Having recently visited both cities while considering them as retirement destinations, Charlotte was the hands-down winner for us. Sorry, Ellen. Based on all of your videos, we wanted to love Raleigh, but just didn't. Probably a great place to live but not one I would choose on my own. Charlotte, on the other hand...the uptown is gorgeous. The light rail system is convenient. Even as congested as it is supposed to be, Charlotte was very easy to get around. More arts, culture and entertainment possibilities than Raleigh. The civic planning is very obvious and they are clearly doing a lot of things right to plan for the future.
I can definitely see the draw to Charlotte!! It is a beautiful city and I love the uptown as well. I know an incredible agent in Charlotte. If you need a referral, give me a shout! Ellen.pitts@compass.com
@@EllenPitts Are you talking about Sir Ashley? We've watched his videos, too. We discovered him from one of your Charlotte vs Raleigh video where the two of you debated the merits of each city...so if you ever wonder if your videos have an impact, they do. You make great, very informative videos! We still have a few more cities to check out and we are 5-10 years away from retirement. But North and South Carolina are both high up on our list.
THIS WAS GREAT! debating where i want to move next and NC and these two cities were on the list. i'm going to go out and do a recon visit to make up my mind but this was a great intro! thank u!
Glad you enjoyed it!! Give me a call before you visit Raleigh and I can put together a quick tour for you to make your visit more productive. Feel free to schedule something on my calendar if you like www.harmonyrealtytriangle.com/contact-harmony/
Charlotte, because housing is more affordable to date. That probably will change, though. Also, I like the existence of professional sports teams in Charlotte.
Born in Charlotte and lived in Raleigh for a few years. Raleigh housing has always been more expensive. The same home in Charlotte for 410,000 will be 439,000 in Raleigh.
I’m sorry but I’m team Charlotte now. Charlotte is huge like my hometown (Nashville, Tennessee) and has lots of culture. Raleigh doesn’t have an identity or culture. Charlotte is very diverse with great restaurants and a lot of things to do and the people are very pleasant in Charlotte than in Raleigh. Raleigh to me is very segregated and I feel isolated from people and really really hard to make friends here. I have lots of friends in Charlotte and that’s funny because I live in Raleigh. Nobody is really traveling to Raleigh for a vacation whereas Charlotte people come from all over the world to visit. CLT is night and day better than RDU. More concerts and bands come to Charlotte and not many come to Raleigh. I know all of this because I worked in Charlotte while still living in Raleigh. Charlotte has a very friendly social scene and Raleigh does not.
I'm originally from Miami, now live in Apex (Raleigh suburb) To me, Charlotte is too crowded and traffic is very similar to Miami. Basically horrible. The only thing I like about Charlotte is the proximity to the mountains, but then how often do you really visit the mountains?
I moved to Charlotte in the mid 90s to go to college and stayed. I used to like being downtown and the surrounding "hip" areas but now I dont like even going closing to downtown. I avoid it unless I have to go for work. I now live on the edge of charlotte and huntersville close to 485. I like it because shops and restaurants are close by and I don't have to go in traffic and can use backrounds if the interstate is busy. I dont use the "attractions" (Carowinds, etc...) now that I am older. I am a mountain person and I like going to Boone and Ashe County especially in the summer when its hot and humid. I see myself retiring in the mountains. I had a house there for a few years.. Stayed during the pandemic and loved it. But had to sell it due to my parents needing my help as they are getting older. I need a remote job so I can move back to the mountains!
Both cities are great! I still prefer Raleigh because of its people and the greenery throughout the entire triangle. But I agree, Raleigh’s downtown feels not like a downtown
Thinking about moving to NC from Dallas. The summer is unbearable here. I heard NC gets humid in the summer. Which of the 2 cities are the least humid and overall have the nicest summer?
Honestly they are about the same in terms of heat but we are nowhere near as hot as Texas. I moved to Texas for a year and came running back to NC!! Lol! Texas tried to cook me!! I actually did a video about it th-cam.com/video/pKujQUyzToo/w-d-xo.html
Temps are comparable. Raliegh tends to get deeper snowfall or ice in winter. It also can have stronger spring/summer storms as well as hurricane threats due to its closer to the coast...more moisture etc. Charlotte is couple hours further from the coast but has "weather deflection" from NC mountains. Im native Charlottean but wouldnt hesitate to live in the Raliegh area. Both have a lot to offer.
Charlotte has less of a small town mindset and is more welcoming to transplants. Many natives of the Raleigh suburbs haven’t quite grasped their town with one stoplight and cornfields wasn’t going to stay that way forever and aren’t thankful for the opportunities they have around them.
Most people aren’t thankful for the opportunities in front of them. I know I often am blind to beautiful things right in front of me. It’s a hard skill to master. But also, it’s really hard to lose your way of life as a community becomes more populated. Change is always hard and empathy is another difficult skill to master.
