Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Relocation
 

Hi there,
My husband and I are very seriously considering a move from Washington, DC to the Triangle area. We have been searching extensively for the past two years trying to find a city that more or less matched our criteria, and the Triangle was honestly the closest we've ever come on paper to finding our "dream" city.

I've read all the threads here about relocating to the area, and we went down last weekend to check out shopping, driving, houses, etc. We were thrilled with just about everything we saw!

I have a couple of questions though that I haven't seen answers to:

1. People on here complain about the traffic. I've been watching the traffic websites for the past few days and it seems as though it is mostly Hwy 40 that backs up during the evening rush hour and, frankly, even that doesn't look too bad. Compared to DC (3rd worst traffic in country) - is the traffic REALLY THAT BAD?

2. Of the three cities, we prefer Chapel Hill area for housing (and the area where Durham/chapel hill border each other). Other than housing, is Chapel Hill more expensive in other ways?

3. It was around 60 degrees for a high both days we were there in February - is that normal for the winter?

4. I've read varying opinions on whether or not there is a nightlife for people that aren't in college. We are in our late 20s/early 30s and we like pool, bowling, hanging out in restaurants and (I'm ashamed to admit)Karaoke. Are we going to be the "creepy old people" if we attempt to do any of these things in Chapel Hill proper?

Thanks for any advice in advance.

My, oh my, is this a popular topic today.

Compared to DC, traffic is a breeze. However, if you're stuck in traffic, it doesn't matter if it's NC, DC, or Outer Mongolia. If you have to do this everyday, you complain about it. Also, not too many alternate routes and they get backed up too.

The weather was fabulous over the weekend. Wanted to move right then and there, right? Yes, we do get some warm days in winter, but it still is winter. Thursday morning low is predicted at 25. We haven't had any snow, but have had sleet/ice. Yuck.

Yes, housing is more expensive in CH and Carrboro than the rest of the Triangle. Property taxes are based on assessed value so expect to pay more in taxes too. Properties are revalued every few years.

Prices pretty much the same between towns with chains. Home Depot in Durham has the same prices as Raleigh or elsewhere. But, as with any Mom-and-Pop, prices vary. Chapel Hill has a thing against big box stores (yes, they have a few) so expect to drive to Durham to go to WalMart.

In Chapel Hill, you'll never be the 'creepy old people' -- way to many retirement communities for that title. The world is a better place if I don't sing so I don't know about karaoke, but there are bowling alleys on the CH side of Durham (don't know about Raleigh). Mardis Gras and the AMF (don't know the exact name) it's on the 15-501 boulevard.

And talking about 15-501 that gets congested too at rush hour. Along with Highway 54 leading to/from UNC. Then add in basketball/football traffic. And the permanent road construction on I-85. Then add in the fact the tv media only seems to think there is traffic in Raleigh.

I grew up in CH and now live in Durham. It's a good place but you must declare you basketball team affiliation now.

My husband and I live in DC 'burbs, and he commutes downtown daily, while I only have to get to Tysons. We both grew up in Raleigh and went to college in Chapel Hill. My grandparents all lived in Durham.

1. Traffic: there can be traffic along 40 and a few other roads (I remember 40 through RTP at peak rush hour to be the worst), but nothing is as bad or lasts as long as DC traffic. Unlike DC, a traffic jam outside of rush hour is rare. In other words, they don't have traffic reports every 10 minutes even at 2 a.m. When my parents complain about traffic, I just laugh, as my husband leaves the house at 6 a.m. to avoid traffic on 66. That's traffic.

2. Of the three, I prefer Chapel Hill, but it is the more expensive choice for housing, and likely for taxes. I didn't notice that other expenses were noticably higher, but the "standard of living" in certain neighborhoods (in whichever city you choose) may also dictate how extravagantly you'd want to live (ex: you won't fit in the older neighborhoods inside Raleigh's Beltline living like a pauper).

3. February is an interesting month in NC. I wouldn't think 60 is average, 50 is probably closer to average, but you can have a little snow in February as well as days of 70+. I remember many 70+ February days - those are the best weather days in NC. (It is hotter in the summer than it is in DC - the humidity doesn't help either.)

4. I hear that there's more and more to do in the Triangle area since we left. A lot of stuff in downtown Raleigh. Chapel Hill's Franklin Street and Carrboro have a lot of stuff to do, but many of the Franklin Street bars are primarily student hang-outs. Other bars (ex: Henderson Street, Top of the Hill, Carolina Brewery, etc. attracted an older crowd - not only students).

What I wouldn't give to move back to Chapel Hill! But, we've found there are all sorts of new, cute neighborhoods popping up all over the area, so you may find a great deal in one of these areas that you prefer to living in Chapel Hill. Good luck. (I'm jealous!)

Trafic is no where near DC levels and you are correct, it is crowded at rush hour. But not like bigger cities where you can not even pull out of your driveway. But it is getting worse but not near DC level. Yes, there is much to do at night without college kids. In Raleigh, go to Downtown Raleigh and go to Glenwood South area, the warehouse district and Moore Square. Glenwood south has the most to do. One please down there has karaoke. I think it is Cody's. Karaoke is at other places. In Durham/Chapel Hill, there are places and nice resturants. The thing about the Triangle is there is plenty to do. You just have to find it. Pick up an "independent", the free weekly at most grocery stores to see what is happening. Also may be able to see from website. http://indyweek.com/durham/current/ Not as much to do and as easy as living in DC, but also has it positive points

I can't add much to what has been said, but here goes. I agree with ncgrrl that it is annoying that the traffic reports almost completely ignore anything on Hwy 40 west of 15-501. I drive the other way and have run into jams many times without knowing they existed. I don't like traffic period, but it really does get bad mostly at rush hour. Expect particularly bad traffic on Fridays, around holidays, and when there is one single drop of rain.

I live in southwest Durham, near the new Southpoint Mall, and just a few miles from lovely Chapel Hill. When we looked for a place to live a few years ago, we considered Chapel Hill as well (living in Carrboro at that time) but found better deals in Durham. If I had my pick, I would take Chapel Hill. It doesn't sound like you have kids, but the great schools there are a plus for many. Chapel Hill is a nice mix of young and old. I can't say the overall cost of living is all that different for Chapel Hill versus neighboring spots. I like my area too though.

We have had only a little snow and ice this year; in recent years we had one or two fairly large storms per year. A few years ago an ice storm knocked out power for a week or more for a large number of people. By big snow storms, I mean as much as 15-17 inches, but snow comes infrequently and is more often 2-4 inches. The great thing about Winter, compared to when I lived in Wisconsin for a while, is that the temps go up and down a lot. That has its downside as well, but you also don't suffer through a month or more of nothing but cloudy, cold, mood draining weather.

Did you look at Cary? It is in the middle of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill and is my favorite city in the Triangle area. It is a great place to raise a family.

Thanks everyone for the input. Yes, we are also looking at Cary right now, but are not planning to raise a family. It seems as though there are more houses in our price range available there versus Chapel Hill. Plus the location is a little more central looking which is a plus because we have no idea where we will be working.

You mentioned you liked Cary because you didn't know where you'd be working. A word of advice: I wouldn't move until at least one of you had a job lined up. Yes, the cost of living is much better than here in DC, but the job market is also not as good as in DC. If you work in narrow fields, it could take longer to find a job than it might take in DC. Good luck!