Rate This City: Day 68 - Raleigh NC

[murksiderock]

I've lived here for about 7½ months, but prior to that I'd been here many times over the previous 6-7 years; my kids mother is from here...

Overall it's a 6, but just to speak on some things...

It's not even close to being better than Charlotte. The cities are alike in many ways but given Charlotte is bigger with more of a big city atmosphere, that's not something Raleigh can compete with...

I'm personally not a fan of the surrounding region, so that offers no value. Durham is mad overrated by Carolinians, Chapel Hill and Cary are Mayberrys, and almost anywhere to the east, north, and south of Raleigh are Redneckville (they just canceled multiple Christmas parades in towns outside Raleigh because of Confederate sympathizers wanting to use them to spew their propaganda)...

So the only redeeming place of the entire region is Raleigh itself, so that point, I'll say this:

Downtown has transformed greatly. It is still small, can't help that, and it's underwhelming if you're comparing it to other cities, but if you saw what it looked like a decade ago and compared to now, gotta give it props. Its moving in the right direction...

The city outside downtown is wildly suburban, there are no real popping neighborhoods in the city. So that's a drawback, they have a burgeoning Midtown area (North Hills), they basically trying to grow in the vein of Atlanta. But no dope neighborhoods, visually and aesthetically it is probably the worst looking city ever....

 

[murksiderock]

Shopping is top tier though, there is excellent shopping here, plentiful, and B-grade food options. It does those things well. A-level with the women, lord this city has fine women in spades. Sisters, bunnies, Latinas in spades....

Someone said they heard it described as ratchet---->nah. You'd put that label on Charlotte way before Raleigh. Black culture here is embedded, esteemed, and proud. Black Raleigh is also mostly educated and stable, there aren't a ton of poor areas in Raleigh. It's a really safe city, not a lot of violence here, I think Raleigh only typically averages 18 murders per year or so, hella safe considering its size...

The irony is because I went to prison in NC years ago, I've known street cats from Raleigh for a long time, and the few areas where it is violent here, have gunners just like anywhere else. But there isnt widespread gunplay and violence here like it is in smaller cities like Durham and Fayetteville and Greensboro. I never actually made any moves in Raleigh, but it's got a well-deserved reputation for hustlers on the street side. Alota big money cats out here, more than you'd think. These dudes are official on that paper chase, and the money over drama atmosphere is more conducive to quality of life...

I wouldn't say it's an "excellent" place to raise a family, but it's mostly enough. I'll probably be here longer than I want to, because financially it's working right now. Nightlife is better than it was, but is still dry. There's two little areas with okay nightlife, Fayetteville St and Glenwood South, both are serviceable but small and easy to get bored in...

They really invest in white collar industries and education here. Cost of living is rising but still cheap to me, it isnt expensive to live here at all. Wake Public Schools is one of the best public school systems in the whole country. Museums are at a B- level, slightly above average. Parks are C+/B-...

Overall it's okay, I hope I'm not here a year from now, come the eve of 2021, but I may be, and if I am considering the QOL and financial benefits it gives me, I can be okay with it for a while longer. For sure I've been enough places to know I could certainly live worse places than Raleigh...

It gets a 6...

 

[Neuromancer]

Passed through the city it looks nice.

 

[murksiderock]

Murk im dealing with this right now i want to leave nor cal for south but got no fam in nc so will feel homesick

Also I’m not really comfortable with leaving my city. DC isn’t a perfect place but I still consider it home.

I think I can identify with both of you in the sense that, when you've spent most or all of your life in one area, its pretty much what you know. I get that...

I've always had kind of a nomadic life so not knowing someone didn't stop me from going anywhere. Most places an adult I've lived I didn't know anybody; in NY, where I didn't know anybody (the "uncle" I initially moved in with is my step mom's brother and I was 21 when I went there, I'll met him once in my life when I was 11 and that was it)...

When I moved to Charlotte, didn't know anybody. When I went to Atlanta, didn't know anybody...

All those moves were beneficial for me at the time I made them, and I appreciate those experiences...

I love DC, it's one of the greatest cities in the world, but if your quality of life can be improved by leaving DC, you need to make that leap. You can always meet people, and it's not like Raleigh is far from home. There are tons of DC folk in Raleigh, John Wall's dad was from DC, for example, the ties in Black Raleigh to DC are deep. You not moving that far away, you'd be 4-4½ hours away...

And I love Sacramento, but same thing, if your quality of life would be improved by moving south, you need to do it. I want to come back to Sacramento, but I'm not doing it until and unless it makes sense financially and from a quality of life perspective. Right now, it doesn't make sense for me, so I come back once a year to visit. Sacramento is a fuller city than Raleigh, better experience overall, though there are things about Raleigh that it does better...

But consider all the things that make your life excel to its highest point, if the major drawback of leaving is just fear of the unknown, you have to try to move past that!

 

[Child_Of_God]

I think I can identify with both of you in the sense that, when you've spent most or all of your life in one area, its pretty much what you know. I get that...

I've always had kind of a nomadic life so not knowing someone didn't stop me from going anywhere. Most places an adult I've lived I didn't know anybody; in NY, where I didn't know anybody (the "uncle" I initially moved in with is my step mom's brother and I was 21 when I went there, I'll met him once in my life when I was 11 and that was it)...

