Relocation
Our Family's Move to Raleigh, North Carolina
Apr 20, 2017 · 5 min
Most likely your wish to move to another state or city came from unhappiness with housing prices, a weak economy and a lack of jobs in your city, the weather, or some other reason. But one thing matters: you are on the right path in the search for something better.
About 18 years ago my wife and I started thinking about moving too. At the time we were living up north in Rochester, New York. The economy was not great, and endless winters with too few sunny days were slowly but surely leading to depression. And so began our search for that one place worth making the leap for.
I started flying out for interviews practically all over the country, both the West Coast and the South, but somehow nothing felt like the place worth moving for. Then a friend of ours found a job in Raleigh, North Carolina. After moving here he began telling us about the pine forests, the huge lakes, an economy growing while everything around you is being built, excellent schools and universities, some of the country’s best hospitals, a warm ocean with sandy beaches two hours away, the Appalachian mountains with ski resorts three hours away... In short, after a scouting trip and a job offer, the choice was made.
What we found in Raleigh
Raleigh turned out to be even better than we expected. On top of everything already mentioned, there are many museums, theaters, art galleries, pedestrian streets downtown with cafés and restaurants for every taste, and simply places where you can spend a day and relax. Work was never a problem either: the area is home to the famous Research Triangle Park, packed with well-known computer and biomedical firms including IBM, Cisco, SAS Institute, EMC, Bayer, Glaxo and hundreds of others. With a fairly low unemployment rate, you can always find something.
What it is like today
Today the city keeps growing at a colossal pace, new construction is practically on every corner, and new plazas and neighborhoods keep appearing. Earlier this year I attended a meeting where the Wake County manager reported that population growth at the end of last year was 62 people a day - 21 newborns and 41 newcomers. Many are moving from California, both Russian-speaking and not; for them, housing prices are the main reason to move.
Questions & answers
Why did you move from Rochester to Raleigh?
Soft upstate economy plus sunless winters wore us down; Raleigh offered jobs, sun, affordability and top schools. Eighteen years later, the reasons compound.
What advice for families moving to the Triangle?
Visit in both summer and winter, rent the commute before you buy it, pick schools before neighborhoods, and use a scouting trip to feel daily life - not just listings.
Is Raleigh good for former New Yorkers?
Very common landing: direct flights, East Coast familiarity, milder winters and space per dollar. Culture shock is mild - sweet tea instead of bodegas, porches instead of stoops.