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Hello everyone. Thank you in advance for your time and advise. My question relates to what city(s) would be best suited to relocate my family to.
Here is some background. I am looking for a young family friendly neighborhood with good schools that has the following:
Outdoor activities
Near a lake or ocean
High population
Good shopping/restaurants
Hope this is enough to go on. Thanks again for any inside information.
Outdoor activities
Near a lake or ocean
High population
Good shopping/restaurants
Hope this is enough to go on. Thanks again for any inside information.
It's not really enough to go on, as I think it more important to concentrate on where the best job opportunities are for you.
Bur my first thought is to recommend Charlotte. It has several lakes, and it not hard to find outdoor recreation. It is the largest city in Charlotte with an abundance of good suburbs. Please do some reading in the Charlotte sub-forum, and see if you would like it.
It is the largest city in Charlotte with an abundance of good suburbs.
I think it's supposed to read: It is the largest city in NC....
In addition to Charlotte, most any of the larger cities in NC would probably work for you.
Raleigh
Greensboro
Winston-Salem
Durham
All have nearby lakes and plenty of outdoor recreation (that's in plentiful supply all across NC). There are some good schools within any larger school district. And all have plentiful suburbs with family friendly neighborhoods, shopping, etc.
The best city on the coast (ocean) is Wilmington.
I agree with Goldenage1; your search should be predicated on where the best job opportunities are located. Your criteria really is pretty generic. Until you can be more specific or narrow your search, it will be difficult to give you meaningful "inside" information.
Hello everyone. Thank you in advance for your time and advise. My question relates to what city(s) would be best suited to relocate my family to.
Here is some background. I am looking for a young family friendly neighborhood with good schools that has the following:
Outdoor activities
Near a lake or ocean
High population
Good shopping/restaurants
Hope this is enough to go on. Thanks again for any inside information.
Raleigh has numerous lakes and a fantastic parks and rec system, as well as Umstead State Park, which is one of the largest urban forests in the US; and on top of that we're almost exactly halfway between the state's beautiful beaches and mountains.
It's the second most populated but also the densest city in the state with a population of 431,746 in 2013 and a density of just over 3,000 people/sq mi. The Raleigh-Durham metro has a population of just over 2,000,000; and there are plenty of nice energetic neighborhoods for young families.
The shopping is pretty much on par with Charlotte, though they might have a few more high end chains (such as Dean & Deluca.) But I would go out on a limb and say that the restaurant scene in Raleigh and Durham (which consistently has made high marks on lists of the best food scenes in the South) is better than that of Charlotte.
The Wake County Public School system is the largest system in the state, and it's also the best outside of the tiny Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System (which is also in Raleigh-Durham.) If schools are the top priority I would recommend living in Chapel Hill (but make sure you're actually within the CH-Carrboro system, the districting is a bit complex) or Cary. (even though Cary and Raleigh are both part of the same system (Wake County), Cary's schools usually rank a bit better than Raleigh's.)
Fayetteville-
With lots of businesses and a high density,
Cheap housing, decent schools, and close to the Cape Fear River. As of January 2013, Fayetteville had 204,408 people, making it the 6th largest in the state and about 1400 people per square mile, and a 2012 metropolitan of 400,000, Fayetteville is perfect for what you want in a city. The all american city comes with great opportunities for the outdoors, including lots of museums, and ton of movie theaters, community pools, also 20 mins from a decent water park. With the average house only costing $92,000 and with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, finding the perfect affordable house should be easy. Despite the high crime, Fayetteveille is perfect. Fayetteville is also 1 hour away from Raleigh (the capital) and 1 hour 36 mins from Wilmington Beach, also 45 mins from South Carolina, its in a pretty decent location with Cumberland County Schools having the 4th largest school system in the state and one of the largest in the United States.
Another idea is Charlotte,
Being the largest city in the Carolinas, 16th largest in the US, and the most major tourist attraction in the Carolinas, theres plenty to do (passing Myrtle Beach), including view the tall skyscrapers, eat the extremely expensive food, and stay at a exremely nice hotel, you'll be treated with modern hospitality. Charlotte also has very nice apartments, but they sell quick! Also enjoy the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets, as well as other sport teams. At the border of South Carolina, it also has a large metropolitan. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system is decent depending on where you live, also the 2nd largest school system in the state behind Wake County. As of January 2013, Charlotte had 792,862 people, with 2,663.2 people per square mile.
Last edited by Jimmysmile; 10-31-2014 at 09:30 PM..
I just came in here to laugh at the Fayetteville suggestion, too. Don't move there.
But just to put in my own opinion, Durham sounds good for you. It's pretty hipster-ish, and there is plenty to do here. Right next door to Raleigh, so it's a pretty urban/built up region. Durham has tons of good restaurants and has made a few "best food city" lists or whatevs. The Streets at Southpoint (mall) is massive and has plenty of awesom restaurants and stores...has an Apple store AND a Microsoft store!! As well as a Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen <3 Pretty cool burger/wine bar there too. Falls Lake is nearby for all your laking needs. Granted, I've only lived here for a short while but I absolutely love it.
I also recommend Lake Norman near Charlotte. You have access to the large city amenities of Uptown Charlotte, quality neighborhoods in Huntersville, Mooresville, etc, and also a large recreational waterfront at Lake Norman.
I just came in here to laugh at the Fayetteville suggestion, too. Don't move there.
But just to put in my own opinion, Durham sounds good for you. It's pretty hipster-ish, and there is plenty to do here. Right next door to Raleigh, so it's a pretty urban/built up region. Durham has tons of good restaurants and has made a few "best food city" lists or whatevs. The Streets at Southpoint (mall) is massive and has plenty of awesom restaurants and stores...has an Apple store AND a Microsoft store!! As well as a Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen <3 Pretty cool burger/wine bar there too. Falls Lake is nearby for all your laking needs. Granted, I've only lived here for a short while but I absolutely love it.
Fayetteville is better then Durham!
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Ha.
