Moving to Raleigh, NC? You’re in luck. Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, and is home to 467,665 people, with 1.4 million living in the metro area. From the food scene to the educational opportunities and job market, here are ten reasons Raleigh is a good place to live.
Table of Contents
1. Food Scene
If you’re a foodie, relocation to Raleigh, NC might just be right for you. Among other awards, it’s recently been named one of America’s hottest food cities and one of twelve global destinations for foodie travel. In 2019, local chef Ashley Christensen became the first North Carolinian to win the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef title; she owns several restaurants in the area. Another famous chef, Scott Crawford, also has multiple restaurants in Raleigh.
Raleigh Magazine recently rated Crawford and Son the restaurant of the year; it’s also one of the best restaurants in the country and features a Southern-inspired menu. Other highly rated restaurants in the area range from Mediterranean to French, Italian, and Mexican—with Southern food featured prominently of course.
Aside from these accolades, Raleigh has two massive food halls: the Morgan Street Food Hall—with twenty different culinary styles and indoor and outdoor spaces—and the Transfer Co. Food Hall.
Raleigh also has a reputation for craft beer, with over forty breweries in the area. Lastly, for fresh produce, Raleigh is home to the State Farmers’ Market, which operates year-round.
2. Outdoor Recreation
Raleigh, NC is known for its outdoor activities; Men’s Health magazine recently deemed it the third sportiest American city.
Raleigh has the infrastructure to support a variety of sports, including skate parks, go-kart tracks, rock walls, ice rinks, and golf courses. One of the highlights is the Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex, the largest year-round training facility for BMX, mountain biking, and skateboarding. It’s also family-friendly!
If you’re interested in boating or kayaking, there are many local lakes for you, including the 650-acre Lake Wheeler Park. There’s also the Fantasy Lake Adventure Park for family fun.
For riding, hiking, walking, and biking, there are two state parks in the Raleigh area. Beyond extensive trails, they offer camping sites, boat rentals, and fishing spots.
Within the city, there also are a variety of gardens and dog parks. That’s not all! Living in Raleigh, NC puts you in driving distance of beaches and mountains.
You can make a day trip out of Wrightsville Beach or Carolina Beach—or you can drive to the mountains for skiing and snowboarding. The ski town, Banner Elk, is about three and a half hours away. Raleigh is also near Pinehurst, the home of American golf.
3. Education
Raleigh’s educational opportunities make it a good place to live. In fact, Raleigh is the second most educated city in the United States.
For families thinking of moving to Raleigh, Raleigh has strong school districts, which include magnet, charter, and private schools that offer different calendar year options.
Niche rates Raleigh’s North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics as the best public high school in the state, with other Raleigh schools occupying spots three to five.
At the college level, Raleigh contains ten universities and colleges, as well as satellite campuses and for-profit institutions. This includes North Carolina State University, a research powerhouse with over 35,000 students. There’s also a women’s college, three seminaries, and two historically black universities in the area. All of these universities come with social and economic benefits for the area, acting as major employers.
4. Nightlife
Raleigh is known for its vibrant nightlife. Raleigh has recently revamped districts around the city like Fayetteville District, Moore Square, and Glenwood South.
Glenwood South in particular features bars, nightclubs, and breweries, with many young people moving there. The attractions include the Raleigh Beer Garden, which holds Guinness world records in three categories—including the world’s largest draft beer.
Along with the nightlife, Raleigh is a good place for music enthusiasts to live. Raleigh offers live music in many genres, from jazz to country to hip-hop. It has numerous music venues and two local record labels. During the summer, you’ll find shows going on every night!
There are also year-round music festivals downtown, including the three-day Hopscotch Music Festival, which features over 140 bands. You can also check out the two-day Wide Open Bluegrass festival.
All in all, relocation to Raleigh, NC is a great choice if you’re looking for a city with a strong nightlife and music scene.
5. Arts and Entertainment
Living in Raleigh, NC also comes with great access to arts and culture. Raleigh has many performance venues, including venues for opera, theater, ballet, and orchestras.
There are also a variety of art museums and art galleries. For example, the North Carolina Museum of Art contains collections throughout history, as well as offering other activities. There’s also the CAM Raleigh, which highlights contemporary art.
