The Pros and Cons of Living in North Carolina

What does North Carolina have to offer? If you want one word to describe North Carolina, “varied” would be an excellent choice. Do you love the mountains or the beach? In this Southeastern state, you will find plenty of both. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the bustling cities of Charlotte and Raleigh, you have the disparities of poverty without running water or electricity all the way up to the one-percenters. 

You can have rolling hills in Greensboro and Winston-Salem or sandy shores in Wilmington and Emerald Isle. Would you take the peaceful countryside in Moore County or the city sidewalks of Wake County? Although the state is growing exponentially, a few cons need to be addressed. Let’s break down all these options to help you come to the best conclusion. Grab your beverage of choice and lean in as the hidden treasures and dirty secrets of North Carolina are uncovered.

1. In North Carolina, you can choose to live near the snowy mountains or the temperate coast. 

Asheville, Boone, and Banner Elk will catch your eye if you thrive off skiing, hiking, and viewing fall colors. In these mountainous cities of the west, snow falls every winter. On the downside, tourism funds these towns, so be prepared to rub shoulders with an influx of visitors. 

Ocean Isle Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach offer stunning sights and a laidback lifestyle, free from the big city rush. Once again, be mindful of a heavy flow of traffic between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

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2. In North Carolina, you can choose to be amongst the fastest growing cities in America or tucked away in a safe, friendly environment. 

Charlotte or Raleigh would be the best choice if you wish to be at the center of it all. Bypass the traffic on the interstate and live Downtown. Sidewalks and public transportation abound. In Raleigh, the Greenway Parkway includes 117 miles of trail. 

If you prefer to raise a family in the quiet, low-crime areas, choose Holly Springs or Huntersville, which give you the distance from the big cities you need but not too far to make living a chore. With kid-friendly events throughout the year, no one will be disappointed with these choices. 

3. In North Carolina, you can choose an athletic hobby or a holistic hobby.

Considering the wide range of landscapes, people, and opportunities, this state thrives off personal improvement. 

Pick from the best golf courses like Pinehurst, Tobacco Road in Sanford, or Wade Hampton in Cashiers to up your game or become the biggest fan! 

Take in a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game in Raleigh or dive into the competitive world of college football. Decide now: are you a Duke, UNC, or NC State fan? To some, that is as important as breathing. Charlotte is professional sports central. With the Carolina Panthers football, Charlotte Hornets basketball, and Charlotte FC soccer, you will be covered year-round. 

Go fishing in Lake Mattamuskeet, the largest freshwater lake in the state, or hit the coastline for a saltwater catch. Interested in a Deep Sea Charter? Morehead City stands ready to fulfill your dream. 

With over 300 waterfalls, people flock to hike the mountainous west. One of the most popular destinations is Catawba Falls near Black Mountain. 

If you live near the Blue Ridge Parkway, like in Blowing Rock or Weaverville, you’ll never grow weary of your Sunday drive.

Take up gardening or live off the land completely. With the rapid increase in homesteading since 2020, NC has become a top contender for those looking to buy farmland. Orange County and Chatham County still have an abundance of acreage for sale. 

Another option is, learn how to surf. The Outer Banks and Wrightsville Beach have the best breaks in the Southeast. 

The options are truly limitless and just waiting to be discovered. North Carolina will nourish your internal biophilia.

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4. In North Carolina, you can be a part of history or push technology forward.

Morrisville and the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) are making headlines for their advances in innovative and industrial breakthroughs. Also, Morrisville is home to RDU (Raleigh-Durham International Airport).

However, if you care to dive into the past, look towards Kitty Hawk, home to the first flight by the Wright Brothers. The University of North Carolina is the oldest public university in the US. Located in Chapel Hill, this lively town will keep you young long past your college days. In Asheville, you can live near the largest home in the US: the Biltmore Estate. Look to Mount Airy to relive the glory days of Andy Griffith. Immerse yourself in NC legends by living in Hatteras, home to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Old Salem in Winston-Salem will carry you into history with genuine colonial living.

5. In North Carolina, you can choose to suffer or not to suffer.

Any newcomer will quickly recognize that humidity, pollen, and hurricanes are the largest drawbacks. 

At an elevation of 5,500 feet, Beech Mountain would be a great escape from these inconveniences, boasting below 80-degree temperatures during the summer. 

Durham’s pollen report is consistently lower than the rest of the state. 

However, the hurricanes must be suffered, but the benefit to this natural disaster is they can be prepared for in advance. Be forewarned; when the meteorologists announce an impending storm, a rush for bread and milk will begin. This occurs during snow predictions as well, and not even North Carolinian natives can explain why. 

6. In North Carolina, you can choose the best healthcare or the quickest.

Unfortunately, the cat is out of the bag that the Triangle has the best healthcare system. This is why specialists from UNC and Duke have massive waitlists. Even getting psychological evaluations can take months. 

