What You Need To Know When Moving To Raleigh, NC From NYC

Raleigh, North Carolina, is one of the most exciting cities to move to today! You could find many opportunities for work and education in Raleigh. It’s no surprise that it is the tenth most popular city among people relocating to a metro area.

If you’re someone thinking of moving from NYC to Raleigh, then it could be a great move, and it is about more than the size of the area. However, it’s going to be a lot different to New York. Thus, to give you an idea of what you’re getting into, we bring you a few things that you must note about moving to Raleigh NC, from NYC. Let’s get going!

First things first: It’s not Raleigh-Durham

Many people often refer to the city of Raleigh as Raleigh-Durham. But these are two separate cities in different counties. While the two towns are about twenty-five miles apart and are in the same metropolitan area, they are both very different from one another. Thus, make sure you avoid using the “Raleigh-Durham” term when referring to the city.

Why should I move to Raleigh NC from NYC?

“Is Raleigh NC a good place to live?” – this question must be on top of your mind, and it’s understandable, especially if you’re thinking of moving from NYC to Raleigh NC. You cannot expect your NYC life in Raleigh as they are two different cities, each having its set of advantages. Let’s see reasons to move to Raleigh NC, so that you can make an educated decision.

It’s Affordable to Live In Raleigh

You’ll find living in Raleigh to be less expensive than if you were to live in the NYC area. You can find various homes in Raleigh for about half the price of what you’d spend in New York. You may also see that travel costs are less expensive, as gas is cheaper and mass transit services aren’t as expensive. Overall, Raleigh NC is 39.3% cheaper than NYC. Thanks to its affordable cost of living, it becomes an excellent option for people looking to raise a family.

Great commute facilities

The roads around the Raleigh area have also been heavily renovated and expanded over the years. The increased need for transportation in Raleigh has made it where these roads need to handle more room. You will appreciate how it is easier for you to drive through the area than if you were to go through the NYC area’s tough and often hostile traffic.

Raleigh is a friendly place for living

Raleigh has developed a reputation as one of the most family-friendly urban areas in the country. You’ll find that while Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, the small-town feel of the area is still intact. It’s easy to come across your friends and family members while in Raleigh.

The suburban areas around Raleigh are also popular for being cozy and enjoyable. Such suburbs like Cary, Apex, Garner, Wake Forest, and Holly Springs are lovely places for living and provide many spots where people can get together and enjoy life. You’ll find many enjoyable things to do in all of these popular sites.

An Outstanding Place For Work

You’ll find more job opportunities in Raleigh than you will in many other cities. The population of Raleigh has grown from about 300,000 people in 2000 to nearly 450,000 in 2020, while the metropolitan area has expanded in population from 1.3 million people in 2000 to 2.1 million in 2020. With all these people moving to the area, it’s no surprise that more jobs are popping up throughout the region.

Raleigh has many job opportunities in the textile, biotech, and healthcare industries. Some of the top employers in the Raleigh area include:

1. Duke Energy
2. Chiesi Pharmaceuticals
3. Advance Auto Parts
4. Red Hat
5. PRA Health Sciences

You’ll also find plenty of jobs at some of the education centers around the city, including many careers with the Wake County Public School System.

Experience Nice Weather

Conditions in Raleigh are relatively comfortable throughout the year. Temperatures can get up to 90 degrees on average during the summer months. In most situations, the lows don’t reach lower than 30 during the winter. You can expect a few snowy days during the winter season, but they won’t be as intense as what you might find in the NYC area.

Like much of North Carolina, tropical systems can impact the Raleigh area during the summer and fall. But Raleigh is far north and west enough to keep any systems from creating significant harm. You’ll still find the properties for sale throughout Raleigh to be rated and protected well to resist whatever tropical patterns may move through the city.

An Exciting Sports Scene

You can follow various sports teams in the Raleigh area. The college sports scene is bustling in Raleigh, with the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University dominating the area. But the Duke Blue Devils of Durham and the North Carolina Tar Heels of Chapel Hill are also popular.

Raleigh is also home to a few professional sports teams, including:

1. Carolina Hurricanes hockey
2. North Carolina FC men’s soccer in Cary
3. North Carolina Courage women’s soccer in Cary
4. Durham Bulls minor league baseball to the west
5. Carolina Mudcats minor league baseball to the northeast in Zebulon

Exciting Education Opportunities

North Carolina State University is Raleigh’s most prominent educational center. Nearly 35,000 students attend classes at NCSU every year. Raleigh is also home to William Peace University, a school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Shaw University and St. Augustine’s University are both HBCUs in Raleigh, while Meredith College is a women’s school.

You’ll find many other universities near the city of Raleigh, including:

1. Duke University (Durham)
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
3. Campbell University (Buies Creek)
4. North Carolina Central University (Durham)

You can also find community colleges in the area, including Wake Technical Community College, Durham Technical Community College, and Vance-Granville College in Henderson.

