15 HONEST Pros & Cons of Living in North Carolina (Let’s Talk)

Article Overview: Pros & Cons of Living in North Carolina, Moving to North Carolina

Thinking about living in North Carolina? You’ve come to the right place. I’ve lived in the Old North State for 12 years and have definitely learned a few things about daily life in North Carolina.

Home to a population of nearly 11.4 million million, North Carolina is the 9th most populous state in the country. The state is best known as the birthplace of Aviation, irresistible barbecue and friendly locals — there’s so much to love about living in North Carolina.

But I don’t want to get ahead of myself, so let’s cover everything you need to know about moving to North Carolina based on firsthand experience. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, I’m here to help!

We’re all about connection here. Remember, the fun lives in the comments. Connect with locals (and share your two cents) below.

Pros & Cons of Living in North Carolina

Pros of Living in North Carolina

1. Southern Hospitality

The south is known for hospitality, and North Carolina is no exception. It’s not uncommon to walk into a supermarket, cafe or restaurant and be greeted by name if you’ve lived in the town long enough.

True to form, locals focus on getting to know their neighbors and building a sense of community. That’s not to say that you’ll be greeted with open arms (I’ve found locals to be friendly, yet reserved — I’ll cover this in detail shortly) but you will be welcomed and treated with respect.

Truthfully speaking, the friendly community feel took some adjusting at first because I’ve mostly lived in large cities where being greeted by name was deemed unusual. However, after moving to Carolina and making the adjustment, this is one of my personal favorite perks of living in North Carolina.

But I don’t want to fool you, it’s not all sunshine and peach cobbler — gossip runs rampant in the rural parts of town and you’ll need to be mindful of the tea you’re spilling.

Local’s Tip: Something that caught me off guard after moving to North Carolina was hearing kids use “yes ma’am” and “no sir” in practically every interaction. This is considered southern etiquette and folks are keen to teach their children manners. So heads up! Being called “ma’am” isn’t a reference to your age, fret not.

2. Laid Back, Easy-Going Lifestyle

If you’re moving to North Carolina with the hopes of escaping the grind and bustle of daily living, you’ll find reprieve. The state is home to a handful of great cities, but most of the Tar Heel State is rural. You can just as easily find a charming apartment in the city or a farmstead, if you so choose.

Obviously your lifestyle with depend on your way of life in North Carolina. If you’re the self-sufficient sort you’ll have plenty to do. If you fancy yourself a city-dweller, you won’t be disappointed either. Regardless of your preference, both city and rural life have an laid-back quality about them that I haven’t seen in other places I’ve lived.

The only downside to the easy going vibe is the lack of ambition you may come across from time to time. But even then, it’s hard to fault someone who considers living in North Carolina the end prize. Still, it’s worth pointing out, especially for those looking to grow their careers after moving to North Carolina. It won’t come easy (I’ll touch on this shortly as well).

3. Access to the Mountains & the Beach

If you consider yourself a nature nut, you will love living in North Carolina. The access to nature and plenty of outdoor recreational is hard to beat. Between the breathtaking Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll be spoiled of choice.

Most weekends can be spend hiking, biking, fishing, swimming or hunting. There’s something for everyone! it’s hard to find yourself bored after moving to North Carolina, as most of your free time can be spent outdoors. Heck, take a road trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most visited national park in the country!) and you’ll see what all the fuss is about.

If you prefer the sea to mountaintops, the state has you covered in that department as well. Miles of sandy shoreline mark the spot where our lovely state ends and the Atlantic Ocean begins. All this to say, both the outdoor recreation and road trip possibilities are endless while living in North Carolina.

4. The Relatively Low Cost of Living in North Carolina

Speaking from personal experience, one of the best things about living in North Carolina is actually being able to enjoy life without feeling the pinch of irrational rent prices and high cost of living.

But don’t just take my word for it. A recent study by MIT found that a single adult (without kids) needs to make a minimum of $31,660 per year to live in North Carolina. Considering the average salary in the state clocks in at $54,250, the cost of living in North Carolina is deemed reasonable.