Yes as a realtor who tries to get everyone and their mother to move to Raleigh you are very empathetic to the locals losing their way of life. stop it lol
You may not realize this but many people who move here have left places where the same thing is happening to them as what is happening in Raleigh. Growth and change is just a part of life. There’s nothing that can be done to stop it
I've lived in both and while I didn't dislike Raleigh at all, Charlotte is definitely the winner for me. Raleigh seems very soulless, it's a mass of suburbia with very little culture or diversity. All the positives you gave Raleigh, I agree with most of them, but you left out that Charlotte has the same things and due to it's size has even more of them and they're more diverse. The "vacation spots" are really for out of towners, locals may visit but the city has so much more to offer we don't really visit them. Also, you spent a lot of time uptown it seems, which you are right is very corporate, though that is changing some. But the neighborhoods are where the city shines. South End, Plaza Midwood, NoDa, and others are the places you would visit as a local. Also, some of the suburbs like Davidson are great to visit. The traffic is not great but in my time in both cities I never really felt it was that much different. The great thing about Charlotte is you have the density and transit to not be tied to a car. I have a car but maybe drive it twice a week. The Triangle definitely wins on colleges and college sports for sure, and I'm a big hockey fan so the Hurricanes being there is awesome, but I do love my Checkers. But for the most part, Charlotte has everything Raleigh has, but also a lot more. Raleigh really only seems appealing to middle/upper class white families, it doesn't have much to offer for young people or anyone else.
Generally speaking, and without going into too much painful details, I can see how Raleigh might sound like a major upgrade for someone coming from even a smaller town like Rocky Mount, NC which doesn't even have a mall (their mall is not really functional) or for someone coming from a place like Buffalo, NY (which doesn't have anything to offer besides the snow) so escaping the harsh weather will be a major upgrade in their quality of life as well, but any one moving to Raleigh from a World class city with lots of culture like (San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto) will find Raleigh short on almost every aspect, except maybe affordability.
I like Charlotte far more than Raleigh. While Uptown certainly is corporate (with the exception of residential 4th Ward), did you visit the NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, Montford, and Dilworth neighborhoods surrounding Uptown? That is where you will find the greenery, parks, live music, artsy, local, cultural feel you may have missed if you only visited Uptown. Did you visit Freedom Park? An incredible 100 acre park off East Blvd, just south of center city that hosts festivals year round. You would also probably love an area like Ballantyne south of the city. Charlotte traffic is pretty manageable if you don't have to take I-77 during peak hours. Most of the traffic is on the major interstates, which we don't have to take as often as you do in Raleigh. People in Raleigh who have never experienced Charlotte have a big misunderstanding of the city. Would recommend visiting with a Charlotte native who can show you Charlotte the right way.
I have family in the Raleigh/Durham area and we and our side of the family live in the Charlotte area. Though the Raleigh/Durham area has its merits, the Charlotte metro area offers much more overall. Both areas are beautiful, have nice residents, have good 4-season climates, great economies, clean/lush green, parks/greenways, museums. But there are some stark differences that make metro Charlotte noticeably better, IMO. The Charlotte itself has astronomically more to do. Pro sports teams (NFL, NBA, MLS), major theme park (426 acre Cedar Point’s Carowinds), major water park 30 acre Carolina Harbor), the largest outdoor recreation center in the nation (1300 acres US National Whitewater Center), NASCAR, 12,000 acres of mountain hiking in the western suburbs along the Gaston and Cleveland County lines), a vast and very detailed urban downtown, light rail/trollies/street cars, one of the largest international airports in the nation, better Buying Power (income vs. overall cost of living) than RDU, and the icing on the cake is the Charlotte metro area is much more conservative (9 or Charlotte’s 10 metro counties are red) than RDU metro (4 of its 7 metro counties are blue) meaning that there is a much higher chance of the Raleigh/Durham area having/developing the problems that are plaguing blue states and metro areas in the northeast and west coast where people are fleeing in droves. Again, RDU has a good it to offer and I’ve been there innumerable times over my 58 years of life. But when it comes to unique recreational assets (things most metro areas do not have), the huge variety of outdoor activities, getting the most out of each dollar, etc., the city of Raleigh and Raleigh/Durham metro area just doesn’t come close on the whole to the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte metro area. You’re just getting much more for less money.