If you choose places like Hendersonville and Southern Pines, you will still have access to great medical help but can skip the delays. Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, which neighbors Southern Pines, has been ranked in the top 10 hospitals in NC for several years in a row.

7. In North Carolina, you can choose music icons of the past or the giants of today’s industry.

In Kannapolis, you can be surrounded by melodic geniuses at the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. With a whole lineup of concerts throughout the summer at Village Park, you will never be lacking in music.

Experience firsthand Old Time musical scores from the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains by attending MerleFest in Wilkesboro. This town also hosts festivals and concerts to keep the music flowing.

Bluegrass comes to the fair in Hot Springs’s annual Bluff Mountain Festival. The Hot Springs Resort will bring healing to your body while the music fuels your soul. 

If you have a flair for unique locations, Carrboro’s artistic vibes cover all the bases, including Cat’s Cradle (a music venue in a strip mall) as their most notorious hangout. 

Coastal meets rock at Beaufort’s Backstreet Pub. Just make sure to pronounce the town “Bo-fert” if you want to blend in with the crowd. 

For a much larger outdoor concert experience, you are going to want to head to Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion. This is not to be confused with Raleigh’s indoor PNC Arena, which is also a destination for concerts.

Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary has hosted big names such as John Legend and Pitbull. The convenience of a smaller locale makes the departing traffic rush more manageable. 

If good service, drinks, and easy parking are just as important to you as music, reside near The Ramkat in Winston-Salem. Thirty minutes to the east is the Greensboro Coliseum, which has hosted Jason Aldean, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift.

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8. In North Carolina, take part in fairs, festivals, or comic cons.

Are you interested in fanfic and cosplay? Your crowd would be circulating the comic cons in Durham, Concord, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Fayetteville. 

What about local historical festivals? Durham hosts the Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival which celebrates African history. Dunn holds an annual Cotton Festival in November to honor one of our chief farm crops. 

Morehead City and the Outer Banks conduct seafood festivals. Kure Beach paints the sky with their kite season finale: Cape Fear Kite Festival. The Umoja Festival is an annual event in Fayetteville promoting unity and providing free health screenings. Of course, the NC State fairgrounds in Raleigh is the center of attention in October for the State Fair. 

9. In North Carolina, you can choose education for any age.

The top elementary and middle schools are located in Greensboro and Charlotte. These big cities along with Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Cary boast great high schools as well. However, if you want a quieter area to raise your teenagers, Discovery High in Newton would provide an excellent education. 

For community colleges in larger cities, enroll at one of the six campuses of Wake Tech around the Raleigh area or at the Cape Fear Community College in the coastal town of Wilmington. If you want that small town feel, head to Wilson or Shelby, NC, whose community colleges are flourishing. 

Are you looking to boost your retirement with later-life learning? Randolph Community College in Asheboro or Wayne Community College in Goldsboro could provide you with the courses you need. Avoid Lumberton’s Robeson Community College and Rocky Mount’s Nash Community College though. As with all states, certain education systems are not thriving, and those would be two of the worst. 

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10. In North Carolina, choose wisdom and steer clear of crime-ridden neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, Lumberton not only lacks in the education department, but it also has the highest violent crime rate in the state. Charlotte’s and Wilmington’s crime rates would need to be weighed against all of their pros. Families would also need to beware of Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, and Raleigh. Thankfully, the suburbs of these large cities have safer options such as Cary, Apex, Southern Pines, Milton, and Summerfield. 

11. In North Carolina, surround yourself with parks AND affordability.

Families can discover inexpensive living in Asheboro and be next to the state zoo. Boiling Springs is a tiny town with a big heart and a few parks. Stallings and Cramerton are close enough to Charlotte to enjoy the amenities without the awful crime rate. Sunset Beach offers the Atlantic coast as your playground, along with low crime. All of these towns would allow you to purchase a home for less than $400,000.

If you can afford more, Cary and Apex are suburbs of Raleigh and have a lot to offer, such as amazing parks, diversity, great education, and modern medical amenities.

In Summary:

With something that everyone can take part in, it’s no wonder that North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in America. Although there are downsides, the wide variety of options affords you the ability to make the best choice for your lifestyle and family situation. If you move here with all the above information at hand, soon you will become part of the community and settle in as a local. 

As with anywhere in the US, as soon as friends abound, your house becomes a home. The people of North Carolina look out for each other and take the title of “neighbor” seriously. With all the fighting between sports teams aside, the roots of belonging run deepest. 

The spectacular display of nature will surprise you every day. This may mean that you will have four seasons in one day, but it also means you will never be bored and never take the climate for granted.

Insincerity is frowned upon as proven by NC’s choice for state motto. Esse Quam Videri means “to be rather than to seem.” Treat the surroundings well. Treat your neighbors well. The locals, and fellow transplants, will thank you for it.