i 100% agree. also, look into newer towns forming around Raleigh. besides Cary (which is way too populated and makes suburbs of Raleigh look bad with their tacky rules), look into places like Wakefield (a new up and coming "town" which is now just an annex of Raleigh.....originally part of Wake Forest but they gave it to Raleigh for dumb reasons), North Raleigh (still considered Raleigh but i seriously don't know for how much longer.....its HUGE now), Wake Forest (about 20 minutes North East of Raleigh.....small town that holds the old Wake Forest University....this town has blown up....i went to high school here. i say live in Heritage if you do move up there, brand new schools and closer to the south end of Wake Forest), Apex (south of Raleigh next to Cary.....new and up and coming, beautiful town), Fuquay Varina (now you're getting pretty far out this is next to Apex but again another up and coming area). Those are pretty much the only "suburbs" of Raleigh......Raleigh really doesn't have any.....you either live in Raleigh or you don't

I went to school in the Piedmont Triad for 4 years, and I'm in the process of trying to find a job there so I can move back. I love the area. It's Southern without being too redneck (well, depending on where you go). Raleigh and Chapel Hill are great places to live, and I love Wilmington and Charlotte. PM me if you have any more specific questions :)

i just visited Charlotte for the first time this weekend (i know i know, after 7 years of North Carolina living you would think i would have ventured out there by now) and i absolutely love it there. i'm looking at grad schools and UNCC seems to have what i'm looking for plus i can start as early as January (so my insurance doesn't cut my butt off).

i stayed primarily in South Charlotte, which is a very nice area. it's very suburban like, with lots of new development and it's very family oriented. plus there's a lot to do with shopping centers and South Park (one of their malls which includes a Nordstroms) not being that far away.

pretty much no matter where you end up, i think that you will enjoy North Carolina. i moved here 7 years ago from Texas and trust me i didn't want to move (we had only been in Dallas for one year and had lived in NJ beforehand). but i fell in love with the Southern charm and the weather and i can't see myself anywhere else. i'm trying my hardest to stay in North Carolina for as long as i can.

I work directly across the street from that Nordstrom's. :D :D :D And I live in this area too, so I would be more than willing to make recommendations on where to live (great apartments, prices, etc.). Feel free to ask me anything!!!

Trust me, I grew up near DC and that is inner city, Raleigh is not! Sure, there are some areas that aren't so great but you have that part of town anywhere. I've lived here for five years and I think it's a great place to live! Plus, we have a great alum club too!

^ where in Raleigh do you live?

I live inside the beltline which I love! My folks live in Wilmington by the way!

This thread is making me hate myself for not accepting that job in Raleigh!! grrrr....

Hi! I live in Wilson...about 30 min. outside of Raleigh. I absolutely love living in NC. Wilson is so convient to everything, Raleigh...the beach (either Morehead or Wilmington) and even my parents in VA. I went to college in Wilson and swore I would never stay after graduation, but I got a job right afterwards. Since I was so lazy and wanted a stress-free summer, I decided to stay. Now that I am involved in the community and gotten past the fact I was sucked into the "black hole" (what we refer to Wilson as since once you stay it seems like you never leave) I love it. Check out Raleigh and the surrounding areas, you can't go wrong! PM me if you have any questions!!! :D

Wilson is great, I used to work in Rocky Mount and have tons of friends that live in Wilson and they all love it.

yeah my parents are in North Raleigh but i love the area you live in.....i remember years ago you couldn't pay people to live there but now resale has skyrocketed and you can't get a house inside the beltline

where in Wilmington do your parents live? you can private message me if you like. i own a place here. i like it but i'm coming to the conclusion that this isn't where i am going to stay. i graduate in December and there is no job market here (unless i go into real estate or tourism) and talking about a black hole, people definitely get sucked in here.