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Sounds like he needs to get the job offer in Raleigh before that is really an option.
Note to OP: you say your wife is a "NYC girl"--I hope she realizes Raleigh is NOT another NYC. Houston is a much bigger city for someone who wants "big city" things and especially good public transportation, something that's very bad about the Raleigh area. Just make sure she isn't under any illusions that the "urbanity" of Raleigh is remotely like a big Northeastern city. This area is "suburb central" and people in general move here to get AWAY from the big-city life of NYC. If that's what she wants, she might find Houston the better choice of the two...but if you don't get the Raleigh job and still want to keep looking, go for Charlotte, Atlanta, or DC (you said Fed govt, right? Seems like DC would be the bounty for that) if she is a "city" girl, especially if she is picky about pizza
To me this is a no brainer! We are currently living in Houston and can't wait to get out! It DOES smell in Houston. The traffic is horrendous everywhere. There are too many people there. The property taxes are higher in Houston than in Raleigh. We are looking to move to Raleigh in the next few months. We lived 8 years in Houston, having moved there from New Jersey and we are ready to get out! The east coast is SO much prettier and much better quality of life in my opinion.
To me this is a no brainer! We are currently living in Houston and can't wait to get out! It DOES smell in Houston. The traffic is horrendous everywhere. There are too many people there. The property taxes are higher in Houston than in Raleigh. We are looking to move to Raleigh in the next few months. We lived 8 years in Houston, having moved there from New Jersey and we are ready to get out! The east coast is SO much prettier and much better quality of life in my opinion.
I too lived in Houston and concur about the smell. The second you walk of the plane at the airport, it hits you in the face. The rental cars smell like mildew as well. It's just a damp place that's far enough inland from the Gulf Coast that the stagnation amplifies the effects of the dampness.
Sounds like he needs to get the job offer in Raleigh before that is really an option.
Note to OP: you say your wife is a "NYC girl"--I hope she realizes Raleigh is NOT another NYC. Houston is a much bigger city for someone who wants "big city" things and especially good public transportation, something that's very bad about the Raleigh area. Just make sure she isn't under any illusions that the "urbanity" of Raleigh is remotely like a big Northeastern city. This area is "suburb central" and people in general move here to get AWAY from the big-city life of NYC. If that's what she wants, she might find Houston the better choice of the two...but if you don't get the Raleigh job and still want to keep looking, go for Charlotte, Atlanta, or DC (you said Fed govt, right? Seems like DC would be the bounty for that) if she is a "city" girl, especially if she is picky about pizza
To her, there is only 1 NYC. Other big cities are not the same. So yes, she realizes that Raleigh isn't NYC. She still has fantasies about living in NYC with money (and probably being single). Always felt hard to raise a family there.
Other cities like Charlotte and DC would be great, but hard to make those happen because of lack of opportunity and/or much lower salary with higher costs of living.
Hopefully you would be working for the Feds in NC because working for the state of NC is likely to drive you mad.
I would suggest Houston without even comparing living situation or anything else but job prospects. Run don't walk away from any state government jobs in NC.
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