Having lived in both cities for nearly twenty years, each, I have a few thoughts. Charlotte is much prettier than Raleigh. The upkeep and landscape of Charlotte is superior. Raleigh is embarrassing by comparison. Weeds everywhere in the summer. Charlotte’s citizens are proud and excited to live there, even the transplants. Raleigh is still trying to find itself. It is my opinion that the “movers and shakers” who built and developed Charlotte were more visionary and planned a better city, a well thought out city, thinking of future growth. Raleigh has a problem with too many old, dated homes and buildings. The best real estate, in the quiet, middle, in between the two noisy beltways, 440 and 540, is mostly neighborhoods built in the sixties. Housing shortage in the current real estate market is complicated by this fact. No one thought this through. Too many nicer homes back up to these noisy highways, and the airport is too close to many neighborhoods. Noise. It should have been built farther out, in anticipation of suburban spread. I have found Charlotteans to be more friendly than Raleigh residents. There is more energy and interest in life outside the city boundaries. I have been amazed at the numbers of Raleigh people who have not EVER even been to Charlotte, the mountains, or anywhere. How is that possible? A curious mind is a healthy mind.I have also lived in San Diego, Washington DC and the Philly area. My feeling is that one can be happy anywhere, because happiness comes from within, but, I would like to see Raleigh put on it’s big girl pants and catch up to other cities. The same developers, restaurant group owners, (don’t get me started on Raleigh’s mediocre restaurants) store owners, who decide everything, are making a mistake in not stepping aside to bring in new places, fresh ideas and upscale venues to this city. Open the door, Raleigh, and let in some fresh air. I see some progress, but if the same tired stores and restaurants go into The Exchange, Fenton Place, Knightdale, etc, then it will be more yawning. The potential is there.
I’m living in Overland Park and have to move to Bentonville for work but heard that techies love North Carolina in the east and beautiful place to live. Just thinking to move there by end of the year and buy a house. Based on comments I see charlotte is winning. What is avg price for home buyers ?
I'm from Greensboro (AKA Greensboring) originally and have been in Charlotte since '99. Raleigh is boring AF (in my opinion) and the traffic is terrible. No thanks. If I want to go out in Charlotte I can drive 8 minutes to a lightrail park and ride station and avoid traffic if I want. Total winner.
I live about 5 miles south of city center as the crow flies. It is a 1970s area with well kept up ranch homes and now multi-million dollar new homes. The big plus is we do not have an HOA. After rush hour, I can get to any of the center city areas in 15 minutes or less by car or 30 minutes anytime by bike. Anywhere within the outer belt look is no more than 30 minutes. My neighborhood is heavily treed with lots of wildlife. Charlotte is a big city for someone from a small town. Lots of people went the way of thinking Mecklenburg County is a terrible place to live. So they moved to Iredell, Union, or Gaston counties. yet they still work in Charlotte. So from 4-6PM the interstates and belt loops are congested as everyone goes home to their suburbs and their HOAs Charlotte becomes quite drive able.
Hey, Park and Rec guy. Please turn on the cooling sprinklers in that very park where you're sitting. Sad watching people press the button, jump up and down on the little lights and nothing happens. I love Charlotte too. It would be nice to see things in working order.
14:53 The reason why Charlotte is lacking that "Southern Hospitality " is because Charlotte is made up of mostly relocated transplants. I'm a Native Charlottean. And, I will say that the energy started changing, as the city grew larger. And, I can say that my ears are deaf to the many accents here. However, the accent of the native Charlottean is so rare, that we (natives) are called "Unicorns". At least, that's what I've always been called. Also, the Charlottean accent is no longer recognizable. Each time I've heard someone with strange accent, I learn that they're native to Charlotte, and it is the accent that we speak with there. I've even asked myself "Does my accent sound like that?!". But, yeah... There you go! Hope made sense!
Yeah that does make sense and it is sad. I wish we could do something to maintain the southern culture… it’s such a unique and beautiful culture! Thanks for your comment!!
Live outside Charlotte but go to Raleigh quite a bit. Both places are pretty nice. Charlotte definitely is a true city whereas Raleigh feels more like a very big town.
Great video, thank you! While I think Raleigh/the Triangle area is certainly a desirable place to live, for my family who want to relocate to NC from SWFL, we without a doubt will go to Charlotte due to the proximity of the mountains. Like you said in your video about being from south Florida, we don’t go to the beach that much either and much prefer the mountains.
Raleigh is better for this Floridian turned Carolinian. Raleigh has friendlier people, more quaint suburbs, and more opportunity for big fish in the small pond.
I've lived in both. Charlotte is much better in my opinion. Neither are "real cities" (e.g., NY, DC, SF, Boston). Charlotte is a little Atlanta, and Raleigh is a little Charlotte. Charlotte is far more vibrant than Raleigh though. Raleigh doesn't even feel like a "city." It's like a suburban "city," such as White Plains, NY or Stamford, Connecticut (though without the high-end retail that those suburban NY "cities" offer). That being said, 99% of the people in Raleigh and Charlotte will live in a typical, cookie-cutter home, go to the grocery store, and take their kids to soccer. Thus, to that extent, these two "cities" are interchangeable, as is Atlanta.
