North Carolina or South Carolina???
 

Hello-

Both my husband and I are looking to relocate from NJ to either North Carolina or South Carolina.

We were told that Greenville is a place that we should consider. My only problem is that there is a Greenville in both states! LOL!

We are pretty laid back people and are looking for an area that has a decent cost of living. NJ is out of control! Friendly people, Employment opportunities for either technical or professional jobs, Good public school systems and a thriving cultural environment to raise our 7 year old son. We like the warm weather and LOVE THE OCEAN!! We can tolerate the humidity only if there is a pool or ocean nearby : )

We are tired of the rat race and need to EXHALE. We love bike riding, going to nice restaurants, plays. We also would like to find that small town feel. But not too small if you know what I mean.

Any suggestions??

Definitely, G'ville, SC (not NC).

Have you done any research on this board? There are lots of threads discussing moves to the Carolinas.

Yes, I have been reading the posts. You did not explain why not NC?

Thanks for the quick reply

C-A

Greenville, SC not Greenville, NC.

There are many delightful places to live in NC, but Greenville is not one of them (IMHO)

Greenville, SC is a wonderful town in the western part of the state. It has good schools, good restaurants, good shops and it is very close to great outdoor activities.
Greenville, NC is a university town. East Carolina University to be specific. It is in a hot, humid pocket in the eastern part of the state and has little to recommend it.
On the whole I prefer NC to SC, but not on the Greenville v Greenville issue.

Ok so not Greenville NC. What areas in NC/SC should we look into? We are planning a road trip to get a feel for the Carolinas but they are big states and we have a limited amount of time. So my question to you all is can you give me 10 places to look into in both NC and SC.

Thanks much!

How far is reasonble for you to want to drive to the ocean? 2 hrs? 4 hrs? Obviously you can have a pool anywhere. I don't know about Greenville NC even though I live in Asheville NC. I do know Greenville SC as I travel there frequently for business. Many northerners that I know who have settled there find it very(too) conservative - and it is probably one of the more liberal SC towns - at least compared to Columbia(SC). That being said they have a pretty little downtown, theatre, zoo, a river with a park and walking area and are near the mtns. Charleston lives from its tourism base and housing is expensive and of course there's always the issue of hurricanes.
Have you considered Raleigh area? It seems like that might meet a lot of your criteria. I don't know about Wilmington NC - I know there is a University there and seems to be a fair amount of industry and of course you are very close to the ocean so once again you have to worry about hurricanes.

You really need to research the school systems in NC and SC for your son. The Raleigh, Cary and Wake Forest areas of NC are great places. Charlotte is also a very nice area in NC. I know the school systems are pretty good in the above mentioned places. NC has wonderful beaches. We go to the Outer Banks several times a year, especially the Duck/Corolla end. As someone else said, research and visit to see where you feel most at home. Good luck!

Greenville, SC is far away from the ocean. I think it is about three hours drive to Charleston, SC

The two Greenvilles share at least one thing--they both have major universities in them which provides a great deal of activities and probably technical jobs.
The NC G'ville is in eastern NC which brings a lot of baggage, particularly with regard to politics and religion which may not fit with your NJ background.
I believe you should surely come south for an extended trip and see the areas. The Research Triangle of Raleigh,Durham and Chapel Hill is the techno center of NC. Schools are good. Charlotte is a banking mega center and all that brings.
SC has absoulutely turned their education system around.
Beaches are easily accessible within 3 hours or less from anywhere from Charlotte east. You will not find more beautiful beaches anywhere than North or South Carolina.
I will say about Charlotte, it is a big town with a very small town feel, believe it or not. Very accessible amenities.

I would like to be within 2 hours from the ocean. We did visit the Outer Banks, we were in Cape Hatteras and I did not like the "ruralness" about the area. We vacation each year in Cape May NJ and love it. To live there would be too expensive. I understand about the hurricanes thanks for pointing that out to me.

We are more liberal than conservative, so a conservative area would not be for us.

Yes, I will and have been researching the school systems as it is a very important factor in where we decide to make our home.

Thank you for the replys, believe it or not they are helping me tremendously.

Regards,

Carol Ann

"We did visit the Outer Banks, we were in Cape Hatteras and I did not like the "ruralness" about the area."

Oh, for pity's sake... I have been sitting here on my hands wishing you would please rethink moving to the South.

I just looove it when people from up north say that they are "laid back" and want "friendly people," and then in the next breath they make a comment like the "ruralness" one - making it sound like they think they are too cosmopolitan to spend any time in a backward area where they might run into "farmers" :O or some other such undesirables.

Move closer to Cape May since you just love it... Sheesh...

Carol Ann - having been to Cape May a few times I know what you like but doubt that you are going to find anything resembling that down here...Georgetown, SC maybe a little but driving through there I was put off by the strong smells of industry/paper mills or something that smelled bad. Wilmington, NC which has a lot of historic housing and a neat downtown... While Raleigh has a lot going on you are still about 3 or more hrs from most NC and SC beaches.
Otherwise it is going to be tough to meet your requirements of 2 hrs from the beach, fairly liberal...
Again, I hesitate to suggest Charleston because of the cost of housing/living and lack of professional jobs - except maybe in health care. Others may chime in on this but friends who live/lived in Charleston describe it as very
clique-y.

