Info for Hickory and Surrounding Areas (schools, etc) (Charlotte, Gastonia: chapel, homes)

[msrodz]

We will be relocating to Hickory and looking for a place to live. A challenging yet fun school environment is very important. Can live anyhwere from 30 min outs. Have drove through Hickory for a quick view of area and very impressed. So now is to decide where to live, again schools will be a big factor where we should buy. Have read Mt. View area has a great school system and housing, yet taxes higher. Have considered Lenior or Lincolnton, but have found conflicting opinions and a little out dated.

How is Morganton, Morresville or Conover/Newton?

Also my daughters learned Mandarin (Chinese) while we lived overseas, will I be able to find a turtor or company that can continue with the langauge? unabled to find one in area we are using as a transition.

do all or most areas have recrecation sports? How is weather for winter as we are moving from a warm climate only and will need complete winter clothing, what do i need to buy?

Many thanks ahead of time!

[crankin22]

I am looking for a great Nursing position in the Morganton an Hickory area.

[Raine Carraway]

This is just personal opinion, but I do agree that Mountain View is one of the better areas of Hickory for housing and schools, along with the St. Stephens area [double check the schools though, because there has been some redistricting].

Both Newton/Conover and Lenoir are suffering worse than Hickory due to the economic downturn, so there are rougher areas and the schools seem to be getting the short end of the stick in many ways. Morganton is economically depressed some, but has built several new schools, and has a little better tax base because of homes and developments on the lake and the retiree community.

I do not know a whole lot about Mooresville or Lincolnton - a friend of mine substitues at, and sends his children to, Mooresville schools, and they seem to be nice, but Mooresville is more expensive to live in than most of the areas you listed, and it is a bit of a drive from there to Hickory. Lincolnton is convenient to Hickory and Gastonia/Charlotte, but has more of a rural feel to it than most of the other areas - I like it personally, but I do not know what the schools are like, because it doesn't have the tax base of the larger cities.

All of these areas do have school sports, and I know Hickory & Morganton have some rec leagues, and am pretty sure that Lenoir does as well. Winter is not usually very bad, but it's been a little cooler so far this year than in the past few. I would buy a good warm jacket, but don't overdo it with a ski parka unless you plan to spend time in the mountains, and a few fleece pullovers or sweatshirts should suffice. I found that since I moved "down the mountain" from Boone, I haven't even unpacked most of the sweaters and major winter clothes I bought. Boots or shoes with good tread are nice to have though, because we tend to get ice even when it doesn't snow much, and a scarf & hat, and gloves, are good for blocking the cold on windy days in winter.

[hapaleeretired]

Look at the Grace Chapel area of Caldwell County. Hickory address with lower Caldwell County taxes.

[msrodz]

Lots of great info to think on. Many thanks for your help, I look forward to any other replies as well.

getting excited to move to area, mostly to settle we have been "moving" since June.

again many THANKS!