Do people feel safe living in the Mountain Region area? (Charlotte: low crime, how much)

[Woodstocksnoopy]

I am just trying to get a sense if people living in this area feel safe? I know that there is no such thing as a crime free environment (I grew up near NYC and know you need to be watchful) but would like to get a sense of what locals say about the crime and being out at night. Black Mountain is one of the towns that I am interested in and would like to hear from anyone in that town and/or towns nearby. My parents may move to NC with me or they may go back to Florida which would leave me alone and my family and friends are worried about my safety. Commuting to work is not much of a problem, especially if I have a nice town to come home to.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Woodstocksnoopy

I am just trying to get a sense if people living in this area feel safe? I know that there is no such thing as a crime free environment (I grew up near NYC and know you need to be watchful) but would like to get a sense of what locals say about the crime and being out at night. Black Mountain is one of the towns that I am interested in and would like to hear from anyone in that town and/or towns nearby. My parents may move to NC with me or they may go back to Florida which would leave me alone and my family and friends are worried about my safety. Commuting to work is not much of a problem, especially if I have a nice town to come home to.

Guess I'm a little confused about WHY you would think you would be unsafe in a mountain community? Far as I can think of the only danger you'd have to worry about at night in the mountains is from raccoons who might want in your garbage cans

[Woodstocksnoopy]

I just want to make sure I cover all my bases - as a person who would possibly moving to a town alone I just want to make sure that I hear what others have to say. I grew up outside of NYC and now live in upstate NY which has a fairly low crime rate, I am looking for something similar to here - but with a bit warmer winters. I didn't mean to suggest that there was crime.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Woodstocksnoopy

I just want to make sure I cover all my bases - as a person who would possibly moving to a town alone I just want to make sure that I hear what others have to say. I grew up outside of NYC and now live in upstate NY which has a fairly low crime rate, I am looking for something similar to here - but with a bit warmer winters. I didn't mean to suggest that there was crime.

Oh no, you didn't! I just can't quite figure out why this would even be a question. Most mountain towns are very small here, other than Asheville, and even it is not a big city. Most of the time you can count on things being fairly safe in small towns, no matter where they are

[Woodstocksnoopy]

I figured it was a Mountain town, but never having been there I wasn't sure. I was reading about Charlotte and surrounding areas and they seem to have more crime than I thought and I started to question.

How far is Ashville? Are there jobs for someone with a college degree and experience and willing to work hard? I just want to live somewhere where the people are friendly to your face and behind your back and don't feed off of others misfortunes (which is what I experience at work everyday). I just want to find a nice town with nice people that are not trying to out do each other. Am I close by looking in this area?

[roxors]

Professional jobs are hard to come by in Asheville, so I would not move here unless you had already obtained a position. This area's economy is tourism/service/medical based. Great place to live, if you can afford it.

[Woodstocksnoopy]

Thanks so much for that info. I guess I assumed it wouldn't be too hard to find a job. Well, I guess I will keep looking for my "dream" place to live - maybe it really isn't out there - but I do know I don't want to stay where I am.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Woodstocksnoopy

I figured it was a Mountain town, but never having been there I wasn't sure. I was reading about Charlotte and surrounding areas and they seem to have more crime than I thought and I started to question.

How far is Ashville? Are there jobs for someone with a college degree and experience and willing to work hard? I just want to live somewhere where the people are friendly to your face and behind your back and don't feed off of others misfortunes (which is what I experience at work everyday). I just want to find a nice town with nice people that are not trying to out do each other. Am I close by looking in this area?

Sounds to me like mountain life might not really be for you. Since you need to find employment and have good medical care for your parents nearby, I'd say look to live in a smaller city like Greensboro.

[gigimac]

Let's see, the job advice in the posts so far is good, that is, in Asheville and the surrounding area, to include Black Mountain, pay is low and housing costs are high because it's considered a resort area. Also, Blk Mt is REALLY small, so limited jobs too. In general you should find a job first before you settle on any location. So, pick your top ten towns, sort thru the jobs, then choose a few to take field trips to, see how you feel.

