Anyone from Cary NC?

[mommykds]

How do you like it?

DH is being relocated to NC from NYC. We have narrowed down our search to Cary or Chapel Hill, however leaning towards Cary. Any suggestions or comments on the area would be appreciated. We have 3 kids (12, 9, & 7) so schools are important to us as well as a nice community. Thank you.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Not me, but my SIL lives there with her husband and 2 kids. It's beautiful. They have a home in an association and I have been led to believe most newer homes are regulated in that way.
Robin M.

 

[saucymb]

I would definitely choose Cary over Chapel Hill. Good schools, nice communities. Pricey, though.

 

[Papa Deuce]

LOL.... Just what they want in Cary.... More Yankees....

Containment Area for Relocated Yankees.


BTW, and this is just what I have been told... traffic is a nightmare, and well, schools are in "constant flux".


It is an area we were considering years ago. Too busy.

 

[Angelhalo]

Cary is lovely but we could never live there. It's just too regulated. Everyone's everything has to match. It's crazy. You drive through the town and all the stores look exactly the same because they are only allowed to use whiote lettering of a certain size, it's like a little stepford town.

If you don't mind people telling you what kind of mailbox you can have, flags you can fly, exterior lighting you can have, color house you areallowed....then it could be for you. It IS fancy and safe, and it has nice schools.

If you don't like that much regulation, I'd look in Apex or Chapel Hill.

 

[tar heel]

If I could afford Chapel Hill, I wouldn't even consider Cary. Chapel Hill has the best schools in North Carolina.

 

[<3WDW]

Cary is part of the Wake County school system which is HUGE and seems to have lots of reassignments. My kids are both in the system and I'm happy with their schools, but don't choose a house based on its school assignment because you never know when it will change - even if you live across from the street from the school!

We chose not to live in Cary because it's just too big for us and too busy. We're in far north Wake County instead.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

My brother his wife and my nephew live there. It's OK, but I don't think they love the place. To them, it has no "local flavor". As someone else said - everything is the same - just strip malls and subdivisions, and other transplanted northerners. My brother and his wife used to live in Poughkeepsie, NY, and they loved that so much better - more places to go and do things, etc. When I visit them in Cary, there is nowhere to go and nothing to do. In Cary, there is nothing to do but sit around your house or shop or eat in a chain restaurant. Cary is not close to the mountains, or to the beach. No touristy places nearby, at least nothing we would enjoy.

This year, my nephew had to switch to a year-round school or he would have been bused to a more urban school with a bad reputation. My nephew has a rare genetic syndrome so it was a big concern to send him to a good school with good special education. If this year-round school doesn't work well for him, he will have to find a private school.

If my brother got transferred, I don't think anyone in the family would miss Cary very much!

 

[mommykds]

My brother his wife and my nephew live there. It's OK, but I don't think they love the place. To them, it has no "local flavor". As someone else said - everything is the same - just strip malls and subdivisions, and other transplanted northerners. My brother and his wife used to live in Poughkeepsie, NY, and they loved that so much better - more places to go and do things, etc. When I visit them in Cary, there is nowhere to go and nothing to do. In Cary, there is nothing to do but sit around your house or shop or eat in a chain restaurant. Cary is not close to the mountains, or to the beach. No touristy places nearby, at least nothing we would enjoy.

This year, my nephew had to switch to a year-round school or he would have been bused to a more urban school with a bad reputation. My nephew has a rare genetic syndrome so it was a big concern to send him to a good school with good special education. If this year-round school doesn't work well for him, he will have to find a private school.

If my brother got transferred, I don't think anyone in the family would miss Cary very much!

You just described my weekends!!!!!!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

I would definitely choose Chapel Hill over Cary (if I could afford it).

Denae

 

[mjkacmom]

Our neighbors moved there from here in NJ, and seem to like it. People have mentioned the cost, but if you're moving from NYC, it's not an issue - our neighbors couldn't believe how inexpensive the homes were in Cary! However, we almost had to move to NC (Charlotte) because of DH's job, and he was very creeped out with the neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, etc. - it just seemed fake to him (actually, he compared it to Disney, like living in a theme park).