When I moved to Charlotte, didn't know anybody. When I went to Atlanta, didn't know anybody...

All those moves were beneficial for me at the time I made them, and I appreciate those experiences...

I love DC, it's one of the greatest cities in the world, but if your quality of life can be improved by leaving DC, you need to make that leap. You can always meet people, and it's not like Raleigh is far from home. There are tons of DC folk in Raleigh, John Wall's dad was from DC, for example, the ties in Black Raleigh to DC are deep. You not moving that far away, you'd be 4-4½ hours away...

And I love Sacramento, but same thing, if your quality of life would be improved by moving south, you need to do it. I want to come back to Sacramento, but I'm not doing it until and unless it makes sense financially and from a quality of life perspective. Right now, it doesn't make sense for me, so I come back once a year to visit. Sacramento is a fuller city than Raleigh, better experience overall, though there are things about Raleigh that it does better...

But consider all the things that make your life excel to its highest point, if the major drawback of leaving is just fear of the unknown, you have to try to move past that!

Your right and luckily my family don’t have a problem with my decision. They’re actually the ones who constantly tell me I should move somewhere down south for employment and they even told me they will help pay my rent until I get my feet up.

 

[How Sway?]

I'll say this, I've noticed Raleigh and Charlotte seem to be growing at similar very high rates with transplants coming from all over but I've noticed black people in particular gravitate to Charlotte and seem to view it on a much more desirable level than Raleigh where as white people, its kind of even. This is just casual observation though. Charlotte is a bigger city with more entertainment options but Raleigh is a place as well. Its probably the safest "big" city in NC and very family oriented. Good schools and was also ranked the 2nd most educated city in the country Raleigh is the #2 Most Educated City in America - Wake County Economic Development

Good stable economy. Big industries are government, medical, education, and IT/Technology. With Raleigh, you have to view it as part of its overall metro (the Triangle) along with Durham, chapel hill, etc which gives it a bigger boost. On the downside, it can be a little "stale" and kind of has a generic "any town, usa" vibe. Nightlife is kinda bland. Also getting more an more expensive along with the population growth. But if you want a nice, safe, place to raise kids/start a family, with decent economy, and basic general amenities Raleigh is a great place.

This is definitely true. I have more fun in Charlotte and the triad than Raleigh

 

[newworldafro]

I spent many weekends visiting, only an hour from hometown, and spent 4 years in Triangle for college.

Raleigh has definitely changed, especially downtown.

Ill give it an 7.5....7.
Great place to be college student.
Great place to raise a family or be a kid.
Depending on your level of excitement needed, its an ok place to be single professional. You can't go wrong, because CoL and QoL are great.

 

[Jean Jacket]

Nothing stands out. I would be bored as hell there. I have family there and I go visit, but it is really indeed like Anytown USA.

 

[Nicole0416_718_929_646212]

The only time I’ve been to Raleigh is a layover at Raleigh-Durham airport. Isn’t this where a lot of scientific centers and medical research takes place?

Edit - I have been to Wake Forest Univ before, it was ok.

 

[JT-Money]

This could be a game changer.

Experts review proposed soccer stadium project for southeast Raleigh | Kane Realty Corporation

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A proposed stadium surrounded by attractions could transform southeast Raleigh, but people in nearby neighborhoods worry the development would push them out.

 

[murksiderock]

The only time I’ve been to Raleigh is a layover at Raleigh-Durham airport. Isn’t this where a lot of scientific centers and medical research takes place?

Edit - I have been to Wake Forest Univ before, it was ok.

Wake Forest is in Winston-Salem...

This could be a game changer.

Experts review proposed soccer stadium project for southeast Raleigh | Kane Realty Corporation

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A proposed stadium surrounded by attractions could transform southeast Raleigh, but people in nearby neighborhoods worry the development would push them out.

Where they are proposing putting that stadium is right on the edge of black neighborhoods in Southeast Raleigh. We know what's happening if this goes thru...

 

[murksiderock]

@Doobie Doo @CinnaSlim

I know there's a number of other Raleigh posters on here, yall just the first two who come to mind, tag them in here!

 

[Child_Of_God]

The only time I’ve been to Raleigh is a layover at Raleigh-Durham airport. Isn’t this where a lot of scientific centers and medical research takes place?

Yep and it has a pretty big IT market as well.

 

[newworldafro]

This could be a game changer.

Experts review proposed soccer stadium project for southeast Raleigh | Kane Realty Corporation

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A proposed stadium surrounded by attractions could transform southeast Raleigh, but people in nearby neighborhoods worry the development would push them out.

Yeah. Ive been watching it but looks like Charlotte is going to get the team for the state. MLS enters final talks to award Charlotte its 30th franchise; stadium issues remain

 

[Carolina Slim]

Been here since 2005. As a family man, I like it here. I think if I was a young single niigga I would be bored easily. I don't really go out for the nightlife around here, but the few times I've driven by Glenwood South I was underwhelmed. But I made the mistake of comparing it to NYC. It's come a long way since moving here though. The downtown area is developing a lot more. I would say that Durham's downtown vibe beats Raleigh by far. Lot of tech opportunities, and if biotech is your thing, this is the area to be in.