@@Mothmann. I doubt it. Raleigh is really lame. If someone wants inexpensive, suburban housing and doesn't care about having a vibrant downtown, Raleigh is acceptable. Charlotte is still far superior.
In 30 yrs Raleigh will be much different than now. Just like Ellen said Raleigh was not planning to be a large city it kind of just happen that way. I think in 30 yrs both Charlotte and Raleigh will both still be criticize for lack of identity. They just too damn close to each other. Just embrace the name "metrolina". Greensboro/Winston-Salem is on the come up and honestly they not much different from charlotte/Raleigh either. Most unique cities in NC to me are: Asheville Wilmington Sandhills Region Goldsboro
One more thing and you can check the U.S. Census but Raleigh has more density than Charlotte remember Charlotte is much larger than Raleigh Proper in square miles, don't be. Fool by those Tall beautiful buildings lol
Wake County is a larger county in Size and Population. Raleigh with the smaller towns and cities that have basically merged with Raleigh its actually bigger than Charlotte if you just count the two counties and Charlotte does have more options for nightlife but none of there nightlife districts can touch Glenwood South's energy and vibe based on the people who compared the two that I talked too.
@cgpxae2119 Again we already know that, I'm comparing JUST the two Counties by themselves and Wake County has more people that's really all, I'm saying lol
U listed Duke UNC Campbell as Raliegh schools when they arent even in the same county much less in Raliegh. They are in Durham Chapel Hill and Buies Creek. Yet you only listed a few in Charlottes city limits?
I love Raleigh I think it’s a good place to live like also also been thinking about Raleigh lately in the future I have a feeling like in 10 years Raleigh will become a very busy city in the downtown of Raleigh will be twice as big In the future I have a feeling that probably eventually will make all the make the city streets bigger in downtown to handle all the traffic and I have a feeling that Raleigh will be building new apartment buildings open spaces shopping centers grocery stores with all these companies coming to Raleigh I have a feeling more companies will be coming like why do you think Raleigh already planning ahead for the future like you’re going to make a commuter train like I have a feeling in 10 years the traffic in Raleigh’s gonna be crazy in Rollies already planning to make a commuter train and the plane to make a new bus system and Rawlins building new shopping centers and the soccer stadium like I have a feeling in 10 years Raleigh will probably be as big as Charlotte
Nope, firstly, although progress is being worked on, I like your self-esteem, but if you realize the km2 is more expansive than the city of Raleigh, which could not surpass the skyline of different suburbs in the square expansion, but getting there will only be in your dreams since we are already working. In buildings of 42 and 45 floors or more or 30 floors, it will not take away its position. In 10 years, there will be a double population and at that time, even if it is 10 years, Charlotte NC will already be annexed to the South End skyline.
They can quietly evolve Raleigh but surpass Charlotte North Carolina and we are really the economic boost of the state Bank America and Wells Fargo and more since the beginning we began to grow by mass other things already at that time it would be doing train but Charlotte North Carolina already had that experience and make different alternatives and more efficient the airport will exceed the double rdu after it ends I also see vague opinions of Raleigh and arriving the impulse of Charlotte North Carolina in restaurants is not by the feet as you know if you have already been in Charlotte it must first be developed the whole annexation ejm with south end and more but raleigh is more mixed the density in the center the city as we know from a long time ago would have developed in the capital of my state but well I imagined a big city 😅 yours is fine anyway Having said progress, the rest to achieve or overcome, well, nah.
Of course you'd say something that I've been saying for a long time: Raleigh needs a brand identity! Charlotte does get the same criticism. FWIW, the updated CSA estimates for the Triangle and Charlotte are: Triangle: 2,190,786 Charlotte: 2,920,892 Given the land areas of each, the Triangle is slightly more densely populated overall, but they aren't really all that different in that metric. For me, I'll stick with Raleigh. IMO it's more authentic, historic, and its core isn't encircled by freeways. This allows a more organic and meaningful transition between the very core of the city and its adjacent neighborhoods and communities. I also like that Raleigh has the state's largest university just a stone's throw away from the very center of downtown. Lastly, and most importantly, I like the people in Raleigh. I appreciate the creativity and research oriented minds of its citizenry, and casualness of how people present themselves and interact with each other. It's not a 3 piece suit sort of city.
There are a lot of people on this website who are pro Charlotte. I think Charlotte is great, but I would like to put a plug in for Raleigh. First of all, Raleigh does not have a small town feel. It's a mid size city and feels as such. It has first class museums, i.e., Natural Science Museum, N.C. Museum of Art, N.C. History Museum, and unique smaller museums. Raleigh has the wonderful N.C Symphony, N.C. Ballet, N.C. Opera, and many live music outlets. Many restaurants in Raleigh have been nationally recognized with James Beard award winning chefs. Raleigh is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with The Research Triangle Park and the region's universities being a big draw. Plus, it's a visually beautiful city.
