New Bern OR Morehead City? (Wilmington, Beaufort: daycare, homes, schools)

[LLN]

If you can afford the rent, I would choose MHC. New Bern is fine, but think overall, other than health care, MHC wins in most categories. Of course, you have to find a job and pay the rent..that might be more challenging in MHC. In any event, jobs for "generalists" are few and far between right now. Please be sure you have significant living expenses, in hand, before moving without an assured job.

[ab.painter]

I will plan on finding a place to stay before I move and I will start applying but I will have enough saved up that if I don't find something ASAP I wont be in too much trouble.

What are some activities that people my age do around these two towns?

[Bill Hitchcock]

Below are links to the New Bern newspaper and the Morehead City (Carteret County) newspaper. Both will give you a good idea of jobs, activities, events and demographics of each town.
Sun Journal

Carolina Coast Online :: Portal to the News-Times, Arts Alive, This Week Magazine, Topsail Voice, Tideland News > Front

New Bern is a daily publication the Carteret News Times is tri-weekly

[LLN]

Originally Posted by ab.painter

I will plan on finding a place to stay before I move and I will start applying but I will have enough saved up that if I don't find something ASAP I wont be in too much trouble.

What are some activities that people my age do around these two towns?

I have a nephew, 23, in New Bern, and he is struggling a bit himself. There are several bars, and some good scenes, but he is not thrilled with nightlife. However, he has a great job and is happy otherwise.

If you are "outdoorsy" there is a great bicycle/kayak shop in Washington, NC, that sponsors a lot of bike rides and kayak rides. The season for yakking is about over, but I think they ride bikes through the winter.

To me, that is about the ultimate thing I have seen down here for high quality group activities.

Good Luck.

By the way, there are a lot of homes, older, and smaller for rent in New Bern right now. I think people can't get what they way to sell them for, so they are renting them out.

[macjr82]

LLn, is your Nephew from New Bern or did he move there? I grew up down that way. And a guy who moves there as an adult is a at supreme disadvantage. Using my classmates as a rulestick, it seems ladies from the area fall into two categories, they either marry/date someone they've known there whole life, or they date/marry someone in the military. Fellas typically either date/marry someone they've known since school days, or marry someone they met in college or wherever their job took them post college. Typically Raleigh, Greenville, and DC for my classmates it seems.

Also the bar scene, in New Bern especially, but some degree in the whole area (area being Craven/Carteret) is a place to go hang out with people you already know, not meet new people. There are bars/clubs where to could be even considered somewhat dangerous to go into if you're not local.
Marine, Sailor Victims of Assault

[LLN]

Nope, he just moved here during the summer. You are pretty accurate, based on what I hear, on the way things work.

[trlhiker]

You will probably be happier in MHC being you are young that said, I hate to tourist traffic that MHC has during the summer especially on the weekends.

[macjr82]

Another thing about the area. A lot of entertaining is done in the home. I think this, culturally, has alot to do with New Bern's lack of night life. Rather than got o a club, people just throw a party at there house, goes back to the point about people goingt o bars to hang with people they already know, not meeting new people. That said, making friends is a must, ot you'll be wondering where is and waht are they doing. If you're not part of anyone's circle it will appear, on the outside looking in, like everyone goes to work, goes to walmart, goes home, and goes to church and that's it.

[ab.painter]

Thanks for all of the info, it seems like Morehead City is the popular vote! I definitely do not want to move halfway across the country to not meet any new people, New Bern sounds like a great place once you know lots of people or start a family. It also sounds like most of the coastal towns are pet friendly in the sense that you can take them to beaches and parks, thats a major plus!

Forgot to ask before, are there safe/unsafe parts to MHC to live in. Since it is not a huge city im not sure if there is a downtown area or not and where the best places to live would be. As I originally stated I am willing to rent a 1 bed/studio or even a room in a house, definitely not picky but I want to be in a nice area. Somewhere where I can go for walks/ride my bike and not having to worry about certain streets and whatnot.

Thanks again, this is helping so much!

[macjr82]

there are some more older areas, more run down areas, but I can't honestly think of anywhere in MHC that I would feel unsafe. Not even there section 8 apartment areas. There are poor areas in MHC, but no really bad areas. There is a nice park with nice walk-jog-run,bike trail by West Carteret off Bridges st.