ca, I just can't take any more rich snobs in thier Italian cycling jerseys.

I've found that most towns that are cute and well mantained tend to be a haven for snobs. Cary sounds like a nightmare to me. I'm looking for some place kinda funky but not too funky. I also do NOT want to live with people that have a air of entitlement. I'm looking for a community that is educated, liberal, tolerant and safe. Is Chapel Hill that place?

-Believe me. Chapel Hill stinks. Basically, everyone on this board has said the problem with Chapel Hill (a snooty, elitist, town out of hell). If you are looking to get away from California, this is not the place for you for many snobby Californians move here and bring that attitude with them. I have been to California and I liked that state better. There really is no culture down here, and I expect a LOT better for a college town. Cary, on the other hand, I would recommend. However, that is just me. It's a lot quieter than loudmouth Chapel Hell with these arrogant college jerks. You would think that especially with this being a college town and all. I am not originally from NC either. Your words ''a community that is educated, liberal, tolerant and safe'' is exactly what I would expect. You would also think that because the fact Chapel Hill is a college town you'd be bound to find an intellectual or someone you can have an intelligent conversation with but no. About the only kind of people you have here are: excessive sports fans, public drunks of all sorts (and the bus rides in this town are free so they ride like crazy), and the biggest obnoxious clowns you will find this side of the Mississippi. I was quite taken by the laid back attitude of most of the West Coast states, but these east coasters are a bunch of ppl. who pride themselves in being loud and obnoxious in general. Not to mention that Chapel Hill is an expensive place to live like the rest of the state. Just to jot down everything wrong with this town would take longer than a college essay. Durham is another town a lot like this one to avoid like the plague but I won't get into that. Don't believe any douchbag who tells you Chapel Hell is great (it is far from). I could go on and on but I will stop here. I would take this before South Carolina though :-)

[itscolduphere]

Doesn't Lewis Black have a home there? He's not a snob...