Great Entertainment All-Around

You will find many entertainment opportunities throughout the city of Raleigh. You can catch a concert at the Walnut Creek Amphitheater or Koka Booth Amphitheater. The North Carolina State Fairgrounds also hosts many special events throughout the year, including the annual North Carolina State Fair every October.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is a delightful place to visit while in the city. You can also enjoy relaxing at Pullen Park, or you can look for a special event on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh.

Other Things To Enjoy in Raleigh

You’ve got many other points to explore when looking for things to do in the Raleigh area:

1. You can spend the weekend shopping at one of the many prominent centers in the area. Some places to visit in North Hills or Crabtree Valley Mall, plus you can drive to the Streets at Southpoint in Durham.
2. You could also spend a weekend east at the beach. The Outer Banks are a few hours away to the east and are home to beautiful beach towns like Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Corolla, and Rodanthe.
3. Raleigh is home to various museums for a staycation. These include the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Marbles Kids Museum.
4. You’ll also find a few bodies of water for boating and recreation around the area. You can visit Lake Wheeler to the south, Lake Crabtree to the west, and Falls Lake up north. Lake Gaston is also further north near the Virginia state border.

Helpful For Travel

The last significant part of moving to Raleigh is that the city has multiple travel services that are convenient for your needs. You can even use some of these services for when you want to head back to the NYC area to catch up with old friends or colleagues, or if you want them to meet you near your place:

The Raleigh-Durham International Airport provides nonstop flights to many cities throughout the United States and some flights to Canada, London, and Paris. Amtrak has a station in downtown Raleigh that provides train services to NYC, Charlotte, and Miami.

Raleigh is also in the middle of I-40, plus it is close to I-95 to the east. Both highways provide access to various major markets.

Living in NYC vs. Raleigh NC: Which one is better?

What’s it like to live in Raleigh NC?: Here’s what the residents have to say

Tia W Everett, a Raleigh resident, gives a good peek into her life in the city:

“I actually love Raleigh and the many opportunities it has to offer, in terms of business opportunities and networking, cost of living, recreation, and so on.

I’ve lived in many cities and have even thought of relocating to be closer to family. But I can’t seem to leave Raleigh for these reason:

• It’s so green here. There are many green and eco-friendly, sustainable efforts that I appreciate as well.
• Not to mention, it’s great having so many options for medical providers nearby. This comes in handy for my children; esp my son with his severe food allergies.
• There are job opportunities galore. Whether you’re into technology or into the medical field, there’s usually lots of work to choose from.
• Affordable housing. While Raleigh is great. To get more bang for your buck, you want to live in the smaller, surrounding towns, where you can get more home for your money.

So, while there are some things that need to be improved, like certain laws of inclusion of the LGBTQ community, overall, it’s one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities I’ve ever lived. And again, there are so many things to do, whether you’re an indoor or outdoor person.

There’s a little something for everyone here. So it’s no wonder more large companies like Amazon, Google, and Pepsi have made this place their home as well.”

Here’s an interesting take on the economic aspect of Raleigh by Nicholas Yorick:

“I grew up outside of Charlotte, NC but moved to Raleigh to attend college. After 5 years I can tell you Raleigh is a great city for young professionals starting in their careers. Rent expense can be very low depending on the area you live (lots of my friends pay $700 or so a month). There are plenty of amazing restaurants in the downtown area and several very popular bars that are busy on weekends. There are great jobs in RTP as well as downtown. The city is small and clean with much lower levels of traffic than other cities.

The downtown area is growing at a nice pace, but certainly not as fast as RTP and Durham, as some bigger tech and biotech companies start to build facilities in the area. I’d argue downtown is more focused on finance/accounting, publications, marketing and some engineering firms while RTP is focused on tech/IT, pharma, biotech and research related businesses. Additionally, the Triangle has a very high concentration of young, educated people and companies are quickly recognizing the talent that exists here.

Overall, Raleigh and the Triangle offers low living expenses and a great environment for young people to start their careers in industries that are rapidly changing and growing. Also, a suburb of Raleigh, called Apex, is currently the fastest growing suburb in the US.”

Moving from NYC to Raleigh: Should you hire an NYC moving company?

If you’ve ever moved by yourself, you know how stressful it can get. One of the best ways to keep your peace of mind intact is to hire long-distance NYC moving company to do all the moving from NYC to Raleigh NC, or even Raleigh NC to NYC. However, the choice is not always easy as these services cost you money for something you can do by yourself. 

Let’s weigh both options side-by-side to come to the correct conclusion:

Conclusion

Moving to Raleigh NC from NYC is one of the best moves you can make in your life. Raleigh is a more affordable place for living, plus it provides many opportunities for living that you will enjoy.

But make sure you find the best professional mover to help you with the moving process before you get to the city. You’ll have an easier time getting used to the exciting city of Raleigh when you have a professional on hand to help you with the moving process and to make everything move forward well.