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Hi everyone! I'm currently a senior at the University of Iowa (go Hawkeyes!) who is graduating in December. I'm very seriously contemplating moving to either Minneapolis, MN or Raleigh, NC post-graduation. I've been to Minneapolis many, many times; however, I've only visited the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area once. I really liked the research triangle area, but I am also worried that it may feel a bit too small or "college town-ish" whereas I know Minneapolis can stand alone.
Hi everyone! I'm currently a senior at the University of Iowa (go Hawkeyes!) who is graduating in December. I'm very seriously contemplating moving to either Minneapolis, MN or Raleigh, NC post-graduation. I've been to Minneapolis many, many times; however, I've only visited the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area once. I really liked the research triangle area, but I am also worried that it may feel a bit too small or "college town-ish" whereas I know Minneapolis can stand alone.
They couldn't be more different. One is a major metro area that has cold winters. The other is a small to medium sized completely suburban metro area with three disconnected centers and no street lights on the roads. In fact I can't think of a single thing they have in common.
Hi everyone! I'm currently a senior at the University of Iowa (go Hawkeyes!) who is graduating in December. I'm very seriously contemplating moving to either Minneapolis, MN or Raleigh, NC post-graduation. I've been to Minneapolis many, many times; however, I've only visited the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area once. I really liked the research triangle area, but I am also worried that it may feel a bit too small or "college town-ish" whereas I know Minneapolis can stand alone.
Can anyone help make my decision any easier?
Why would you be worried about Raleigh feeling "too small" or "college town-ish" if you've been living in Iowa City? Raleigh is about 6x the size of Iowa City, and the Research Triangle area is about 10x the size of the Iowa City metro area. Raleigh is also the capital of North Carolina, so it is much more than just a college town.
I am NOT going to tell you which place you should choose. However, I think you've answered your own question with this quote "I am also worried that it may feel a bit too small or "college town-ish" whereas I know Minneapolis can stand alone."
I assume you are torn due to weather (NC being MUCH warmer). My suggestion is try looking at a larger southern city like Atlanta. That way you can get a "Minneapolis" down south. If you MUST have NC, take a look at Charlotte (feels and looks larger than Raleigh).
Again, I am not telling you where you should go (I personally would go where I got the best job offer). I am however saying expand your search to more southern cities than just Raleigh.
They couldn't be more different. One is a major metro area that has cold winters. The other is a small to medium sized completely suburban metro area with three disconnected centers and no street lights on the roads. In fact I can't think of a single thing they have in common.
This is an absurd comment and shows that you know very little about the Triangle region. Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill/Carrboro all have their own downtowns with varying degrees of urban/city feel. In my opinion, while Raleigh is the largest city with the biggest downtown, Durham has a more urban feel to it. There is certainly a huge amount of suburban sprawl, just as their is in the greater-MSP metro area. As for the streetlight comment , we do have streetlights, and IMO too many of them along most of the main roads in town. There are not a lot of streetlights on the more rural roads and those outside of the city limits...as it should be. Why bother polluting the night sky with light unnecessarily.
I personally love the Twin Cities, however the climate there is a bit too harsh for my liking. I also agree with urbancharlotte's comment about opening your search up to other souther cities, but most importantly is to go where you have a job.
Go with Raleigh Durham Area. That big city feel of traffic and density can grow old quick if you actually have to live with it every day. Plus in Raleigh you are only a half a days drive from Washington DC or Atlanta GA if you need your Big City fix.
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, we do have streetlights, and IMO too many of them along most of the main roads in town. There are not a lot of streetlights on the more rural roads and those outside of the city limits...as it should be. Why bother polluting the night sky with light unnecessarily. 