As for crime up here, I am a female, and I've learned over the years to always pay attention to where I am, no matter WHERE on earth I am, and I always have an escort at night, I studied self-defense for a while, that sort of thing. Never let down your guard. Me, I always leave my car doors unlocked when I go in a store, because I'd rather they took what was in there than break out a window, something that does occur in some parts of town. And yet, for the 30 years I've been up here, we often forget to lock our back door and it's no big deal. And while I am watchful, I do feel comfortable shopping downtown with the weekday lunch crowd. There are those here who will say panhandlers and scruffy sixties-wanna-bees will ruin your experience in Asheville, but I guess I've been around all of it for so long that I could care less about them. It's just a normal city mix. And there are parts of town I just don't go to, period.

But when I come down off the mountain and go to another state (I know NC very well), say, in coastal South Carolina or larger cities up in Virginia, that's when I pay attention to how much money I have in my wallet, don't go anywhere unaccompanied at any time, I automatically put in place a much higher level of awareness. So, from that point of view, Asheville compared to other places is not too bad. Now, Black Mountain, likewise, just 20 miles outside of Asheville and all the jobs and activities it offers, it is indeed small-town living and a very cute place, so I suppose if you were going to be safe and happy anywhere, that would come close, but again, like all towns, some things are better than others.

But I have to say, in sum, your ideas are CORRECT about Black Mountain possibly being a more comfortable place than where you are, but you don't have to go with my opinion... in a post begun a couple months back, when locals here were asked what is the best small town near Asheville, the majority said Black Mountain.

[Woodstocksnoopy]

Originally Posted by gigimac

Let's see, the job advice in the posts so far is good, that is, in Asheville and the surrounding area, to include Black Mountain, pay is low and housing costs are high because it's considered a resort area. Also, Blk Mt is REALLY small, so limited jobs too. In general you should find a job first before you settle on any location. So, pick your top ten towns, sort thru the jobs, then choose a few to take field trips to, see how you feel.

As for crime up here, I am a female, and I've learned over the years to always pay attention to where I am, no matter WHERE on earth I am, and I always have an escort at night, I studied self-defense for a while, that sort of thing. Never let down your guard. Me, I always leave my car doors unlocked when I go in a store, because I'd rather they took what was in there than break out a window, something that does occur in some parts of town. And yet, for the 30 years I've been up here, we often forget to lock our back door and it's no big deal. And while I am watchful, I do feel comfortable shopping downtown with the weekday lunch crowd. There are those here who will say panhandlers and scruffy sixties-wanna-bees will ruin your experience in Asheville, but I guess I've been around all of it for so long that I could care less about them. It's just a normal city mix. And there are parts of town I just don't go to, period.

But when I come down off the mountain and go to another state (I know NC very well), say, in coastal South Carolina or larger cities up in Virginia, that's when I pay attention to how much money I have in my wallet, don't go anywhere unaccompanied at any time, I automatically put in place a much higher level of awareness. So, from that point of view, Asheville compared to other places is not too bad. Now, Black Mountain, likewise, just 20 miles outside of Asheville and all the jobs and activities it offers, it is indeed small-town living and a very cute place, so I suppose if you were going to be safe and happy anywhere, that would come close, but again, like all towns, some things are better than others.

But I have to say, in sum, your ideas are CORRECT about Black Mountain possibly being a more comfortable place than where you are, but you don't have to go with my opinion... in a post begun a couple months back, when locals here were asked what is the best small town near Asheville, the majority said Black Mountain.

Thanks for your help. It is nice to get a female opinion on safety. I guess I feel that this place has beaten me down – personally and career wise - so I am looking for my fantasy place before I am too old. Also, I’ve watched too many Gilmore Girl episodes and want to have a happy fulfilled life. Black Mountain sounds like a nice place that would be good for me except for the job factor. I went to college part-time for 12 years to get my degree and now I want to start putting it to work. I don’t need a huge salary – I am not a materialistic girl - but would like to make a decent living, have a nice place to live and not have to worry about going out to eat once in a while – even if it is only for a burger and some beers.
I guess my search will continue. Thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions, it really helps.