 

[kelleigh1]

Our neighbors moved there from here in NJ, and seem to like it. People have mentioned the cost, but if you're moving from NYC, it's not an issue - our neighbors couldn't believe how inexpensive the homes were in Cary! However, we almost had to move to NC (Charlotte) because of DH's job, and he was very creeped out with the neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, etc. - it just seemed fake to him (actually, he compared it to Disney, like living in a theme park).

I was picturing Celebration, so it's funny you should compare it to Disney. (Note: I've never been to NC.)

 

[BalooTheBear]

We live in Holly Springs, just a little south of Cary. Cary has grown very much and keeps growing, a lot of restrictions, small home lots and big houses, and in my opinion over rated price wise and community wise.

I'm not sure where your husband will be working, but if you can swing the commute you'd do much better house/community wise looking outside of Cary/Chapel Hill. Such as, Apex, Wake Forest, Zebulon, Knightdale, Holly Springs, Chatham county... I'd stay clear of Durham... (just my opinion)

The Wake county school system is still in legal matters about trying to force all kids to year round schools, currently they can't force it and there are still a few traditional school year schools available. But, it is being appealed by the Wake Co. school board.

As for not finding anything to do?????? We use to live in the Mid-Hudson valley and I can tell you I'd much rather live down here. The beach IS 2hrs away - straight down I-40, and the mountains are close within a 4-5hr drive - straight down I-40. You are closer to Disney here, we have downtown Raleigh with a lot of improvements going on. Museums, RBC Center, State Fair grounds (Fair in October), many many lakes. If you can't find something to do down here, then y'all need to get off your porch and step outside your back yards.....

 

[TruBlu]

Have you been down to visit? Cary and Chapel Hill are VERY different. Cary has the whole crowded, yuppie vibe. Chapel Hill has the liberal, University town vibe. It is really hard to compare the two.

Both areas have great school systems. The Wake Co. schools do move kids around every year and it seems like parents are constantly complaining about over-crowded schools and reassignments. Chapel Hill schools are very competitive. There is a lot of pressure to keep up because all the kids seem to work extra hard.

I think you can't go wrong with either place, but you should check them out in person.

 

[mommykds]

We are coming down Columbus weekend to check out the neighborhoods.

I heard the schools in Cary & CH are good...How are the schools in Wake Forest, Apex, & Holly Springs?

 

[<3WDW]

We are coming down Columbus weekend to check out the neighborhoods.

I heard the schools in Cary & CH are good...How are the schools in Wake Forest, Apex, & Holly Springs?

Wake Forest, Apex and Holly Springs are all in the same school district as Cary - Wake County. I'm by WF and am very happy with all the schools my kids have been through (I've got one in elementary and one in middle, so I've seen it all!) But again, beware that reassignments happen. My DD's hs is actually located in Raleigh and DS's es is in Wake Forest.

ETA: PM me if you want more specific info!

 

[sorul82?]

Cary is part of the Wake County school system which is HUGE and seems to have lots of reassignments. My kids are both in the system and I'm happy with their schools, but don't choose a house based on its school assignment because you never know when it will change - even if you live across from the street from the school!

I can't say ditto, ditto, DITTO enough to this!!!!

And keep in mind that it is possible that your children may end up on different calendars.

 

[sorul82?]

Wake Forest, Apex and Holly Springs are all in the same school district as Cary - Wake County. I'm by WF and am very happy with all the schools my kids have been through (I've got one in elementary and one in middle, so I've seen it all!) But again, beware that reassignments happen. My DD's hs is actually located in Raleigh and DS's es is in Wake Forest.

ETA: PM me if you want more specific info!

I'm stalking you! For our area, the assignments are to a Raleigh ES, Garner MS, and Fuquay HS. Can you imagine rounding up children in all three cities for an emergency?

 

[<3WDW]

I'm stalking you! For our area, the assignments are to a Raleigh ES, Garner MS, and Fuquay HS. Can you imagine rounding up children in all three cities for an emergency?

The funny thing is, to get DS to school I pass a different hs than the one dd attends!

 

[mommykds]

I can't say ditto, ditto, DITTO enough to this!!!!

And keep in mind that it is possible that your children may end up on different calendars.

So how do you accomodate this when you have several kids (i have 3) as far was when to go on vacation? I wouldn;t mind going to a YR school so we could go to Disney off season, but what do you do if your kids are on different schedules? Thanks