I think those who are concerned about the conservatism in the south in general are not well informed. Yes, the south is conservative, but in all the nice ways, and not so much that it would really rub you the wrong way. You'd have to be a flaming liberal and a card-carrying member of the ACLU before you'd be bothered by the conservatism in South Carolina. Both North and South Carolina are quite progressive, and I think you will like the feel of a growing area with a positive outlook.

Having said that, and trying to read your mind with regard to the kind of physical and social environment you like, and taking your love of the ocean into account, here are my recommendations:
-North Carolina: Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Raleigh-Durham, and (nearly in VA) Roanoke Rapids.
-South Carolina: Florence, Sumter, Columbia.

Whatever you pick in those states, I think you will find a more gentle, more friendly atmosphere and a very agreeable climate along with reasonable cost of living. Good luck.

Before moving to the South I lived in DC - 8 years and grew up in Chester County, PA - Having lived for 5 years in SC (Columbia and Beaufort) and in Asheville NC for 5 years I'll make some comments about Wayne's recommendations about places to live and conservatism.
Particularly in the towns that he recommended you will find for the most part very traditional Southern views with pockets of liberals. These might be the people who own the local bookstore, the more creative/best restaurant in town, university students, or occasionally some of the military.
Here are the things to be prepared for:
1. You will be asked where you go to church. In most towns any church will be acceptable - an answer of "I don't attend" will be greeted with raised eyebrows or perhaps seen as a possibility to bring you along to their church. In the towns that Wayne mentioned Baptist is the most acceptable answer.
2. Do not plan activities or get togethers for Wednesday nights. Even in Asheville, a VERY liberal town - and some would say the MOST liberal in the South - you are doomed if you plan something on a Wednesday nite which is church nite.
3. If you are a Democrat you will be viewed with suspicion in many small towns. The acceptable party is Republican.
4. Gays are tolerated - but just barely.
5. Interracial marriages/dating are frowned on.
6. Women are expected to be married by their early 30's at the latest and not having children is a sign of selfishness.
7. High school and college sports are paramount. Game day at USC(Columbia) is awe inspiring in a frigtening way to see 5 year old girls dressed up like miniature cheerleaders.

I don't know much about Florence but Sumter is a nothing town supported by the military and home to the largest manufacturing and sales of doublewide trailers. Columbia is miserably hot and humid from about May until early October. Many people there are still irritated that the Confederate flag was finally moved from the State house. Fayetteville or Fayette-nam is home to Fort Bragg - and that's about it. Lots and lots of chain restaurants. Goldsoro - home to Seymour Johnson Air Base(Air Force) - their claim to fame is BBQ restaurants. I understand there is more going on in those towns now then when my brother and future sister-in-law lived there 10 years ago but I cannot imagine that they have changed that much - the South in general is slow to change. Oh, they may change superficially with new buildings, industry, and a Starbucks but the attitudes die hard.
That being said, I love Asheville and would NEVER move back north. Once you are accepted here you will have fast friends. Of course I (finally) got married and now I go to the Baptist church:) but I never have a ladies nite on a WEd nite.

Let me give you a little background of our family. Both my husband and I are in our 40's, we have a 7.5 year old son who's Godfather is Gay, Godmother is straight. I have lots of gay friends, black friends,white friends, etc. Our take on life is to "Live and let live" just as long as you dont disrespect or hurt my family, friends or my home. We are not Republicans, nor are we dedicated Democrats. We are a very spiritual family but not fanatical. Our son was baptized and we are struggling to have him receive Communion since we are not "practicing Catholics". I had him baptized because it was the "right thing" to do at the time, but since then both my husband and I are "searching" from a religious standpoint to see where we "really belong". If that makes sense. I certainly would not be happy in an area where the people are overly conservative. We are looking for a place that we will be accepted for who we are, a place where if I needed to get to a hospital it will be fairly close, where my neighbors just enjoy having a good time and not pressing their viewpoints or religious beliefs on us. I am tired of people who are very competitive and the "keeping up with the Jones' mentality. We want our son to grow up "well rounded" to see what life is really about.

In response to Diana's insane reply.
"Ruralness" does not equate to laid back and friendly???. My best friend grew up on a farm??? I think you cut off the circulation to your brain from sitting on your hands to long! : ) Please let me know where YOU live so that I may delete it from my home search!....Ugh!

Carol Ann...you sound a lot like me - only I wasn't married when I moved to the South. Look at some articles/websites that rate places according to some of the things that are important to you - health care, education etc. I would pick a bigger city as opposed to a small town and maybe be a bit more flexible on the drive time to the beach. Anywhere you go it will take you a while to find friends to hang out with...other parents at your son's school, work - but they'll be there. Find a place that meets your needs, see if you can find a job there and then do it...it'll all work out.

Check into Cary - full of folks exactly like you and you would fit right in.

One of my favorite towns in South Carolina is probably Aiken. It meets many of your criteria, including proximity to the beach.

Sumter's crime rate is very high. Columbia is arguably the hottest spot in the state and feels much like any state capital -- not much southern charm here.

B/

Greenville, SC is by far the greatest place to live in the entire country, but I'll admit to being a little prejudiced. But be forewarned, if you move next door to me, I will invite you to my church, but will forgive you if you decline!