Where in N.C. would you recommend living, that's a good value and has good schools, also employment?

Question

We are originally from NJ and are now living in KY due to a relocation for work. We've found that KY is not for us and NJ has just gotten to expensive to return to. My husband will be retiring from his current job in about a year but will definately need another, he is an electrician. We're thinking of relocating to NC and haven't a clue where to go. I'm looking for a good public school system, my child will be going into high school. Employment potential is necessary and also housing that is affordable, I'm hoping to not spend more than 225K for a home, hopefully new construction. We also have friends in Graham and Huntersville, maybe somewhere in between. I would like to be no more than between 3 - 4 hours to the coast. Also, an area that has a lot of transplants would probably be good. Any direction or info. would be helpful. Thank-you.

Answer 1

Raleigh. It's always on the top of "best places to live" lists. I've never lived there, but love visiting.

Answer 2

With friends in Huntersville and Graham, Charlotte or Chapel Hill are obvious choices. If financial well-being is most important, Charlotte would seem the best choice. Charlotte has been growing at a great pace for a long time and shows no indication of slowing. The downside of Charlotte is congestion, crime and Christianity.

Chapel Hill, on the other hand, is probably not as lucrative a market for your husband's skills, but will provide a more metro culture that may better resonate with your northeast background.

Both cities are in the time-range to coast you specify.

I am personally less enthused about Raleigh than Chapel Hill or Charlotte. Raleigh seems to sprawl so far that it is sapped of vitality. No insult intended, but it does kind of make me think of Jersey. Charlotte has a totally different feel--more seriously urban. I think Raleigh will "fill-out" in the next 20 years.

Answer 3

Brunswick and New Hanover Counties are very nice. They are located in the southeast corner of the state (just across the state line from Myrtle Beach, SC) on the coast. Many transplants live there and there is a ton of housing being built, so an electrician shouldn't have any trouble finding work. I don't know about the schools, but that should be pretty easy to research. The largest city in the area is Wilmington. There is really only one drawback, but it is pretty substantial; hurricanes.