Thank you!! We had actually found an editor who has been editing for us the last few weeks, but this one my husband actually did edit. His edits are so much better but it’s so time consuming!!
@@EllenPitts my son is a TH-camr and has only ever edited one of his own videos. He says editors are definitely worth the expense because of how time consuming the process is. That being said, your husband did a great job!
He has been editing our videos for several years and we’ve tried other editors but it’s really hard to find someone who understands how the edit impacts the viewers experience.Please have your son reach out to me! We would like to have an editor on staff by the end of the year. I would love to see his work and keep him in mind for when we’re ready to move forward!! have him email me at ellen.pitts@compass.com 🙂
@@EllenPitts he doesn’t edit himself but has 3 or 4 active editors for his content right now. He said he finds his editors by putting out tweets asking for applications through e-mail. He also said you can ask TH-cam friends who they work with and if they’re looking for additional work. I know finding someone who can give you the finished product you’re looking for is no easy task. Thumbnails and titles are enough work on their own.😄 Wishing you the best of luck!
Gotcha!!! Well let him know that if he has any overflow editors he isn’t able to use to please send them my way!! 😀Would you mind sharing his channel? It would be interesting to analyze his edits knowing he has four editors collaborating.
Raleigh is Charlotte's little brother and will always follow in the footsteps of Charlotte. I say BS Charlotte way better city and is actually a city Raleigh like a town
“In my opinion, Charlotte and Raleigh don’t know who they are yet”. Talk about a back handed comment on steroids! When did she become the ID police? The only reason you may feel that way is because theses cities (Presently) are not Dominated with the population the likes of Portland and Seattle and I hope it stays that way for a long time.
Charlotte. We got a light rail, and they are building a lot of stuff on this light rail. They put in 1 billion dollar worth of stuff in Southend. Now they billing 7 billion dollars worth of stuff in Southend because of the light rail. We had three Lakes. Mountain Island Lake Lake Norman and Lake Wylie. them Lake be very busy. We got a water park but it's in Carowinds but they are busy too. One of Charlotte newscaster said we were the 24 congested city in the country now you they stand with the 35th. It shocked me that you might want to move to Charlotte even though I thought you were a mountain woman. I am like the Uptown Charlotte Skyline way better than Raleigh. The reason people don't look at you at the eye because we got a lot of Northerners people living here that don't do that. We are Southerners we like to talk
@@MrRalboi919 first of all you never been in Lancaster if you only got one traffic light. Second of all I work in Charlotte everyday I don't know what you talking about. I got family Charlotte Lancaster Rock Hill Concord Lincoln County North Carolina Fort Mill Waxhaw Columbia Fort Lawn Chester Etc. I am from Lancaster. It don't mean that I'm stay there. I stay in the Charlotte Metro area that's still part of the Charlotte area. Why do you come down to South Carolina to get gas. You need to shut up you don't know what you're talking about.
So, I guess we have a echo in the room, lol Jarvis she has given Charlotte it's Flowers dude lol half the stuff you said was mentioned in the video smh lol, also notice how he's states we have alot of Northerner in Charlotte lol, Well we have them too, actually enough to where we can actually have a Wegmans grocery store, actually several in the Raleigh Wake County area, matter fact folks have groups that charter buses every three months to come up to little old Raleigh to Shop, because they don't have one in Big Charlotte lol 🤣🫣, of Charlottean feel like they should have these coveted and carefully chosen high growth Markets .
@@MrRalboi919 did you know Lancaster County is the fastest-growing county in the state of South Carolina. Why you getting my hometown a bad rap but most of y'all people are moving here here it ain't you staying Concord
![People Hate Raleigh [This is Why]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CmKD8xnAtME/mqdefault.jpg)
![5 HUGE Changes Coming to CHICAGO ILLINOIS!🤯[Don't Miss Out!]](/img/n.gif)
Having recently visited both cities while considering them as retirement destinations, Charlotte was the hands-down winner for us. Sorry, Ellen. Based on all of your videos, we wanted to love Raleigh, but just didn't. Probably a great place to live but not one I would choose on my own. Charlotte, on the other hand...the uptown is gorgeous. The light rail system is convenient. Even as congested as it is supposed to be, Charlotte was very easy to get around. More arts, culture and entertainment possibilities than Raleigh. The civic planning is very obvious and they are clearly doing a lot of things right to plan for the future.
I can definitely see the draw to Charlotte!! It is a beautiful city and I love the uptown as well.
I know an incredible agent in Charlotte. If you need a referral, give me a shout! Ellen.pitts@compass.com
@@EllenPitts Are you talking about Sir Ashley? We've watched his videos, too. We discovered him from one of your Charlotte vs Raleigh video where the two of you debated the merits of each city...so if you ever wonder if your videos have an impact, they do. You make great, very informative videos!
