Roxboro vs. Oxford for family living (or anywhere inbetween) (Raleigh: rent, chapel) - Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary - North Carolina (NC) -The Triangle Area - City-Data Forum

Momofcaj · 07-25-2013, 04:16 PM

I know these areas aren't quite the "triangle"..but close-ish.

I have written on this board in regards to relocating to the area (my husband will be working in Butner) and have received great feedback. I now have a 2 job opportunities, one in Oxford and one in Roxboro. Our main concern is our 2 children (aged 3 and 1). We certainly don't mind if we are sort-of in the middle of nowhere, but would like to be close to a YMCA of sort for children activities (like within 15 or so minutes) and perhaps the same to grocery stores or target. Not sure if maybe just community from Durham or Cary area might be a better option. any thoughts?

thanks in advance!

wraleigh · 07-26-2013, 01:24 PM

There is no YMCA in Roxboro or Oxford. However, each offer something similar. As for grocery stores both cities have two Food Lions, a Lowes Food and of course Walmart but no Target.

The closest Target from Roxboro is 30 miles in either direction Danville, Va or Durham.

The closest Target from Oxford is also 30 miles in Wake Forest or Brier Creek.

Ellen Pitts · 07-26-2013, 01:31 PM

The one thing I hated about living in Oxford was the lack of children's activities. There was very little...to nothing. No Little Gym or Kindermusik. I was very surprised that there was no community center at all with classes in Oxford. I would definitely rent for the first year and feel things out a bit. You might decide to live a little closer to Durham (Bahama? Rougmont?) for the activities. I don't know anything about Roxboro though. They might have more organized activities than Oxford did.

urbanmyth · 07-27-2013, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wraleigh

There is no YMCA in Roxboro or Oxford. However, each offer something similar. As for grocery stores both cities have two Food Lions, a Lowes Food and of course Walmart but no Target.

The closest Target from Roxboro is 30 miles in either direction Danville, Va or Durham.

The closest Target from Oxford is also 30 miles in Wake Forest or Brier Creek.

It's easier to get to Durham from Oxford then anywhere in Wake County. Don't count on distance...figure on getting stuck in Wake County's sprawl nightmare and traffic signals. We use I 85 to get to Costco and Target in Durham.

urbanmyth · 07-27-2013, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pegotty

The one thing I hated about living in Oxford was the lack of children's activities. There was very little...to nothing. No Little Gym or Kindermusik. I was very surprised that there was no community center at all with classes in Oxford. I would definitely rent for the first year and feel things out a bit. You might decide to live a little closer to Durham (Bahama? Rougmont?) for the activities. I don't know anything about Roxboro though. They might have more organized activities than Oxford did.

Durham is 30 minutes from Oxford on I-85. There's also Henderson 5 miles north of Oxford on I-85.

urbanmyth · 07-27-2013, 06:33 AM

Henderson is 5 miles from Oxford on I85. There is a YMCA there. There is also a great health food store and local farmers markets.

urbanmyth · 07-27-2013, 06:40 AM

Count on the ride from Oxford or Roxboro in the Kerr-Tar region being, in time, significantly shorter than distances in "The Triangle" region when you use I-85 or US501. Avoid US1, NC50. Also, almost forgot the Earth Fare and Whole Foods are about 30 minutes from Oxford and Roxboro.

poppydog · 07-27-2013, 07:47 AM

I would look at Durham if I were in your shoes. Oxford and Roxboro aren't really tied to the Triangle. They are their own small towns — not suburbs. Durham schools get a mixed rap compared to Wake Co & Chapel Hill schools, but I think they would rate better than schools in Oxford, Roxboro, Henderson or Butner. There are many great magnet schools in Durham — a friend is very happy with Durham's new middle School for Creative Studies, focusing on digital arts. The Durham School of the Arts was named the top public high school in NC by US News (which, admittedly, was a switch up from previous years, but it is highly regarded). I have several friends who have been beside-themselves-thrilled with the education their kids have received at the Durham charter elementary(lottery to get in) Central Park School for Children. You will have many more opportunities all around in Durham than you would in Roxboro, Oxford, etc. Great restaurants, great kids activities (NC Museum of Life & Science in Durham runs great kids' camps, and museum admission is free for Durham residents on Weds).

I like a small town sometimes, but I, personally, couldn't be happy in Oxford, Roxboro, or Henderson. I like Hillsborough and would do fine there, but don't think that helps your commute much. It might be doable, though, if you're really looking for a small town.

This website on Durham Hoods might be helpful just to put names to neighborhoods. I think it's okay to link to because it's not a realtor's site: Durham Hoods | Neighborhood Maps & Mailing List Hub – Durham, NC .

You're moving from San Diego, right? I would really recommend sticking close to Durham or Raleigh. I think you would be bored stiff in Oxford or Roxboro. They might have a Walmart there. Durham has a whole lot more going on. I think you'd like it much more.

Durham, and the rest of the Triangle, is home to a lot of newcomers from all over the country and the world. I have friends in Durham from London, NY, NC, and all over. You'd be more likely to run into people you have stuff in common with. Lots of Californians in the Triangle and Durham. In Roxboro and Oxford you're much more likely to run into small town families that have been there for generations. I have in-law relatives in Henderson, both the parents and the grown children. As a native North Carolinian, I wouldn't want to live there. I certainly don't begrudge anyone who likes it, but it's very small and everybody knows everybody and which church you go to, etc. It would feel too stifling for me and I think would be a huge culture shock from San Diego.

Ellen Pitts · 07-27-2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanmyth

Durham is 30 minutes from Oxford on I-85. There's also Henderson 5 miles north of Oxford on I-85.

Well...35 if you live right on the interstate. From where we lived 10 minutes outside of town it was 45.

NRaleigh Mom · 07-27-2013, 11:40 PM

My husband and I looked at properties in both Roxboro and Oxford and seriously considered making an offer on one beautiful farm in Oxford but I am so glad that we didn't! Something just kept gnawing at me that it was just too far from everything. Don't get me wrong...I wanted country living but I didn't want to have to drive long winding country roads especially at night just to go to the store etc. I was also afraid that if we had a medical emergency that it may take too long for EMS to arrive and then transport us.

I too am from California (raised in Orange County Ca and then my adult years in the San Francisco Bay area) so I'm not sure that you would like those two areas especially having young children. My children are grown and out of the house so I didn't have to worry about children related things (schools etc.) so my advice is to try to find something that is not so far north. I wouldn't even consider venturing any further north than let's say Rougemont (and that is even a stretch). Like some others have said maybe Bahama. It's still got a country feel but not so far out. Creedmoor is also country feeling and still close to things but you would really need to look at the schools in the area because that may be a deterrent unless you plan to send them to private.

Good Luck in your search!!