Can anyone give me some advice and insight about Chapel Hill, NC? My husband is contemplating attending UNC. We have a family and need to know what the city is like. Thank you!

I live about 40 miles from Chapel Hill, so here goes: it's what I think of as a typical college town. A lot of people consider CH a "village", but I don't really see it. There's lots of shopping in and around CH, a lot of opportunities for art and entertainment, and I think there are many housing options. Most people who live there LOVE it, so that speaks for itself. I will say that your post asks what the "city" is like, and it's not really a city--but to me, that would be a plus! The public schools there have a good reputation. If you have specific questions, let me know.

I am a UNC graduate and love Chapel Hill. It is a small college town that I think is perfect to raise a family in. The mall in Chapel Hill is the pits, but if you crave shopping, head to Raleigh (skip Durham, which is yuckky).
The older homes near campus cost a fortune, but there are a number of nice housing developments within a short drive.
Pam

Karen, I live in Durham about 15 minutes from Chapel Hill... agree with other poster that it is not a city but just a nice college town. It is pretty expensive to live there I think ..taxes are high to support the good school system. There is a big glitzy new mall near by in Durham called Southpoint.. Norsdstrom and all the usual retail things. Chapel Hill seems to be a fairly liberal, crunchy granola type of place .. there are some nice resturants ..If you are buying a home you might look nearby in Carrboro... I think it is more rural and a bit cheaper.

". Chapel Hill seems to be a fairly liberal, crunchy granola type of place ."

This is very understated! Think Berkeley, Ca. East!!!

Nice area though, as is the general Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill- Cary area. Avoid Durham!

NCguy

I attended UNC and have lived in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham (where I live now). I am not sure why people say to avoid Durham, except for schools. Durham and Chapel Hill practically run together in spots, and some of the best areas to live are in those spots. Chapel Hill does have some of the best schools in the state, so if your kids would be in public school you might be better off in Chapel Hill. Durham's schools on the whole are not very good. Durham is also known for crime, but as with any city some areas are bad and some are fine.

As to the liberal nature of Chapel Hill: Yes, it is very liberal, which I like personally. However, the student body is a little more diverse than that. I also attended school in Madison, WI, which to me was more liberal. There are indeed many fine restaurants around, parking is a pain, buses are good (free now I think), sports are great if you like college sports and pro hockey (also a AAA minor league baseball team in Durham), and shopping is good too now that they built the Southpoint Mall nearby. Chapel Hill itself has resisted a lot of growth, so a lot of big stores build either in Raleigh or Durham. I would say it is still one of the most expensive places to live in the state, but I recommend it highly.

Reasons to love Chapel Hill:
1. Truly beautiful campus.
2. Moderate cost of living, cheaper than northeast or west coast.
3. Really nice, friendly people.
4. Lots of trees, farms, and green countryside.
5. Mountains and beach within easy driving distance.
6. Some cultural resources such as museums and theatre.
7. A number of fun restaurants - personal favoriates are La Hacienda for Mexican, Squids for seafood, Angus Barn in Raleigh for steak on special occasion.
8. Liberal thought and Granolas are alive and active - there are even certain restaurants and grocery stores that cater to them - but they don't dominate the town - there's room for moderates like me too.
9. Nice climate, you get all four seasons. Summer can be hot and sticky but air conditioning is plentiful.
10. Lots of bike paths, a great way to get to campus while getting your exercise - it's not called Chapel Hill for nothing.

Karen, do not be afraid of living in Durham... when you are in the suburbs it is fine.. I think Durham has always been a working class town .. tobacco factories especially and as in most cities their is crime, particularly in the poorer socio-economic areas but I think this is overplayed. There are plenty of ritzy areas in Durham and it is cheaper and less snooty than Chapel Hill.

Just remember: It's all down heels from here.