We still have a few more cities to check out and we are 5-10 years away from retirement. But North and South Carolina are both high up on our list.
Hello are you looking at a place along the light rail line to live ?
@@MrRalboi919 Not at the moment. We are still years away from a move.
Charlotte is a nice place to do things, but not to retire if you want to retire, look at the surrounding towns around Charlotte.
THIS WAS GREAT! debating where i want to move next and NC and these two cities were on the list. i'm going to go out and do a recon visit to make up my mind but this was a great intro! thank u!
Glad you enjoyed it!! Give me a call before you visit Raleigh and I can put together a quick tour for you to make your visit more productive. Feel free to schedule something on my calendar if you like www.harmonyrealtytriangle.com/contact-harmony/
Charlotte, because housing is more affordable to date. That probably will change, though. Also, I like the existence of professional sports teams in Charlotte.
Born in Charlotte and lived in Raleigh for a few years. Raleigh housing has always been more expensive. The same home in Charlotte for 410,000 will be 439,000 in Raleigh.
Coming from CA and this was incredibly helpful. Thank you!
Let me know if you’d like to chat about your move! You can schedule a call here: www.harmonyrealtytriangle.com/contact-harmony/
I’m sorry but I’m team Charlotte now. Charlotte is huge like my hometown (Nashville, Tennessee) and has lots of culture. Raleigh doesn’t have an identity or culture. Charlotte is very diverse with great restaurants and a lot of things to do and the people are very pleasant in Charlotte than in Raleigh. Raleigh to me is very segregated and I feel isolated from people and really really hard to make friends here. I have lots of friends in Charlotte and that’s funny because I live in Raleigh. Nobody is really traveling to Raleigh for a vacation whereas Charlotte people come from all over the world to visit. CLT is night and day better than RDU. More concerts and bands come to Charlotte and not many come to Raleigh. I know all of this because I worked in Charlotte while still living in Raleigh. Charlotte has a very friendly social scene and Raleigh does not.
I totally get it!! It really is a personal preference. 🙂
@@EllenPitts true
I'm originally from Miami, now live in Apex (Raleigh suburb)
To me, Charlotte is too crowded and traffic is very similar to Miami. Basically horrible.
The only thing I like about Charlotte is the proximity to the mountains, but then how often do you really visit the mountains?
I moved to Charlotte in the mid 90s to go to college and stayed. I used to like being downtown and the surrounding "hip" areas but now I dont like even going closing to downtown. I avoid it unless I have to go for work. I now live on the edge of charlotte and huntersville close to 485. I like it because shops and restaurants are close by and I don't have to go in traffic and can use backrounds if the interstate is busy. I dont use the "attractions" (Carowinds, etc...) now that I am older. I am a mountain person and I like going to Boone and Ashe County especially in the summer when its hot and humid. I see myself retiring in the mountains. I had a house there for a few years.. Stayed during the pandemic and loved it. But had to sell it due to my parents needing my help as they are getting older. I need a remote job so I can move back to the mountains!
Why don’t you go to downtown anymore? Any particular reason or it’s just not part of your routine?
Both cities are great! I still prefer Raleigh because of its people and the greenery throughout the entire triangle. But I agree, Raleigh’s downtown feels not like a downtown
I think Charlotte’s downtown was also very green and beautiful. Do you feel like Raleigh has more trees/green?
Thinking about moving to NC from Dallas. The summer is unbearable here. I heard NC gets humid in the summer. Which of the 2 cities are the least humid and overall have the nicest summer?
Honestly they are about the same in terms of heat but we are nowhere near as hot as Texas. I moved to Texas for a year and came running back to NC!! Lol! Texas tried to cook me!! I actually did a video about it th-cam.com/video/pKujQUyzToo/w-d-xo.html
Temps are comparable. Raliegh tends to get deeper snowfall or ice in winter. It also can have stronger spring/summer storms as well as hurricane threats due to its closer to the coast...more moisture etc. Charlotte is couple hours further from the coast but has "weather deflection" from NC mountains.
Im native Charlottean but wouldnt hesitate to live in the Raliegh area. Both have a lot to offer.
Charlotte has less of a small town mindset and is more welcoming to transplants. Many natives of the Raleigh suburbs haven’t quite grasped their town with one stoplight and cornfields wasn’t going to stay that way forever and aren’t thankful for the opportunities they have around them.
Most people aren’t thankful for the opportunities in front of them. I know I often am blind to beautiful things right in front of me. It’s a hard skill to master. But also, it’s really hard to lose your way of life as a community becomes more populated. Change is always hard and empathy is another difficult skill to master.
