Moving consumes a lot of your time, energy, and money so don’t waste it without doing proper research. When moving to any place it is important to create a list of priorities for your new hometown. What are your wants and needs and where can you find fulfillment for them? What are you willing to sacrifice and what things are non-negotiable? It is important to keep all of this in mind when making a big move.
Raleigh is a beautiful, charming city and if you ask anyone who lives there, chances are they will have good things to say about living in Raleigh, NC, but be sure to look into the cons of this city before making your decision.
Although it may seem so, Raleigh is not a perfect city and it is not for everyone. Whether your problem is the housing market or the slow-paced lifestyle, take into consideration all of the cons. Here are some reasons you should not move to Raleigh, NC.
Table of contents
1. Distance from Beach and Mountains
If you are coming from an area close to the beach or the mountains, or just enjoy frequenting these places, moving to Raleigh, NC might be a shock for you.
Although visiting the beach or going to the mountains isn’t impossible, just getting there will require a day trip as the closest beach is about two hours away without any traffic. The closest beach is Wrightsville Beach and the closest mountain is Medoc Mountain, which is also about two hours away.
This can leave you feeling stuck in the city if you are used to a walk or bike ride to the beach or a mountain and don’t have the time or supplies to take a day trip to either place.
Raleigh has a lot to offer visitors, but for residents, these activities will get repetitive. Here are some things to do in Raleigh:
- Visit the North Carolina State Capitol Building
- Attend a performance at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
- Take a walk through Historic Raleigh
- Visit Five Points Park
Though these may be exciting at first these small activities within the city can only keep you entertained for so long. Being close to a beach or the mountains offers more, which is something you won’t find living in Raleigh.
2. Weather
Humidity
One of the biggest weather issues that come with living in Raleigh NC is the hot, humid summers. Humidity makes the hottest days of the year even hotter, which is something most aren’t used to. The average monthly humidity rate in Raleigh, NC is 70 percent!
This can be a downside to people who love the outdoors. Activities such as hiking, biking, running, and even taking your dog for a walk can be even harder in humid climates.
Because of the humidity, AC in buildings in Raleigh can be overpowering, requiring you to bring layers to places such as schools, movie theatres, grocery stores, workplaces, restaurants, etc. Taking your jacket on and off every time you enter and leave a building can be enough reason alone not to move to Raleigh, NC.
Rain
Flying over or driving into Raleigh it is hard to miss the greenery that surrounds the city. There are a lot of trees in Raleigh resembling a forest. In order to enjoy the beautiful greenery you have to endure the rainfall that comes with it.
Raleigh gets a lot of rain compared to other places in the US. The rainiest month is July with precipitation up to 4.29 inches. The average rainfall in Raleigh ranges from 2.80 inches to 4.29 inches year-round.
If you prefer consistent dry weather or desert environments, take this into consideration.
Wildlife
With humidity and rain, you are bound to attract all kinds of bugs including mosquitoes, flies, and flying roaches. Screened-in porches can help with this issue, but they can cost extra to install. Spending time outside with heat and humidity and then with mosquitoes flying around you constantly can be irritating.
If you are easily grossed out by bugs or are afraid of them, do not move to Raleigh, NC.
Pollen
Pollen will take over the skies during the springtime in Raleigh, covering everything in sight. It can cause issues such as sinus infections, and allergies, and trigger breathing issues for people with asthma.
Some effects that Pollen may have include:
- sneezing
- congestion
- runny nose
- red, watery, or itchy eyes
Raleigh is ranked fifth for pollen severity of cities in the U.S.
Looking to move soon?
Check out UniMovers and save 30-50% on your move as compared with traditional moving!
3. Overpopulation
Because of the number of people moving to Raleigh, NC every year, the city is quickly becoming overcrowded. This creates issues for many aspects of moving such as increased real estate competition and overflow of schools.
Real Estate Competition
The constant influx of people moving to Raleigh has created more competitive markets, making it harder to find affordable and available housing in the city. Recent world events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have also increased market competitiveness as people are now working from home.
According to Redfin the average price of homes in Raleigh is around $408K which is up 10.1% from recent years. Raleigh is known as one of the hottest housing markets in the US, so if you’re looking for a less competitive market, don’t move to Raleigh, NC.