Raleigh is also a great place to move for sports fans. One of the biggest teams is the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, which plays home games at the PNC Arena. North Carolina State University sponsors many sports as well; fans love their football and basketball games.
6. Good For All Ages
Yet another benefit of moving to Raleigh, NC is that it’s a good place for people of all ages to live.
For 2023-2024, Raleigh ranked number three in the best places to live in America, according to the US News and World Report. Contributing factors include the local museums, restaurants, parks, and sports teams.
Raleigh’s a good place for young adults; it’s been ranked the number one city to live in for young professionals. This ranking is a result of factors like job opportunities and the growing real estate market.
Families with kids should also consider moving to Raleigh, as there are many things to do with children. For instance, the well-known North Carolina Museum of National Sciences is located in downtown Raleigh.
Raleigh recently ranked number seven in terms of best places to retire. This is due to the opportunities for outdoor recreation, the climate, and other factors like the affordability of housing.
Raleigh also offers a diverse selection of neighborhoods to choose from. Thus, regardless of whether you prioritize live music, safety, or walkability, you’ll be able to find an area to live that meets your needs during your relocation to Raleigh, NC.
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7. Cost of Living
The cost of living in Raleigh, NC is 4% less than the national average. This cost of living makes Raleigh, NC affordable compared to many technological and business hubs.
The price of groceries and transportation are particularly low in Raleigh, with the cost of housing being 2% less than the national average. Specifically, the median rent in Raleigh is $1,337 per month, and the median price of a home is $439,640.
8. Job Market
If you’re considering relocation to Raleigh, NC, you’ll find no shortage of job opportunities.
Raleigh recently ranked number one in North Carolina as the best city for jobs. The city’s unemployment rate is also below the national average.
North Carolina is one of the best states for business—especially because of its competitive business taxes. As a result, Raleigh has experienced recent job growth. STEM careers in particular are booming.
Along with the nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh is home to the Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in North America. This park houses over 375 companies, including companies in science and technology, startups, nonprofits, and government agencies. It provides job opportunities to many people in the region.
Some of the largest employers in Raleigh are Duke University, the state of North Carolina, and the University of North Carolina. Many other people work in health care.
9. Location
Raleigh is in a great location. It’s in north-central North Carolina, in Wake County.
It’s about thirty minutes by car from both Durham and Chapel Hill—both also vibrant cities that you’ll enjoy visiting. There are a variety of other cities nearby that are great for day trips. For example, you can visit Wilmington, North Carolina; Wrightsville Beach; or Hanging Rock State Park.
The city is home to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which served 14.5 million travelers in 2023. There’s also a train station with Amtrak service. Thus, Raleigh has great connectivity with nearby regions.
10. Weather
Last but not least, consider relocation to Raleigh, NC for the climate. Raleigh is especially nice in the winter compared to many other regions, with average temperatures in the high 50s and little snow. The weather remains pleasant in the spring and fall.
Summers do get hot and humid—especially in July through September. However, many people consider the Raleigh climate an overall positive feature of the region.
Moving Company in Raleigh
Hopefully, by now you’re sold on moving to Raleigh. If you’re planning to hire a moving company in Raleigh, North Carolina, consider hiring UniMovers.
UniMovers is a labor-only moving company in Raleigh, North Carolina that charges a fixed hourly rate. With UniMovers, you save the cost of hiring a full-service company with a truck. However, you still get all the moving help in Raleigh, NC you need, from packing to carrying furniture.
Conclusion
Whether you’re still considering living in Raleigh, North Carolina, or are ready to hire moving help, you now have a better idea of the benefits of living in Raleigh. Raleigh is a foodie city, with a variety of award-winning restaurants. It’s known for its outdoor recreation and strong education at pre-college and university levels. There’s a vibrant nightlife in Raleigh—and plenty of arts, museums, and sports opportunities.
Raleigh is great for all ages, from kids to young professionals and retirees. Its cost of living is relatively low for a city with such a strong job market in the research triangle. Lastly, it’s conveniently close to other cities and has mild winters that many residents love. And, if you’re looking for moving companies in Raleigh, North Carolina, UniMovers has you covered!
Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a bioethics research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read books critiquing psychiatry, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.
