Where is the best place to live in North Carolina?

Hi. My husband and I are doing a lot of research about the great state of North Carolina. What are some of the best cities in which to live? Most important is how are the summers and winters there? I know funny question but we are in Souther California and nothing much happens with the weather here, it's sunny most all of the time and when it does rain people gripe and complain like crazy. We have both been in California all of our lives but quite honestly it's getting too crowded and far to expensive to live here. We have been looking on-line at homes and it's just unreal how beautiful the homes are and they are not right next to each other. Don't get me wrong I am very grateful for what we have we live in a nice three bedroom 2 bath house with a huge family room and I am five minutes from everything, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, shopping centers, freeways Target, Walmart etc but we can actually talk to our neighbors without leaving the house, you just have to open a window and there they are. I had WLS two and half years ago and have just started looking into plasctic surgery and because that's a big thing here in California I know it's going to be expensive and insurance hardly ever covers it here. I work for a large insurance company and I talk to people in other states all the time and everytime I call North Carolina, people are super nice. Are there a lot of support groups in N.C.? O.K. folks, I would love to hear from you all, tell me how the weather is and is the job market good there. Thanks, Kathy 335/185/150 goal e-mail me @ [email protected]

Hi Kathy, And welcome to NC, I currently live in Charlotte and wouldn't have it any other way. I am originally from Queens, NYC and have found the transition to Charlotte seamless. Charlotte is growing, growing, growing. The Cultural and Arts arenas here are really booming. We now have Johnson and Wales here also and the 3 major banking entities are here as well. Go to the Charlotte Chamber website for the new home developments and the schools. I think you'll agree Charlotte is the place to be. Twinnytwin

Hi Kathy. We just moved to Greenville 7 months ago for my husband's job. This is the home of East Carolina University and we've always loved living in College towns. They tend to be more diverse, and sometimes more cultured. This area is growing a lot, the homes are doing great on resale. You can still get a nice house on some land without much commute to town. My husband drives 12 minutes to work. We have most anything needed shoppng wise, and if it's not here, Raleigh is about an hour away. Also, an hour from here in the other direction is the ocean, which is important to me having grown up on the coast. As far as climate this year, in the summer, we've hung around 90 with humidity, but from what I'm being told, this has been a hot year for NC. It's supposed to hit 80 today, with little humidity and very sunny. It's beautiful outside right now. We moved here in February, and didn't see either day below 40 for a high. They say you seldom see snow here, and when it does, it's brief. Most city websites can give you a cross-section of the community and the average weather. Ours is www.greenvillenc.gov. The people here are great and we feel quite at home. Good luck with your search, if you have any more questions feel free to email me. ~Ellen

I grew up in San Diego and moved to Wilmington, NC about 5 years ago. I came here because my husband was from here and was getting out of the military (staying in reserves). I absolutely love it here!! It's more of a beach town on a bigger scale. It's not as big as Charlotte or Raleigh, though. The job market here is OK. You probably would have better prospects in Charlotte or Raleigh. I was fortunate to find a job in one of the big companies here in Wilmington. The weather isn't as nice as San Diego, but there are plenty of beach days. We were able to afford a house and a boat here, which we weren't able to afford in San Diego. So it's been awesome living here. Nothing like being able to jump in the boat with your family and either go to the river, waterway or ocean. Sometimes I miss the big city life and being able to do just about anything (Sea World, Zoo, etc.). But we have a good quality of life here and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Whatever city you decide in NC, you'll love it. The people of NC are great. Extremely friendly and always willing to lend a hand. As far as WLS support groups, my surgeon has one that meets every month at the local hospital. I'm having my surgery this Wednesday (Oct. 4th), and of the meetings I've been to, they've been great. Well good luck in whatever you decide!! - Jeannette

I have to agree with Jeannette; we moved to Wilmington in 1987 and it is a wonderful place to live!! mild winters...beautiful summers, access to the water, neat historic downtown with lots of fun activities all the time. Pam 5'2" 282/148/145

Hi Kathy. I live in the Boone area of NC which is in the northwest corner. There is skiing here and winters can be very cold and very white! But the nice thing about here is you don't have to live here to enjoy it. My kids live in the southern part of Charlotte, Indian Trail, Weddington, Wesley Chapel, Waxhaw where there is a major boom going on right now. Great diversity of people and all kinds of homes from 150,000 to over 2 million. And the mountains are only 3 hours away. The beach is about the same. Jobs are bountiful in the Charlotte area (not up here in my area) and pay is good. There are support groups and many bariatric surgeons around for medical support. Come and join us! We are some of the friendliest people around (hey and I'm from Florida!).

Hi there! I live in the Garner/Clayton area which is just below Raleigh. While I do love it here, I must say that I miss Greenville immensely! I lived there while pursuing my Bachelor's degree at East Carolina University (ECU). It is a great, but BUSY place to live! My uncle is a LT. on the Greenville police department and I would love to be close to him. What is holding me here is my mom! This is where she lives, so this is where I'll be! I am currently in my last class toward my Master's degree through ECU, but have done all of my classes online. Needless to say, when I attend the graduation ceremony in December, it will be a homecoming for me as well! Best of luck here in NC! Joy

Hey North Carolina, Thanks to all you folks that posted a response. Just what I expected that you are all friendly and helpful. It's so hard to know what it is really like there, all we can do it look on the internet and do a lot of research. It looks like hubby and I will probably get on a plan and just take a trip and check out Charlotte, Cary, Greenvile and Raliegh to see what might work for us. Thanks Again for all the wonderful information... Kathy

Hi Kathy- I am just south of Raleigh in the Cary/Apex area, and we've been here for 13 years and love it. Its a very family-oriented place, still rural (although many new subdivisions are popping up around us!) but close to shopping, schools, etc. And very close to Raleigh (15 minutes). Our climate here is temperate, we came from NY and now I can't go back there in the winters- TOO COLD! LOL! We have to deal with hurricanes occasionally, but nothing to bad. We are 2 hrs from the beach, and about 3.5 hrs to the mountains... it's a great central location. I love helping people scout out the area, I just helped my husbands friends find a great home in Fuquay-Varina! It is so much fun.... let me know if you have any questions! (I'm not a realtor!!) hugs-Stefanie (pre-op, waiting for VSG)

Hey Kathy, Just a quick note. I am new to the WLS thing, having just met with my surgeon, but am not on the schedule yet, but am hoping to get there by November. My husband and I are native Charlotteans, but have just recently moved to Waxhaw, which is a small town just south of Charlotte. We moved from Charlotte, which I love, but the Mecklenburg County government is causing many many diehard natives to leave the county. Waxhaw is in Union County where the taxes are a little less, but the lifestyle is so much slower and relaxed. There is a building boom in Waxhaw right now, so things will grow very quickly, (though I hope not too much!!~)It is a sweet little town with lots and lots of small antique shops and quaint stores and restaurants. We have three families in our neighborhood (Lawson) who drove across country from California (actually they are all part of the same family) and they love it here. The schools here are great and you are 15 minutes from the greater Charlotte area. They are about to begin construction on a new hospital just minutes from my house, just everything you need is right here. We love it down here, sure hope you'll decide to join us! Please keep me posted and if there is anything I can do to help you (information, etc.) please let me know! Judie Busby