Looking for a city with a great job market, mild weather, Southern hospitality, and metropolitan culture? Look no further than The City of Oaks: Raleigh, North Carolina!
Founded in 1792 as North Carolina’s capitol city, Raleigh remains one of the best cities for families today, and for good reason. The academic innovation, historic homes, and amazing craft beer (oh, yeah!) help to make this city one of North Carolina’s most popular.
So if you’re interested in moving to Raleigh, read on.
Jobs
The cities of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill make up what is known as the “Research Triangle.” Research Triangle Park—which was developed in the 1950’s to capitalize on the various nearby universities and learning institutions—brought thousands of high-tech jobs to the area when businesses such as Cisco, Microsoft, and LabCorp set up operations here. But non-techies needn’t fret: other top job industries are government, education, and health care, which are well-known for being “recession proof.”
Looking for work in another industry? You’ll still find plenty of top employers. In fact, Forbes.com rated Raleigh the second-best city in America for business and careers (it was #1 last year, and #3 in 2013) and Raleigh also made the top 20 in Forbes’ lists for “Job Growth” and “Education.” (It’s small wonder that Wake County grows by about 62 people each day.) Companies headquartered in Raleigh include Golden Corral, Progress Energy, and BB&T Insurance.
Neighborhoods
Brier Creek – If you like the idea of living in Raleigh, but would rather live a bit further away from the hustle and bustle, Brier Creek is right up your alley. This suburb is convenient for families to get to and from the city as well as the big-box stores that you’ve gotten used to living in Orlando.
Cameron Park – This quaint, residential neighborhood is close to downtown and shopping, and filled with historic homes in any architectural style you may be looking for (Colonial, Tudor, and Georgian revival styles are popular). If your budget can’t handle a $700,000 price tag, check out the more affordable (and still close by) Cameron Village.
Glenwood South – What started out as a quiet cluster of warehouses has been transformed into Raleigh’s trendiest neighborhood. Hip restaurants, shops, and nightlife combine with new apartments ensure that you can live, work, and play stylishly in the heart of it all.
Moore Square – Moore Square is equal parts historic and modern. Art galleries, museums, and independent shops merge with cobblestone streets lined with historic buildings. If you’re looking for a quaint oasis with convenient access to downtown, this is the place for you.
Mordecai – Mordecai remains a popular choice for Raleigh life. The homes are quaint and affordable, and the commute to downtown is pretty easy. And—because it’s Raleigh’s oldest neighborhood—there’s plenty of history. Bring the kids to Mordecai Historic Park, where they can see the cabin where Andrew Jackson was born. Want a little more excitement? Take a tour through the Mordecai House (it’s haunted!).
Weather
Love Florida weather, but want to see a few more seasons? Raleigh may be the perfect city for you! Summer temperatures range from 70-90 degrees, while winter temps stay between 30-50 degrees. Like Orlando, Raleigh experiences more thunderstorms and rain during the summer, while winters remain fairly free of snow. But there’s one thing that’s different (and that you’ll probably love): fall foliage!
Transportation
If you’re looking for a place to get away from Orlando’s traffic, you’re in luck. Getting in and around Raleigh couldn’t be easier! While most of America’s larger cities are traffic nightmares, Raleigh is practically a driving oasis. Parking is plentiful (and relatively cheap) and the area is not very mountainous, so you won’t have to worry about any “white knuckle” trips. In fact, both Raleigh and nearby Durham made Wallet Hub’s top 10 list for Best Cities to be a Driver for 2015.
Fans of Orlando’s LYMMO will love Raleigh’s R-LINE, a free (hybrid!) bus that runs every 15 minutes around the downtown area. For trips into the greater “Triangle” of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, there’s GoRaleigh & GoTriangle.
If you’re looking for travel outside the city, there’s an Amtrak station conveniently located downtown. And for more adventurous travels, Raleigh-Durham International Airport serves more than 9 million passengers per year, with non-stop flights to more than 40 cities (including Orlando International and Orlando Sanford).
Cost of Living
Unlike most major cities, the cost of living in Raleigh is low. While healthcare and transportation may cost you a (tiny) bit more, things like housing and utilities will more than make up for the difference, meaning a $50,000 salary in Orlando can dip down to $46,000 in Raleigh without a major change in lifestyle. In fact, the average salary in Raleigh is $62,000, while in Orlando, it’s only $47,000.
Unlike Florida, North Carolina does have a state income tax, but it’s a flat rate of 5.75%.
Lifestyle
Raleigh is sometimes known as a big city with a small town feel. The City of Oaks isn’t short 
on Southern hospitality, so you’ll probably find yourself making new friends quicker than you’d expected. And what better reason to hang out with your new friends than the largest beer garden in the world? (Beat that, Germany!)
But don’t think that “Southern” means “redneck”; Raleigh is thick with art galleries, museums, theaters, and more, so you can get your culture fix any time you want.
Raleigh is also conveniently located halfway between the beach and the mountains (just a two-hour drive from both). So whether you’re a ski bunny or a beach bum, you’ll find plenty to keep your interest.
We know you’ll find plenty to love in the Tarheel State, but whether you’re moving to Raleigh or Reno, Cento Family Moving & Storage can help get you there. We offer free (and instant) quotes by professional crews who aren’t new to long-distance moves. Give us a call and see how far we can take you!