Yes as a realtor who tries to get everyone and their mother to move to Raleigh you are very empathetic to the locals losing their way of life. stop it lol
You may not realize this but many people who move here have left places where the same thing is happening to them as what is happening in Raleigh. Growth and change is just a part of life. There’s nothing that can be done to stop it
Welcoming to transplants? Lol
Hell that's all that live here anymore. What u talking about
I've lived in both and while I didn't dislike Raleigh at all, Charlotte is definitely the winner for me. Raleigh seems very soulless, it's a mass of suburbia with very little culture or diversity. All the positives you gave Raleigh, I agree with most of them, but you left out that Charlotte has the same things and due to it's size has even more of them and they're more diverse. The "vacation spots" are really for out of towners, locals may visit but the city has so much more to offer we don't really visit them. Also, you spent a lot of time uptown it seems, which you are right is very corporate, though that is changing some. But the neighborhoods are where the city shines. South End, Plaza Midwood, NoDa, and others are the places you would visit as a local. Also, some of the suburbs like Davidson are great to visit. The traffic is not great but in my time in both cities I never really felt it was that much different. The great thing about Charlotte is you have the density and transit to not be tied to a car. I have a car but maybe drive it twice a week. The Triangle definitely wins on colleges and college sports for sure, and I'm a big hockey fan so the Hurricanes being there is awesome, but I do love my Checkers. But for the most part, Charlotte has everything Raleigh has, but also a lot more. Raleigh really only seems appealing to middle/upper class white families, it doesn't have much to offer for young people or anyone else.
I’m actually trying to decide between Charlotte and Denver (Colorado). So many great things about both
Generally speaking, and without going into too much painful details, I can see how Raleigh might sound like a major upgrade for someone coming from even a smaller town like Rocky Mount, NC which doesn't even have a mall (their mall is not really functional) or for someone coming from a place like Buffalo, NY (which doesn't have anything to offer besides the snow) so escaping the harsh weather will be a major upgrade in their quality of life as well, but any one moving to Raleigh from a World class city with lots of culture like (San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto) will find Raleigh short on almost every aspect, except maybe affordability.
I like Charlotte far more than Raleigh. While Uptown certainly is corporate (with the exception of residential 4th Ward), did you visit the NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, Montford, and Dilworth neighborhoods surrounding Uptown? That is where you will find the greenery, parks, live music, artsy, local, cultural feel you may have missed if you only visited Uptown. Did you visit Freedom Park? An incredible 100 acre park off East Blvd, just south of center city that hosts festivals year round. You would also probably love an area like Ballantyne south of the city. Charlotte traffic is pretty manageable if you don't have to take I-77 during peak hours. Most of the traffic is on the major interstates, which we don't have to take as often as you do in Raleigh.
People in Raleigh who have never experienced Charlotte have a big misunderstanding of the city. Would recommend visiting with a Charlotte native who can show you Charlotte the right way.
I have family in the Raleigh/Durham area and we and our side of the family live in the Charlotte area. Though the Raleigh/Durham area has its merits, the Charlotte metro area offers much more overall. Both areas are beautiful, have nice residents, have good 4-season climates, great economies, clean/lush green, parks/greenways, museums. But there are some stark differences that make metro Charlotte noticeably better, IMO. The Charlotte itself has astronomically more to do. Pro sports teams (NFL, NBA, MLS), major theme park (426 acre Cedar Point’s Carowinds), major water park 30 acre Carolina Harbor), the largest outdoor recreation center in the nation (1300 acres US National Whitewater Center), NASCAR, 12,000 acres of mountain hiking in the western suburbs along the Gaston and Cleveland County lines), a vast and very detailed urban downtown, light rail/trollies/street cars, one of the largest international airports in the nation, better Buying Power (income vs. overall cost of living) than RDU, and the icing on the cake is the Charlotte metro area is much more conservative (9 or Charlotte’s 10 metro counties are red) than RDU metro (4 of its 7 metro counties are blue) meaning that there is a much higher chance of the Raleigh/Durham area having/developing the problems that are plaguing blue states and metro areas in the northeast and west coast where people are fleeing in droves. Again, RDU has a good it to offer and I’ve been there innumerable times over my 58 years of life. But when it comes to unique recreational assets (things most metro areas do not have), the huge variety of outdoor activities, getting the most out of each dollar, etc., the city of Raleigh and Raleigh/Durham metro area just doesn’t come close on the whole to the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte metro area. You’re just getting much more for less money.
What a super helpful comment! Thank you so much!!
