Anyone from/know about Raleigh, NC?

Helena

Hi all,

Very vague chance of an opportunity to move to Raleigh NC ... a huge move from Canada. Wondering if anyone can tell me more about it ... is it liberal/conservative? Schools good? How does the general culture compare to Toronto or similar cities? Friendly to new-comers? Crazy sports culture (my kids are not super-sports-inclined)?

Being honest, as a Canadian I have a LOT of stereotypes about Americans in my mind that I know are probably not logical, but I can't help consider them when thinking about a potential move (e.g. guns, school quality, etc.) ... am trying to dispel the myths, so I really hope I am not offending any of my American friends

Thanks for any thoughts or input!

10 years ago

Off Topic

12 replies

Latest reply was from Isis

Adelfa

Veteran

Definitely not an expert here. But I've had close friends live there and DD lives in North Carolina.

There are a couple of things to remember. Different regions of the US have extremely different cultural profiles. And then within those regions there can be pretty big differences.

So, some of the American South is pretty different from, say, what I'm used to on the West Coast. However within the South there are places that are more like what I'm used to. And the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, known as the Research Triangle or The Triangle, is one of those area. It is defined by some great universities and is known as being cultured and progressive.

I think there's a fair chance you'd be reasonably comfortable there. And it is gorgeous. I have loved my visits to North Carolina.

So Google the Research Triangle and see what you come up with in answer to your questions. Sounds super exciting and scary all at once.

10 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I don't know as much about living in Raleigh, although I've visited the city several times. My parents live in Chapel Hill (about a 30 minute drive away) and my sister went to middle school and high school there.

The Chapel Hill/Carrboro school district has been called the top rated public school system in the Southeast, and among the top 40 best districts in the US. The high schools in particular rate very highly for test scores, Advanced Placement, etc. This was my sister's experience and her friends there -- they all got into very good universities.

The Research Triangle Park area with the three major universities - Duke, UNC, and NC State means there is a pocket of very highly educated parents around the Triangle area (Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham) which I think is a big part of it. I don't know as much about the Raleigh and Durham schools however.

Carrboro and Chapel Hill have more of a liberal small town/university town feel. They are also much more left wing and progressive then the rest of the state. The politics of elected officials in the rest of the state are actually very right wing right now.

People in the south tend to be friendly and welcoming. Chapel Hill and Duke are a bit sports crazy - mostly at the college level. My sisters friends did track I think, but like I mentioned her school was very focused on academics.

I haven't visited Toronto, only Vancouver and Montreal - both Vancouver and Montreal are much more diverse and cosmopolitan than Raleigh, I'd say.

ETA: there is more international diversity right around the universities and Research Triangle park because of the student body.

10 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

I haven't been to Raleigh, only Chapel Hill and Durham, but to piggyback on what Adelfa and Rabbit said, there is no comparison to Toronto really. Is there a medium sized college town in Canada? Maybe you would find your comparison there. It will be much more of a car culture. I doubt if there is much public transportation, and you would probably get the side eye for considering using it, which is often kind of looked down on. I don't think you need to worry about the sports culture. That can be avoided in most decent sized cities.

Oh, also the cost of living is pretty low in that region. People will have larger houses and more land than in Toronto for sure. And the weather is nice too.

10 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

There is some public transportation, especially around the universities, and it isn't looked down upon. There is also a bike culture. Carrboro for example is very crunchy granola hippie in parts, and everybody seems to be into farmers markets and gardening (great weather, but watch out for the chiggers - biting bugs). It's very green - lots of public parks and gardens and woods.

But getting from suburbs into Raleigh for example you would really need a car.

10 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Ah, I posted earlier and it disappeared on me. Deep thanks for your graciousness about my ignorance, and the helpful information! We're in the suburbs north of Toronto so perhaps it is quite similar to where we are. Love the university-vibe part of it. Thanks!!

10 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

In terms of negative US stereotypes. Well, IMO there is often some truth to them on a larger scale. Plenty of my friends joke about moving to Canada depending on the outcome of Presidential elections for example.

I haven't lived in Canada so I can't compare, but I'd make sure that the new job had good family health insurance coverage (including dental).

In terms of gun crimes or other violence you can look up on wikipedia different areas you are considering. In general smaller cities/towns aren't going to compare to larger cities -- you might find Toronto is actually more 'big city' in this way. Also it varies of course neighborhood to neighborhood.

The south in the US has a painful history, which still has a bit of a legacy, IMO more in rural areas, less in areas that are better educated or university towns.

There also is a strong religious/church component to both the community and politics (again more in the state as a whole rather than the Triangle) which might or might not appeal according to your belief systems. (There are a wide variety of different kinds of churches as well, especially around the Triangle).

I do know my parents jobs allowed them to move anywhere in the South and the Triangle area was their first choice, because of all the reasons people have mentioned in this thread. They've been happy there. I would have stayed in the area if I didn't want to be closer to mountains.

ETA: oh, one other stereotype that might be true of both older generation southerners and Canadians. They are very polite. I can verify that manners are still big in the South, especially with older folks in smaller towns.

10 years ago

Peri

Veteran

Forbes magazine just rated Raleigh as the #1 best place to raise a family in the US. I didn't read the article so I don't know what criteria they used!

10 years ago

Glory

Veteran

One of my family members moved his entire family from Canada to NC many years ago. They love it. The people have been wonderful to them and the girls have gotten a tremendous education.

10 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Thanks all! You guys are really selling me now I love where I live, but if it ever comes to it, I'll be ready and happy

10 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

I'm seconding about the manners. I have never, ever, ever seen such mannerly children as I saw in my trips to NC. Aside from my own girls of course

10 years ago

Jules

Veteran

As a Torontonian with southern relatives, there are definitely some cultural differences - aside from politics, sports, etc there are some more general things. People are indeed very polite and raised with manners, but they are also quite direct and forthcoming in some ways where Canadians might be vague or mild as our way of being polite. If someone bumps into you in a crowd they don't mutter "sorry" and hurry away with no eye contact - there might be a full stop, turning around and conversation to be had.
As a Canadian introvert visiting infrequently I do find it can be exhausting, but it's wonderful in some ways. People are friendlier and more open, on the surface at least (I've never lived there so I don't know how it translates to actually making friends and putting down roots in a community).

10 years ago

Isis

Veteran

I used to live in Durham NC, not far from Raleigh and loved it. I love the friendliness of the South. Plus a lot of people are from somewhere else so it is easy to meet people. Cannot compare to Toronto. It has been 15 years, but ethnic restaurant options were limited back then. Grocery stores and farmers markets carried all the ingredients I needed for home cooking. Loved the long springs and autumns and short winters.....

10 years ago

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