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No. 10 Raleigh, North Carolina
Our number-ten pick took a hit during the recession but it still has a strong economic base.
By Bob Frick, Senior Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2009
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Population: 1,001,313
Income Growth: 5.7%
Cost of Living Index: 100
Median Household Income: $57,974
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36%
Raleigh couldn't escape two big economic hits over the past year. For one, the state of North Carolina has had a bad run, losing thousands of jobs in two particularly vulnerable sectors in this recession: manufacturing and financial services. And construction was also a major force during the boom years. The bursting of the real estate bubble has killed off that sector.
Nevertheless, Raleigh still has an enviable economic base, built on three universities and Research Triangle Park, where employers in everything from biotech to computers still thrive.
Although Raleigh's unemployment rate has doubled in the past year, to 8.6%, it's still much lower than the 10.8% rate for the state as a whole. And people continue to move here, recognizing -- as we do -- that the Raleigh area will boom again.
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Reader Comments (13)
Posted by: Chris at 06/01/2009 11:18:46 AM
Raleigh is an absolutely splendid town if you like houses that fill postage stamp sized lots, traffic corridors that have failed to keep up with growth for 30 years now, and more population than the local reservoirs can handle. For added joy there are tons of unoccupied retail space. On the bright side, the local school system is starting to see that its "voluntar"y bussing program costs way too much in fuel. On the downside, after 30 years of excessive growth, the school system still can't keep up.
Posted by: mary at 06/06/2009 05:18:53 PM
Raleigh WAS a wonderful city to live in - before it ended up on every list as a great place to live! Now there's traffic, roadside trash, poor air quality, expensive houses on tiny lots (you can stand between two houses and touch both of them with your arms extended) and unfriendly northerners who haven't picked up southern customs. Raleigh was called "the city within a park" but trees are disappearing daily because of greedy developers putting big houses on tiny lots. And don't get me started on corrupt government officials and our lacking school system. Go ahead and move here! Our unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country because for some reason, please have been brainwashed into thinking there are jobs here. Trust me, there aren't.
Posted by: Doug at 06/14/2009 08:47:06 AM
Raleigh is a fantastic place. I lived in Phoenix for 18 years and coming to this area has been a real blessing for me and my wife. The 2 comments prior to mine where people are complaining about traffic have absolutely no clue in comparison to most large cities. To me traffic is not bad at all here but I was used to the Phoenix area traffic previously. Lot sizes are shrinking everywhere by the way so that's to be expected in the developing areas in Raleigh/Cary/Durham/Wake Forst and so on. The plus to that is that you don't have much yard work to do...sounds good to me! The communities here are gorgeous with lush landscaping and unique houses especially when compared to cookie cutter homes in the southwest...you Phoenix and Vegas people know what I'm talking about. People are nice here. Seriously. Prior to moving here I thought waving to someone was only when you already knew that person. To my surprise people wave to strangers here in my neighborhood and I've actually got to know several of my neighbors. The weather is nice. Summer is humid but the spring and fall seasons are so nice...my wife and I live for those 2 seasons now. Winters aren't that bad either considering snow is sporadic and we don't completely freeze like the NE states. To anyone considering the area I would highly recommend Raleigh because of the weather, schools, communities, job growth (not all industries), proximity to the beach and mountains. This area has so much to off and so many places nearby to visit... I've been here 2 years and wouldn't ever even consider going back to Phoenix or anywhere else for that matter.
Posted by: John at 06/18/2009 09:49:26 AM
Agree with Chris and Mary. I moved here from the Chicago area. Raleigh is lower cost of living compared to the Chicago suburbs but its all relative. If you are a high level IT or Science guru with a MS or PhD you will do well here for jobs. If you are not, forget it there are no job opportunities outside of Tech and Biotech/healthcare. You would not be well served to move here. The Wake County school system is an absolute trainwreck. The so called diversity bussing program does nothing to improve education...They "redistrict" your kids every 2yrs so they can continue to bus low income kids 1 hour 1 way to their school....You have no such thing as a "neighborhood school". Your kid could go to a school that is 20-30 mins past the closest school by your home. Absolute stupidity and it does not do anything but anger all the parents. The weather is the upside here. You have 9m of nice weather, 3m of hot. I will take the hot any day over a harsh mid-west winter. People are also nicer for the most part...
Posted by: Afbro at 06/18/2009 10:42:30 AM
If you are moving from a major city and loved the diversity and vibe of being in the city (not the suburbs) you will hate Raleigh. If you are trying to get away from the city, diversity, and other things that infringe on your comfort zone---you will LOVE Raleigh. I have traveled to a lot of places and lived in a bunch (thanks uncle sam) and for me Raleigh sucks. However if you are into boring, superficial, and stepford--you will love it.
