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I used to work in WC but lived in GSO. I thought GSO was a much funner, hipper place. Around the university it seemed more diverse and bohemian than anything in WC. I also thought downtown was a lot funner with pizza joints, bars, coffee houses, etc. It was cool just to go walk around. I never had a problem with crime in either place.
Here's the deal with crime pretty much anywhere in the US:
When you look at stats, you can pretty much ignore violent crime data.
Why? Because it's never going to happen to you. And the variations between cities are so statistically insignificant that if it does ever happen to you, then it was just your bad luck because you'd have been about as likely to have it happen to you regardless of where you were, whether downtown Winston, Greensboro, Charlotte, Newark, LA or anywhere else.
Property crime stats are what really matter, because there are cities where you absolutely have a greater chance of having your home or car broken into. There are cities where, if you live there long enough, you WILL have something stolen or vandalized.
Use common sense and you have just as little chance of being victimized in downtown New Orleans as you do in downtown Kernersville.
Well, just one example to be fair... Some people like riding bikes without worrying about cars. Other than the laughable Salem Lake greenway, where does one do that in Winston? Greensboro is a nationally recognized bike-friendly community (though I'd never call it "bike-friendly").
I'm sure there are many things one can do in one city and not the other, and they each hold a different level of importance to each person. I'm a fiend for Vietnamese food. Good luck finding that in W-S. But I find better hot dogs around Winston than in Greensboro.
Oh, and apparently, if I want to be raped, then W-S is the right choice!
Yup, statistics are a funny thing. Good post.
After seven months in W-S; decided I'd rather commute from Greensboro for many of the reasons you'd listed. For days when I don't want to fool with a bike carrier; all I have to do is peddle out to the street. Lots of options/areas I can safely reach in the Adams Farm/Piedmont Centre area. It's nice to have Country Park and the NW cycling options closer on the weekends again.
I've got to say I wish Greensboro had more/better hot dog options. As you've said, W-S stands out in that aspect. I'd add a wish for something more like Little Richards's "Pig Pickn'" style BBQ too. Although Country BBQ, Stamey's, and Carter Brothers are more than satisfactory.
Also like the diversity both foreign and domestic of the area of GSO I'm moving into now. Having a good busy gym within a couple of miles, etc.
Being "home" again is an awesome feeling. Back in "flow." Work/Life balance.
The Triad offers so much variety if one knows where to look. I know people from Georgia, Wisconsin, California and New York who are very happy in W-S. Most South Floridians I've come across seem to find certain areas of GSO a more natural fit. Although I'm sure there are examples of individuals from all of those places where the opposite rings true.
Probably some who no matter where or what they do; might not like the Triad or feel at home at all. Fortunately for them; there's a larger world out there to explore. Find one's own "right space."
Winston-Salem. More "old-fashioned southern charm" in my opinion, much better/more lively downtown, and overall safer. If you are curious about NC in general, Durham is in the same neighborhood as Winston-Salem. Both are historically tobacco towns and are about the same size population wise. Also, both have prestigious schools (Duke in Durham and Wake Forest in Winston-Salem). Raleigh and Charlotte are a few of the fastest growing cities in the south and America in general. These cities are good to live in but Winston-Salem is smaller and more laid-back. Also, Cary is a great place to live in but it's not very "southern" culturally. It's just a huge, soulless, suburban town west of Raleigh filled with transplants.
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