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Interesting. I visited St. Louis once a long time ago and loved it, but never really considered moving there. (I think Nelly had ruined St. Louis for me for a long time lol). But seriously, I may give it a serious thought. Thanks!
Denver, Phoenix and Buffalo are also going on the list. I've looked into Ohio for years, including Cleveland and I think I decided I don't want to go there. I'd love to live in Seattle, but I'm worried about the COL there too.
Getting some wonderful ideas, thanks a lot for your suggestions!
I just wanted to comment that I find it peculiar that North Carolinians are trying to get out when the rest of America is trying to get in. What is your take on this?
NC is pretty lousy right now. The job market is awful (only thing available are call center jobs with high turnover rates or manufacturing positions that pay just above minimum wage). People with bachelors and masters degrees are working for $11 an hour. The schools here are severely sub-par. The state is broke, programs are being cut back, and small towns like where I live are seriously dying. The younger generation seems to be over the whole racist/segregated thing, even in the redneck town I'm in, but unfortunately that's not the case for my age and older.
Even the nicer, larger cities like Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte lack true diversity and are largely segregated and not very progressive in terms of sustainable lifestyle options, like walkability, biking, social activities, etc. Everyone in this state seems to be victims of groupthink. If you don't drink and party, there is literally nothing else to do, especially not for the youth.
I've been here almost my entire lifetime, so maybe I just need to see and experience something new, but that's my take.
I admire your courage to move your family out of a place when you know there is something better out there for them. I posed the question to you because we were thinking of moving there (NC). My hubby is originally from there and recently retired (military). He did not want to return but I did. He won, we're back in Las Vegas but I'm still itching to move on due to educational issues in the state. I suggest Arizona or Texas to be prospective choices for you. There is definitely more diversity out west & northeast but the trade off is higher cost of living. I'm still searching for an educational Utopia but have to figure out what I'm willing to sacrifice. It may be weather, or lack of diversity. Good luck in your search and keep us posted.
I just wanted to comment that I find it peculiar that North Carolinians are trying to get out when the rest of America is trying to get in. What is your take on this?
I can't speak to current conditions, but in 2008, when we moved from Chapel Hill to Philly, I felt we (NC) were becoming too big too fast (at some point in the 2000's NC's population passed NJ, and it became the 10th most populous state). When I moved to Chapel Hill it was a tad on the sleepy side, there were some major roads, and there were empty spaces between it and Durham and Raleigh. When I left, there was a lot more traffic, less open space, and new development (residential and retail) was slowly eroding what made the area unique. When my wife and I told people we were moving, the common first reaction was "why would you want to leave Chapel Hill?" When we told them we had a long checklist of what we wanted and we chose Philly, they thought we had lost our minds. It's 4 1/2 years later, and we regret nothing. It's a beautiful, sometimes problematic, always interesting place to live. Interestingly, when we started talking to our new neighbors and random people in stores, while dog walking, etc., their reaction was sometimes "you left NC? That's where we [or a relative/friend] want to retire!"
I just wanted to comment that I find it peculiar that North Carolinians are trying to get out when the rest of America is trying to get in. What is your take on this?
Charlotte totally sucks.......the taxes are ridiculous, and the fact that the state has a law against unions or any labor organizations, makes it so employers can treat you like crap.
Working here sucks. Low pay compared to other big cities.....Stuff to do....forget it...Not on the scale like large cities.
NC is pretty lousy right now. The job market is awful (only thing available are call center jobs with high turnover rates or manufacturing positions that pay just above minimum wage). People with bachelors and masters degrees are working for $11 an hour. The schools here are severely sub-par. The state is broke, programs are being cut back, and small towns like where I live are seriously dying. The younger generation seems to be over the whole racist/segregated thing, even in the redneck town I'm in, but unfortunately that's not the case for my age and older.
Even the nicer, larger cities like Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte lack true diversity and are largely segregated and not very progressive in terms of sustainable lifestyle options, like walkability, biking, social activities, etc. Everyone in this state seems to be victims of groupthink. If you don't drink and party, there is literally nothing else to do, especially not for the youth.
I've been here almost my entire lifetime, so maybe I just need to see and experience something new, but that's my take.
Overall cost of living in Buffalo is actually around the national average, give or take. So, the Northeast can vary in that regard.
Another area that may work is the Cleveland Hill area of Cheektowaga. It's school district also has some diversity and the graduation rate for Black students is usually in the mid 80's-low 90's in percentage. https://reportcards.nysed.gov/files/...0703020003.pdf
I can't speak to current conditions, but in 2008, when we moved from Chapel Hill to Philly, I felt we (NC) were becoming too big too fast (at some point in the 2000's NC's population passed NJ, and it became the 10th most populous state). When I moved to Chapel Hill it was a tad on the sleepy side, there were some major roads, and there were empty spaces between it and Durham and Raleigh. When I left, there was a lot more traffic, less open space, and new development (residential and retail) was slowly eroding what made the area unique. When my wife and I told people we were moving, the common first reaction was "why would you want to leave Chapel Hill?" When we told them we had a long checklist of what we wanted and we chose Philly, they thought we had lost our minds. It's 4 1/2 years later, and we regret nothing. It's a beautiful, sometimes problematic, always interesting place to live. Interestingly, when we started talking to our new neighbors and random people in stores, while dog walking, etc., their reaction was sometimes "you left NC? That's where we [or a relative/friend] want to retire!"
Interesting how things work out. Thanks for posting an opposing opinion. So what do you like about the area that you are in now?
Charlotte totally sucks.......the taxes are ridiculous, and the fact that the state has a law against unions or any labor organizations, makes it so employers can treat you like crap.
Working here sucks. Low pay compared to other big cities.....Stuff to do....forget it...Not on the scale like large cities.
Sounds like Charlotte is on the forefront of big change or a slow down in migration. My husband's brother was trying to steer us towards Fort Mill.
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