5. Affordable Housing Market

You’re probably not surprised to learn that affordable housing plays the largest role in the low cost of living in North Carolina. And it’s true, with median home prices coming in around $320,000, many folks end up moving to North Carolina to fulfill their lifelong dream of owning a home (myself included).

The affordable housing prices coupled with reasonable property taxes means you’ll understand why buying a home in North Carolina is a desirable endeavor.

The Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is one of the strongest job markets in the Southeast. Apple, Google, and Epic Games have all invested heavily in the region.

6. The Mouth-Watering BBQ

You haven’t lived until you’ve tasted the irresistible temptation that is vinegar barbecue, it’s life-changing. Heck, it won’t take long after moving to North Carolina for you to realize the vital role BBQ plays and that folks are willing to defend the honor of their preferred style. I’m not joking, the debate has become the subject of state legislation with bills being introduced over which of the two prominent BBQ styles should be deemed official.

If you’re new to North Carolina, allow me to fill you in. There’s two types of BBQ (Eastern style and Lexington style) and the topic of the best is hotly debated. The similarities end with the choice of meat (both use pork), from there the methods differ.

Eastern BBQ calls for the smoking of the whole hog (minus the snout) before finishing with a vinegar-based sauce. It’s all about the meat in this method, and sauce would serve as a mere distraction — although a small side of ketchup-based sauce is provided, for those so inclined.

Lexington style BBQ (also called Western style) uses only the pork shoulder and employs a ketchup-based red sauce perfected with vinegar and spices. Unlike Eastern style BBQ, the meat is part of the party, but not the whole show.

Regardless of your preference, know this: you can’t go wrong but you better learn to defend it. In any case, having daily access to mouthwatering BBQ is one of my favorite things about living in North Carolina. As for my favorite BBQ joint? C’mon now, my grubby little hands will never squeal!

Eastern vinegar vs. western tomato is a debate that will never be settled. Lexington has a dozen BBQ joints for a town of 19,000.

7. Mild Winters

Before moving to North Carolina I found myself living in Chicago, where I braced for winters with the enthusiasm reserved for water-downed cocktails and malfunctioning alarm clocks. Winters were a bear and I was desperate to get out, as such, moving to a place with mild winters was non-negotiable.

Enter North Carolina, sweet North Carolina. While my new state gets snow occasionally (folks aren’t accustomed to driving in the snow, so be careful), the winters are mild overall. Average daily temperatures hover around 40°F-50°F with nights dipping below freezing 28°F-35°F. Living in North Carolina during the winter months is easy compared to other places I’ve lived, and it’s one of the things I most enjoy about daily life here.

8. The Spectacular Fall Foliage

I admit that I’m a bit biased here but I’ve traveled my fair share and I’ll take the fall foliage of the Great Smoky Mountains over anywhere in the country. Personally I think it’s better than what they have in the northeast in states like Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. At the very least, it’s on par.

Starting late September the leaves start to turn and by the end of the first week of October it’s downright kaleidoscopic. This is one of my favorite parts about living in North Carolina as every year is different but all of them are beautiful.

The best foliage is in the smokies but it’s not limited to that region. You can find leaves turning all over the state through the end of November.

Cons of Moving to North Carolina

1. Locals Are Friendly, But Reserved

Recall how I mentioned southern hospitality as one of the best things about living in North Carolina? It’s true, but this point warrants a deeper dive. In my experience, locals are very friendly, but there’s a reserved nature about them. I think this is a normal human reaction to outsiders, but it takes a little while for folks to warm up and to make genuine friends after moving to North Carolina.

A coworker joked that North Carolinians are the best neighborhoods and acquaintances a person could have because “respect” is a second language. And it’s true, kindness comes easily, but friendships are earned (and typically last longer, in my experience).

2. The Summer Humidity Is No Joke

So I’ve told you home much I enjoy the mild winters after moving to North Carolina, but I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention the blistering hot summers. Summers in North Carolina are the worst. Seriously, I’ve had days where the temperature soars to 80°F by 8am (I mean, what the heck?).

