Are You Moving To North Carolina?
With a population of slightly more than 10 million, North Carolina is the 9th largest state in the U.S. by population. The Southern state offers warmer temperatures than much of the U.S., and its varied terrain, including both mountains and coastal areas, offers something for everyone. Living in North Carolina puts you in prime adventure territory. Residents here enjoy 300 miles of pristine beaches and some of the country’s most beautiful old-growth hardwood forests and mountain tops.
The famous Research Triangle Park, an area traversing Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, is a big contributor to many jobs. More than 200 companies are based here, including the likes of RTI International, IBM, Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, Syngenta, and GlaxoSmithKline.
The State also has some of the best colleges in America, with Duke ranking among the top five schools in the country. North Carolina’s state school system includes 16 colleges and universities with campuses in coastal, mountain and Piedmont areas. Private schools such as Duke University, Wake Forest University, Elon University, Davidson College and Queens University of Charlotte are located within the state. Accounting, finance, nursing, motor sports and engineering majors are offered at campuses throughout the state.
Internships and cooperative opportunities are available in the larger cities like Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.
With great weather, a breathtaking landscape, a thriving job market, and some of the nicest neighbors around, North Carolina has become one of the top destinations for young professionals, growing families, and retirees.
If you’re moving to North Carolina, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.
Moving to North Carolina
Pros and Cons of Living in North Carolina
Here are a few pros and cons to consider as you make your move to The Tar Heel State:
Pros.
- Climate: The weather is great here. The average temp in January hovers around 50° F and 60° F along the coast. Summers rarely exceed 100° F but can be hot and humid.
- Cost of Living: Overall, the state is reasonably affordable. With a cost of living index lower than the national average, your dollar goes further here.
- Higher Education: Home to a handful of prestigious universities, including Duke University, Wake Forest, and UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina offers stellar educational opportunities.
- Food & Drink: NC barbeque is some of the best in the nation. Also, top restaurants can be found throughout the states, particularly in the Raleigh metro area, along with 170+ breweries.
Cons.
- Crime Rate: Due to higher crime in places like Lumberton and Oxford, the overall crime rate in North Carolina is higher than the national average.
- Tax Rate: Slightly higher than the national average, the state currently ranks #24 with an effective total state & local tax rate of 10.61%.
- No four Seasons Along the Coast: The temperate weather is a big selling point for many people, but if you love four distinct seasons, you’ll want to live in or near the mountains.
- State Rating: According to recent polls, many North Carolinians rate their state more poorly compared to the other states. NC offers a lot of benefits, but it’s not without its challenges.
Tax Rates
- Property Tax: North Carolina’s effective property tax rate (0.85%) is ranked 30th in the United States. Per capita property taxes ($974) is the 10th.
- Sales Tax: Average local sales tax in North Carolina is 2.23%.
- Income Tax: The individual income tax rate is 5.25%.
Housing Market
The typical home value of homes in North Carolina is $243,319 according to Zillow. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. North Carolina home values have gone up 13.7% over the past year.
What Should I Know In 2021?
Economy Outlook
North Carolina’s economy was based mainly on the growth of tobacco in the 1700s and 1800s and on the manufacture of tobacco products and textiles in the early 1900s. While these activities remain important segments of the state’s economy, they have largely been overshadowed by other industries and services. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, North Carolina’s economy generated jobs at a higher rate than the national average in many areas.
Agriculture remains a small but important component of the state’s economy, although the number of people it employs continues to decline. There are nearly 50,000 farms in the state; the great majority are relatively small—about 180 acres (75 hectares) or less—and most are operated by people who earn much of their income from farming. North Carolina is a national leader in the production of sweet potatoes, dry beans, tobacco, pigs, broilers (chickens), and turkeys. Other principal agricultural products include eggs, soybeans, and cotton.
With its abundance of forests, North Carolina has long been a leader in the production of lumber, wood for furniture, Christmas trees, pulp for paper, and other wood products. The principal trees are pines, largely harvested in the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont region. Hardwoods such as oak, hickory, ash, and poplar are drawn primarily from the Appalachian Mountains and parts of Piedmont. Several active reforestation and forest sustainability programs have resulted in a growth of forest reserves, for both commercial and private or otherwise nonindustrial use.
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Traffic & Transportation
North Carolina’s public transit network is made up of seven types of systems that serve the public in all 100 counties. Number in N.C. A single-county system that provides transportation to the general public, as well as to eligible human service agencies and elderly clients.
The City of Raleigh’s public transportation system that includes GoRaleigh; GoRaleigh Access; R-Line; and, Transit Authority. GoRaleigh has been publicly supported since 1975 when the City purchased the bus fleet from Raleigh City Coach Lines.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is the agency responsible for public transportation in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
Cost of living
North Carolina is the 22nd cheapest state to live in U.S. The medium home cost for North Carolina is about $187,000 and that compared to the national average is about $232,000 so right there we already win that one so one for North Carolina.
Now of course each city is going to vary so if you’re looking to move to a big city like Raleigh or Charlotte it’s going to be probably a little more expensive. The medium home price is actually a little lower about probably $160,170. and if you’re looking to rent a home or an apartment for one bedroom it’s about $731 dollars compared to the national average of being $931.
– Family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,386.06$ without rent.
– A single person estimated monthly costs are 940.83$ without rent.
Retiring in North Carolina brings tax benefits, which means that the state considered pro-business, with a great outlook on jobs for seniors looking to start their own business or begin a second career.
Moving to North Carolina
Things to Know When Moving North Carolina
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