Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We have recently received a job offer for a company that has offices in Jacksonville, FL and Charlotte, NC. We are trying to decide which city is the best place to settle down. Our family consists of a 13, 9, and 7 month old. We would like to settle down for at least 5 years to try and get our oldest thru high school. The pay is the same in either office so that isn't a deciding factor. Which has a better job market (just in case I need a new job sooner than planned)? Best family oriented city? Best neighborhoods? Thanks.
Hi, I'm originally from Jacksonville and now live in CLT(with many stops in between). If quality of education and community is your first priority, CLT unquestionably wins. Jacksonville's schools are subpar unless you live in St. Johns County or attend private school. I'm speaking from firsthand experience (private school graduate).
Jacksonville does have a beach, which is very nice but the overall experience is tailored much more towards the 50+ demographic rather than families with kids.
Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions about either city.
If the pay is the same in both cities, I would check the cost of living and cost of rentals/owning and compare the two cities. Other than that, Charlotte is a great city and I have only visited Jax so I can't say much.
We lived in Jacksonville a long time ago. It really depends on what you are looking for. If you are used to all of the things that you can do in Orlando and want to continue, Jacksonville would be the place. I was not that fond of Jacksonville when I was there because of the size and the traffic. I lived in Orlando for 6 years. The traffic was bad the the driver's were more courteous. Charlotte is a definite change from Florida, not bad, just different. You will have to deal with the change of seasons and possibly ice and snow, we don't get very much, but it's possible. I don't feel there is as much to do for children here as in Florida, but that's my opinion. Charlotte is nice. The people are definitely much nicer and friendlier here than there. There is more of a southern hospitality here. I loved Florida and the beach, but I think that the Carolinas are a better area to raise children because of the moral and ethical values here. More people attend church and are into family events and sports. I don't know if that interests you or not.
We live in Nocatee, which is part of Ponte Vedra, FL. It's southeast of Jacksonville. We have 4 young kids (middle school down to pre-K), and we absolutely love it here. Nocatee is an amazing place to raise a family. It is very safe, family-friendly, great schools, 10 mins from the beach, lots of amenities (pools, nature trails, parks and sports fields). It's a laid back, kids go out and play with their friends kind of place. I think there are areas around Charlotte that are also very good for families, but I have never lived there so I can't speak firsthand. We researched long and hard for a good place to grow roots in the southeast, and Nocatee was it for us! Let me know if you have any other questions (you can DM me or ask on the Jacksonville forum). Good luck!
Lisa with 4 kids and a dog
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Consider Nocatee, FL