Capped Schools
Another cost of the influx of movers to Raleigh has capped schools. Some elementary, middle, and high schools in Raleigh have been capped due to the maximum capacity of students. This forces other kids to go to overflow schools, which is a risk to consider for your child. If you are moving with kids you may find your children aren’t going to the school that they may be zoned for.
Schools that have been capped in the Wake County School District as of February 2022 include:
- Elementary Schools: Abbotts Creek, Alston Ridge, Apex, Beaverdam, Cedar Fork, Highcroft, Holly Grove, Holly Ridge, Hortons Creek, Mills Park, Northwoods, Oakview, Olive Chapel, Parkside, River Bend, Rogers Lane, Scotts Ridge, Sycamore Creek, White Oak, Weatherstone
- Middle Schools: Apex Friendship, Mills Park
- High Schools: Apex Friendship, Heritage, Panther Creek
4. Low Nightlife Scene
Raleigh is a very family-friendly town and as a result, the nightlife scene and all-around way of life are very slow. There are also very few tourist attractions, which makes it so appealing to families.
For a single adult with no children, this could be an issue. A low nightlife scene makes it harder for young people to meet others. Raleigh mainly consists of small-town activities such as coffee shops, walking trails, a few breweries, lakes, museums, etc.
Another thing that makes Raleigh such a slow pace is the southern hospitality of the residents. You’ll find that your neighbors and even strangers will want to slow down and have a conversation with you. This might come as a shock to people coming from outside of the south and could slow down your day.
If you love the big city nightlife or the hustle and bustle of a busy life, Raleigh is not the place for you.
5. Transportation
Something that has followed the influx of movers to Raleigh is traffic! Raleigh is one of the most popular cities in the United States, and its traffic is no exception. The city has a population of over half a million people and it’s estimated that there are over one million vehicles in the city. That means that there is a lot of traffic every day.
Raleigh doesn’t have great options for public transportation and most people travel by car. If you don’t have a car, Raleigh is not a good place to move. The rush hour is normally in the mornings and afternoons. If you are coming from a big city like LA or Atlanta then this may not bother you. For movers coming from smaller towns, Raleigh traffic may as well be the same as LA traffic.
Raleigh is behind on having efficient public transportation systems like other cities, such as Charlotte, NC. Although there are plans to create a better bus system and eventually add a light rail system, that could take years to complete.
6. Only One Professional Sports Team
If you are a lover of professional sports other than hockey, then Raleigh is not the place for you.
Raleigh, NC only has one professional sports team in the area, the Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Team. The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley cup in 2006 and have a growing fanbase known as the Caniacs. Compared to other cities such as Charlotte, NC has five professional sports teams that include:
- Carolina Panthers (NFL)
- Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
- Charlotte Knights (MLB)
- Charlotte Checkers (NHL)
- Charlotte Independence (USL)
Although Raleigh has college sports to offer with many colleges in the area such as NC State University, Duke University, and UNC, many of these don’t offer the same level of excitement that comes with professional sports. If you love being close to pro sports teams, Raleigh is not the place for you.
Is Raleigh, NC Safe?
Raleigh is overall a safe area, but just like any city, there are unsafe areas and neighborhoods to watch out for. These areas have high crime rates with crimes ranging from property crimes to violent crimes. These dangerous neighborhoods include:
- Central
- East Raleigh
- South Central
- North Central
- South Raleigh
- Southwest Raleigh
Luckily if you stay close to the downtown area you’ll likely be safe.
Conclusion
Raleigh is a great city, but there are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t move there.
The cost of living is high, and even small expenses can quickly add up. Additionally, the weather is inconsistent. It’s rainy the majority of the year, and temperatures can change rapidly.
The city is growing quickly and it’s not always easy to find a clean and affordable place to live. Raleigh has a lot of crime in some areas and other problems that can make it difficult to live a comfortable life. The slow, small-town lifestyle is not for everyone. If you are single, without kids, and not looking to settle down anytime soon then you should not move to Raleigh, NC.
You’ll find mainly families and older crowds occupying Raleigh because of the consistently slow life. These reasons are some to take into serious consideration with thinking about moving to Raleigh.
If none of these reasons bother you, then you should consider moving to Raleigh!
Reese Ledford comes from Fort Mill, South Carolina, right outside Charlotte, North Carolina. She is currently studying English and Political Science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. In her free time, she loves to travel, draw, write, exercise, and spend time with friends and family.
