I Am Totally Lost! RTP, Raleigh, Durham, WHAT?!

[Funky Chicken]

Both Durham and Raleigh have a LOT of land mass and are extremely diverse.
Durham seems to get more bad press in the local media here, that's for sure.
I live in NW Cary less than a mile from the Durham Co. line. We have quite a few friends who are very well educated who live in Durham and wouldn't live anywhere else. My lifestyle is more Cary/Apex/nuclear family/dog/minivan to be honest. After 4 years we are leaving Cary for Apex. Nothing against Cary, but Apex seems to be a better fit for us.
The best way to sort things out is with time in the area in the car. With respect to RE agents (disclaimer-I hold an NC RE license), when we relocated here in 2003 I put 750 miles on rental cars just driving around before we decided where we wanted to be. A lot of people also come and rent for a while to get a feeling for the area.
I don't look at things as being so cut and dried as to 'WHICH CITY' is better. If you spend a little time looking around and think about what your everyday life will be like (where's the grocery store/big box/gym or whatever else is important to you), hopefully you will get a feeling somewhere that you have found the right place.
Remember, too, that you can always move if things don't end up just right. The area of Cary we live in is in the midst of explosive growth, and it doesn't feel the same to us as it did when we got here. So-we're moving to Apex. Once you make the decision to uproot and move, the local move is a lot easier.

[WeLoveRDU]

Durham is a great city. Like EVERY city in the Triangle here, including Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, etc, there are areas that are in need of improvement. My family and I relocated to Durham over 12 years ago from Upstate NY and we love the area and Durham. We have never experienced any crime ourselves in all our years here and we are in and around Durham and the Triangle everyday as real estate brokers and Moms and Dads.

The Triangle area as a whole is a great place. Living here gives you the opportunity to enjoy many different types of communities all very commutable. It's like a very small NY City without the huge traffic issues and the high real estate prices.

Come see for yourselves. You won't be disappointed!

[Indigoblue]

Whatever you do, make sure you find a realtor who routinely works throughout the triangle area (I have a great rec if you need one). Both my experience and that of many others has been that many realtors based in Wake County will steer you away from Durham, despite admitting they aren't familiar with the city.

[Indigoblue]

That's a great article. I had read most of it when I was first looking into living in the triangle, but had never gotten to the bottom (it's a long but fascinating read). I was surprised to find out (at the bottom) that it was written by an undergrad. Very impressive. The crime comparison stats at the end were interesting.

Originally Posted by carolinadreamin'

Here's an interesting article about Durham's image problems.


Independent Weekly: News: Durham: Durham: The making of an image

[scorp200]

Originally Posted by carolinadreamin'

Here's an interesting article about Durham's image problems.


Independent Weekly: News: Durham: Durham: The making of an image

Thank you so much for posting this! Though I'll continue to sadly shake my head about Durham's rep, at least this explains to me how it's reinforced in people who only live 1/2 hour away! This has genuinely confused me, because now I've been all over Durham except for probably the one sketchiest area of East Durham, and I still haven't completely understood the fear unless the fear is based on skin color alone (which makes me shake my head even more).

In a way, I like that Durham is kind of a secret. The place is pretty amazing. When amazing places are discovered they often become a little less amazing (or unique: i.e., St. Petersburg, FL's creative community swept in when that was scary too, then got priced out, then had to close their little shops that drew outsiders in and made the place popular).

Well, I just wish people would think for themselves. I have a coworker who lives in Cary in a deed restricted community who is still insisting to me that Durham is "scary", and she never goes here, and I live here.

[Teach07]

You're right...I think alot of it is based on skin color. It's (Durham) just a more diverse area than Raleigh, and they have higher crime (still below many major cities) and it's the whole stigma attached to that. I live in Raleigh, but I will admit, where there is more diversity there is more culture and better nightlife. Just my opinion.

[Petunia16]

Another good place to start from a distance:

Wikipedia - Raleigh, NC

Wikipedia - Durham

You can get some "hard" facts here... and I agree with everyone else, come rent a car and roam. Take notes. Come up with your own opinions This board is awesome for research but, in the end, it's what you are comfortable with.

Perhaps... keep the exploring of the areas that you believe aren't so "nifty" reserved for the daytime

Oh, and just today my grandma said... "Be careful while you are in Durham! On CNN it said that they are having LOTS of gang wars between those crypts and 'reds'!". Thanks grandma, will do. Dontcha love the media?