Partner the intense heat with the constant humidity and you’ll be begging for a shower before pulling out of the driveway. But before I get some sassy remark, allow me to explain. I knew that living in North Carolina would require becoming acquainted with a humid sub-tropical climate, but even after 12 years I still can’t get used to it.

Rain is not uncommon during the summer months. Know what that means? Sauna-quality humidity (yay!). Plus, the plenty of problems that arise when humidity becomes a part of your daily life.

Speaking of, here’s a local’s tip: Purchase these bad boys before moving to North Carolina. They’re non-negotiable in my book because they prevent things from molding overnight. You can thank me later.

North Carolina summers regularly hit the 90s with high humidity. The coast adds hurricane risk. Hurricane Florence in 2018 dropped 30+ inches of rain and caused catastrophic inland flooding.

3. Finding A Gig Might Be Challenging

Find a job before moving to North Carolina is vital (especially if you plan to live in the rural parts of the state). But don’t just take my word for it, with an unemployment rate sitting at 3.5% (which isn’t terrible), North Carolina isn’t one of the easiest states to find work.

I was fortunate enough to keep my teleworking job while living in North Carolina, so I didn’t experience the challenges of find a job firsthand. However, some of my friends have shared stories of woe, especially when searching for white collar jobs they could advance in. The largest employers in the state are: Walmart, Duke University, Food Lion, Wells Fargo, Lowes and Bank of America.

4. Natural Disasters Are A Consideration

Just when you think summers in North Carolina can’t get worse, you’ll experience the threat of a looming hurricane. Many folks are surprised to learn that North Carolina the 3rd most hurricane prone state in the country.

What this means for you: Anytime you hear mention of a possible hurricane, make a beeline for the grocery store and stock up on essentials. You never know when the threat will come to fruition so you’ll want to be prepared.

5. Poor Public Schools

You may be surprised to learn that the home of Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill might value public education enough to fund it, but no dice. In true form to its southern neighbors, North Carolina’s public schools are nothing to write home about. Sadly, our state has one of the most poorly funded schools systems in the nation.

So what does that mean for you? Well, if you’re moving to North Carolina with kids in tow then you will want to budget private education into your cost of living in North Carolina.

6. Allergies & Pollen Season

As a lifelong seasonal allergy sufferer I’ve got to say it doesn’t get much worse than North Carolina for that nasty yellow haze. Every year the pollen comes earlier and earlier. When I first moved here it seemed like it waited until the end of March to start, now it’s more like mid February.

Our pollen rates are sky-high come the spring, especially tree pollen which is the most visible but honestly every type of seasonal allergy seems to thrive here. If you’re like me and suffer from allergies then this could be a deal breaker for you. I have to limit my time outdoors severely during the spring which is really unfortunate.

*The Politics

This is one that I’m not going to put into either the pro or con category as it depends on your own beliefs. It’s worth mentioning that North Carolina is a predominantly conservative state and as such has laws that reflect its predominantly republican majority. These things covers everything but the two that come up the most are:

• Limited access to reproductive healthcare like abortion. Currently abortions are only legal in North Carolina through the 12th week of pregnancy, and exceptions are made for rape and incest through the 20th week.
• Gun rights are loose and firearms are a part of the culture.

FAQ – Retiring in North Carolina

Map of North Carolina

Pros & Cons of Living in North Carolina (Post Summary)

In sum, here’s a quick roundup of the pros and cons of moving to North Carolina.

1. Southern hospitality
2. Laid back, easy-going lifestyle
3. Access to the mountains (alright, hills) and the beach
4. The low cost of living in North Carolina
5. Affordable housing market
6. Mouthwatering BBQ
7. Mild winters
8. Fall Foliage
9. Locals are friendly, but reserved
10. The summer humidity is no joke
11. Finding a gig might be challenging
12. Natural disasters are a consideration
13. Poor public schools
14. Seasonal allergies & pollen
15. Politics

Compare the Pros vs the Cons of Living in North Carolina

Have Any Comments or Questions?

I know I did before moving to North Carolina! No question or comment is too big or small. While it may not seem like it, your words help impact the decisions of others in this forum so please drop a comment below. If you have any question, drop it in the comments and someone will answer it.

Cheers!

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