Help me chose Wilmington, Cary, Apex, Morrisville or Florida! (Charlotte: neighborhood, schools)

[Middle North Carolina]

I'm driving myself nuts trying to chose what place to live with my family. I want to be able to boat and swim, have a small town feel but close to at least Target and Walmart. Im hoping for a place that does family events, parades, festival's, things with the towns people
Also schools are important, I do have a daughter that has a learning disability and has an IEP.

I'm looking at the Wilmington area, or 3 towns near Raleigh; Cary, Apex and Morrisville. Even considering Florida, maybe Port St. Lucie. Can anyone tell me their views of these towns and a possible comparison if you've lived at more than one? Thank you!

[Sassakitty]

Originally Posted by Middle North Carolina

I'm driving myself nuts trying to chose what place to live with my family. I want to be able to boat and swim, have a small town feel but close to at least Target and Walmart. Im hoping for a place that does family events, parades, festival's, things with the towns people
Also schools are important, I do have a daughter that has a learning disability and has an IEP.

I'm looking at the Wilmington area, or 3 towns near Raleigh; Cary, Apex and Morrisville. Even considering Florida, maybe Port St. Lucie. Can anyone tell me their views of these towns and a possible comparison if you've lived at more than one? Thank you!

Questions for you:
1. Where are you moving from?
2. Do you have a job lead or job in any of these areas?
3. Do you have expectations for your child's IEP and it being followed?

[LittleDolphin]

If I were you, I'd check out Morehead City/Beaufort NC and Southport NC....or if inland, try Hillsborough...all 3 would suit you according to your stated wish list.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Middle North Carolina

I'm looking at the Wilmington area, or 3 towns near Raleigh; Cary, Apex and Morrisville.

None of these have a "small-town feel". Cary, Apex and Morrisville are very large, rapidly-growing suburbs of Raleigh, with the only swimming likely to be the neighborhood pool.

Wilmington might suit your goals better as it is a small city on the coast. Please do some searches on past neighborhood reccommendations. Also please research your job opportunities and pay scales before you venture a visit. The pay may less than you are making in your current location.

[Middle North Carolina]

Due to cost of living, Florida is where we landed. Thanks everyone!

[goolsbyjazz]

Congrats! Where in Florida?

[GarfieldGuy]

Don't waste your time on anything in the Raleigh area -- way too pretentious and snotty, and it's been that way ever since the days of the Andy Griffith Show, where even the characters on that show would always dismiss going to Raleigh, or people from Raleigh, as being way too stuck-up and not worth the trouble.


Personally, I much prefer western NC and its towns like Winston-Salem and Asheville (but avoid Charlotte, for the same reasons I gave for avoiding Raleigh).


If you're looking for the Southern feel, you might try the panhandle of Florida, all the way from Tallahassee west to Pensacola. Marianna has swimming holes and caves and there's lots of nature all along that stretch.