15 Things to Know Before Moving to Raleigh, NC | 2023 Edition

Charlie, and I moved to Raleigh, NC a year ago to the day and, over the course of the year, have learned a lot about the city we now call home. So, if you’ve been thinking of moving to Raleigh yourself, we’ve pulled together a list of things we think you ought to know: the good, the not-so-good, and the downright surprising. 

Quick background (since where we’re from certainly shapes our perspective): I’m originally from San Diego and Charlie grew up just south of Nashville. We met in Austin in 2015 and lived in Texas for seven years before purchasing our first home here in Raleigh. While we admittedly miss the dirt patio/breakfast taco/live music scene we grew to love in Austin, we’ve really fallen in love with the City of Oaks.

There are a load of wonderful things about living here, but—as with any city—there are a few downsides to consider before packing up the U-Haul. So without further ado, here are 15 things to know before moving to Raleigh.

The Good

• The Trees: Raleigh is called the City of Oaks. So, in no surprises to anyone, one of the best things about this place is the beauty of the trees. In autumn, they turn a brilliant array of gold, orange, and red and transform the entire city into something truly spectacular. In spring, an entirely new palette of colors emerges as the state bursts to life with blooming flowers and lush greenery. Did I just write poetry?
• The Weather: Raleigh has a humid subtropical climate, which means hot and steamy summers with temps often reaching into the 90s, and mild winters with occasional snowfall and temperatures ranging from the mid-30s to mid-50s. While I’m not a huge fan of sweating my way through weeks of sticky summer days, being able to experience all four seasons more than makes up for it. All things considered, when it comes to weather, we have it pretty damn good.

• The Weekenders: Since moving to Raleigh, Charlie and I have taken several weekend road trips to The Outer Banks, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, and Bryson City. It’s awesome to live within striking distance of the beach and the mountains and it’s something we’re particularly grateful for. Again: we moved from Texas, where you can drive for ten hours and still be … in Texas.
• The Jobs: Charlie recently earned a degree in computer science, so when we took an interest in Raleigh, we were excited (and surprised!) to learn about its booming tech scene. With companies like Apple, Google, and Fortnite expanding operations here, and a healthy pool of talent from Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University, the Triangle Area has been recognised as the second-fastest growing tech hub in the nation. TL;DR: if you work in the technology space, you’ll have plenty of opportunities in Raleigh. 

• The Driving: Having lived in Southern California, Austin, and Dallas – all places known for their rage-inducing gridlock traffic and aggressive driving conditions – we’ve found the driving here to be amazingly peaceful. Many locals will tell you that because the city’s population grown rapidly in recent years, there’s way more traffic than there used to be and commutes can be slow. But outside of rush hour, I very rarely see any traffic and the drivers are incredibly considerate compared to what we’re used to. As far as driving is concerned, Raleigh gets top marks from us.
• The Entertainment: I have to admit, before moving to Raleigh, we had our doubts about the quality of entertainment options that awaited us here. But we’ve been pleasantly surprised by what we’ve found! Sure, when it comes to live music, Raleigh can’t compete with Austin or Nashville. And big touring acts are more likely to swing through big cities like Los Angeles and New York than the Triangle Area (looking at you, Taylor Swift.) But the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) hosts a lot of great shows and even has its own symphony orchestra. And as huge comedy fans, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of comics that make stops in both Raleigh and Durham. Plus, if you’re into sports, you can get a taste of true college basketball madness at a Duke-UNC game, root for the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) at PNC arena, or check out a Durham Bulls game (Minor League Baseball), even if like me, you’re only in it for the hot dogs. 

• The Brewery Culture: Believe it or not, North Carolina has a thriving brewery culture, with a wide variety of craft breweries and taprooms to choose from. From downtown Raleigh to the surrounding neighborhoods, you’ll find a diverse selection of locally-made beers, ciders and meads. We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to brewery visits, but a few of our favorites are Fortnite Brewing, Bond Brothers Beer Company, and House of Hops, which is dangerously close to our house.
• The Cost of living: While the cost of living in Raleigh, North Carolina is generally considered to be lower than many other major cities in the United States, Raleigh is growing. And fast. With huge companies like Apple and Google moving to town, the Raleigh Durham area is expected to be fourth on the list of fastest growing cities this year. Unsurprisingly, Raleigh home prices are on the rise and, as of December 2022, the median home price here was $446K ($46K above the national average!) But housing aside, groceries, healthcare, and transportation are all relatively affordable here compared to major cities, so if you’re planning to relocate from one of those, you may be pleasantly surprised by how far your dollar can go.

The Not-So-Good

• The Downtown Area: As far as cities go, Raleigh is a small one. The city skyline leaves a lot to be desired and when it comes to the number of options you’ll have for bars, restaurants, nightlife, and things to do in Downtown Raleigh itself, you might find yourself wanting a bit more.
• The (Un)Walkability: Raleigh is not what you’d call a walkable city, and while there is technically a public transportation system with buses and trains, it’s no New York City or Chicago, and if you live here, you’ll need a car to get around. 
• The Liquor Stores: This one was a bit of a shocker to me. Liquor stores aren’t allowed to operate within the city limits, which means that the government controls the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages. So instead of Total Wine & More, Raleigh residents are forced to purchase their liquor at state owned ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) stores. So, if you’re in the market for, say, a rare bourbon, your only real shot at bringing home the goods is to enter an actual alcohol lottery and cross your fingers. Smh. And don’t get me started on how happy hour drink specials and bottomless mimosas are illegal. It’s wild.
• The Snakes: Unless you’re a fan of super poisonous snakes, it probably won’t be fantastic to hear that copperhead snakes are native to North Carolina and are super common in the Raleigh area. 
• The Allergies: The trees and flowers in Raleigh make it a beautiful place to call home. They also make it a horrible place to live without Benadryl if you’re a human with a nose. Raleigh has been ranked as one of the worst cities in the United States for allergy sufferers and even made national headlines when CNN shared this photo of a ‘pollenpocalypse’ that descended upon Durham in 2019.

The Surprising

• The Summer Storms: Weather-wise, the most surprising thing we’ve encountered in Raleigh is the summer thunderstorms: the amount of water that can fall from the sky in a matter of 30 minutes here is truly remarkable!
• The Home Buying Process: Depending on whether you’re buying or selling a home, you’ll have a different reaction to this fun fact. But when you purchase a home in North Carolina, you have to pay what is called due diligence money directly to the seller as a show of good faith while you conduct your inspections. If for any reason you decide not to purchase the home during this period, the buyer keeps the money. In 2022, when the housing market here was out of control, buyers were regularly offering $40K in due diligence fees. It was bananas. And definitely shaved a few years off my life.
• The Bills Culture: We were surprised to find a ton of Buffalo Bills fans here and even more surprised to see more Bills than Panthers apparel for sale in the grocery stores. 

Overall, Raleigh is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. With a low cost of living, a growing economy, and close proximity to a lot of fun stuff, it’s no wonder so many people are choosing to call this city home. 

If you’re planning moving to Raleigh yourself and have any burning questions, shoot them my way in the comments. And more importantly, if you live here too and want to share your best tips for things to explore in our second year here, I’m all ears!

XO,

Fiona