Posted by: labrador retriever at 06/19/2009 10:49:28 AM
I've lived in Raleigh for 5 years and absolutely hate it here. I grew up in San Diego, lived in Portland OR, and Seattle. Geologically Raleigh is flat, flat, flat. Very green with lots of trees. But you never even see a hill. It is like living in a giant topiary maze, absolutely boring. Also lots of clay in the soil, so all of the lakes are reddish brown. People say you're "onl"y 3 hours from the coast, and 3 hours from the "mountains". Basically for entertainment people go to shopping malls. Weather sucks. Kiss June - Sept goodbye (90 - 100 degrees with high humidity). The only people I've met who like the weather (have) moved up from Florida and find the summer here mild. No pro-sports teams (except for the Hurricanes). Way too many college grads from the local universities driving around on game day with their college flags tied to their cars...Do yourself a favor and skip Raleigh, there are many better places to live.
Posted by: Wallace Fraser at 09/13/2009 12:09:56 PM
Thanks Doug. Chris and Mary scared me off. But being a native New Yorker (and a nice person)and having lived the past 2.5 yrs in L.A.(Lower Alabama)(long story)I understand all points of view. My real problem is our two unemployed sons 29/25 college educated (non-techie creative types).Got to get them out of house on road to life. North Carolina APPEARS to offer that. Spent week in VA looking but very disappointing. Can't go back to NY or CA but need a blue state and within few hours of ocean. FL sucks - lived there for one yr before AL. Don't need much personally at 65, maybe NY food, easy atmosphere, no social pecking order or NY attitude (best attributes of the South) and a change of seasons. Can I find it in or around (say 30 minutes) Raleigh? Much appreciated.
Posted by: cltdale92117 at 10/26/2009 03:29:10 PM
I hear all these comments about Raleigh is boring...etc...etc. I grew up in North Carolina -Greensboro to be exact. Live in California now, and for the person talking about diversity -we definitely have a lot of that here. Unfortunately, unless you have been living under a rock -i shouldn't have to tell you what's happening in SoCal right now. Basically, the state is broke!! We have a myriad of problems right now to much to go into.I am basically looking forward to moving back to NC. No place is perfect, and every city is having their share of economic problems right now. So, unless you have a whole lot of money to live your life the way you want to -i would suggest to look at the economics of being in any city and if the job opportunity is there and the crime is low -go for it! BTW, California is losing 250,000+ people who have had enough of California and the worst is yet to come!
Posted by: David at 01/08/2010 09:36:27 PM
If people say that raleigh has no diversity and is boring they haven't been further than their front lawn. We have lots of things to do, but you have to know where to look. One way of finding out what is intesting is by asking people who have lived here for years (not a week like some of these people) the parks are amazing, and downtown is always in movement. Also you need to find a older neighborhood because all of the new ones havent matured like the older ones have. The schools are actually better than most other states and we have 3 major universities very close. Most of the people who are unhappy with the city are from New York City and are sill mad that they had to move to survive. The mountains and beaches are worth the 3 hour drive. You cant come here and expect it to be a New York or Chicago, but it has its hidden charm with will grow on you after you see it. Dont drive through one and expect to know it.
Posted by: Joni at 03/01/2010 07:24:39 PM
I am a Midwestener who was fortunate enough to get transferred to Raleigh four years ago. We absolutely loved it. Then we were transferred to Kansas City last June. Not a day goes by that I don't hope to get transferred back to NC. The weather was great and the best part is the people. There is definitely truth to the expression "Southern hospitality."
Posted by: joe at 04/21/2010 01:52:31 PM
Hello all, If you noticed, there is a common thread among these posters. Those that are suburbanites, have kids, and use the words "family values" love Raleigh. They are the ones who lived in the suburbs of major metro area's and say they lived in the city. Diversity to them is how many different people, cultures, etc that they see, not interact with. Those who lived in a major city, love the stress and pull of all that entails, move for jobs and that's it. If you want to be involved with your kids schools, visit sports bars and malls, and surround yourself with people like you---Raleigh will be your paradise. If you want to see hustle and bustle and life even on the weekdays, you might want to look elsewhere.
Posted by: patricia at 04/30/2010 07:32:08 PM
Joe, You said it best!!!! Raleigh is a suburbanites paradise. The reason people are moving there is because, well look at the people. Please, please, visit the area for awhile before you make that decision. If your world revolves around kids and not the intermixing of society, it is your place.
Posted by: Liz at 09/26/2010 07:21:44 PM
Raleigh is a bit dull. It's not a very pretty place either. Charlotte is more manicured and stately at least around the more established sections near the city. The more stately sections of Raleigh are underwhelming. I have 2 kids and live in Chapel Hill and there's really no reason for us to EVER venture over to Raleigh. We tried the state fair and flea market and well.....whoopty-doo! I really don't like the ugly scrub pine trees, crappy McMansion treeless neighborhoods that seem like they would be a sticky inferno in the summers, and boring/depressing strip malls all over the place. Why is Raleigh always rated so high for places to live? Has the country gotten that bad? I mean I could see leaving a place like Buffalo, NY or Detroit or Pittsburgh and thinking Raleigh was great but.....I just don't get the appeal. Never have.