Having lived in both cities for nearly twenty years, each, I have a few thoughts. Charlotte is much prettier than Raleigh. The upkeep and landscape of Charlotte is superior. Raleigh is embarrassing by comparison. Weeds everywhere in the summer. Charlotte’s citizens are proud and excited to live there, even the transplants. Raleigh is still trying to find itself. It is my opinion that the “movers and shakers” who built and developed Charlotte were more visionary and planned a better city, a well thought out city, thinking of future growth. Raleigh has a problem with too many old, dated homes and buildings. The best real estate, in the quiet, middle, in between the two noisy beltways, 440 and 540, is mostly neighborhoods built in the sixties. Housing shortage in the current real estate market is complicated by this fact. No one thought this through. Too many nicer homes back up to these noisy highways, and the airport is too close to many neighborhoods. Noise. It should have been built farther out, in anticipation of suburban spread. I have found Charlotteans to be more friendly than Raleigh residents. There is more energy and interest in life outside the city boundaries. I have been amazed at the numbers of Raleigh people who have not EVER even been to Charlotte, the mountains, or anywhere. How is that possible? A curious mind is a healthy mind.I have also lived in San Diego, Washington DC and the Philly area. My feeling is that one can be happy anywhere, because happiness comes from within, but, I would like to see Raleigh put on it’s big girl pants and catch up to other cities. The same developers, restaurant group owners, (don’t get me started on Raleigh’s mediocre restaurants) store owners, who decide everything, are making a mistake in not stepping aside to bring in new places, fresh ideas and upscale venues to this city. Open the door, Raleigh, and let in some fresh air. I see some progress, but if the same tired stores and restaurants go into The Exchange, Fenton Place, Knightdale, etc, then it will be more yawning. The potential is there.
I’m living in Overland Park and have to move to Bentonville for work but heard that techies love North Carolina in the east and beautiful place to live. Just thinking to move there by end of the year and buy a house. Based on comments I see charlotte is winning. What is avg price for home buyers ?
I'm from Greensboro (AKA Greensboring) originally and have been in Charlotte since '99. Raleigh is boring AF (in my opinion) and the traffic is terrible. No thanks.
If I want to go out in Charlotte I can drive 8 minutes to a lightrail park and ride station and avoid traffic if I want. Total winner.
I live about 5 miles south of city center as the crow flies. It is a 1970s area with well kept up ranch homes and now multi-million dollar new homes. The big plus is we do not have an HOA. After rush hour, I can get to any of the center city areas in 15 minutes or less by car or 30 minutes anytime by bike. Anywhere within the outer belt look is no more than 30 minutes. My neighborhood is heavily treed with lots of wildlife. Charlotte is a big city for someone from a small town. Lots of people went the way of thinking Mecklenburg County is a terrible place to live. So they moved to Iredell, Union, or Gaston counties. yet they still work in Charlotte. So from 4-6PM the interstates and belt loops are congested as everyone goes home to their suburbs and their HOAs Charlotte becomes quite drive able.
Wow thank you for all the historical facts and overall research! The layout of the city from 1792 was very interesting!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hey, Park and Rec guy. Please turn on the cooling sprinklers in that very park where you're sitting. Sad watching people press the button, jump up and down on the little lights and nothing happens. I love Charlotte too. It would be nice to see things in working order.
14:53 The reason why Charlotte is lacking that "Southern Hospitality " is because Charlotte is made up of mostly relocated transplants. I'm a Native Charlottean. And, I will say that the energy started changing, as the city grew larger. And, I can say that my ears are deaf to the many accents here. However, the accent of the native Charlottean is so rare, that we (natives) are called "Unicorns". At least, that's what I've always been called. Also, the Charlottean accent is no longer recognizable. Each time I've heard someone with strange accent, I learn that they're native to Charlotte, and it is the accent that we speak with there. I've even asked myself "Does my accent sound like that?!". But, yeah... There you go! Hope made sense!
Yeah that does make sense and it is sad. I wish we could do something to maintain the southern culture… it’s such a unique and beautiful culture! Thanks for your comment!!
Having lived in both, Raleigh is more my speed. Also, feels safer
Live outside Charlotte but go to Raleigh quite a bit. Both places are pretty nice. Charlotte definitely is a true city whereas Raleigh feels more like a very big town.
Great video, thank you! While I think Raleigh/the Triangle area is certainly a desirable place to live, for my family who want to relocate to NC from SWFL, we without a doubt will go to Charlotte due to the proximity of the mountains. Like you said in your video about being from south Florida, we don’t go to the beach that much either and much prefer the mountains.
Did you and your family make the move? If yes, how are you liking it compared to swfl?
Charlotte is Raleigh's older brother with money 💰 Great comparison 👍🏽
Actually Raleigh has more money per Capita income based on U.S. Census information these are the facts
Raleigh is better for this Floridian turned Carolinian. Raleigh has friendlier people, more quaint suburbs, and more opportunity for big fish in the small pond.
Same!!!
I've lived in both. Charlotte is much better in my opinion. Neither are "real cities" (e.g., NY, DC, SF, Boston). Charlotte is a little Atlanta, and Raleigh is a little Charlotte. Charlotte is far more vibrant than Raleigh though. Raleigh doesn't even feel like a "city." It's like a suburban "city," such as White Plains, NY or Stamford, Connecticut (though without the high-end retail that those suburban NY "cities" offer). That being said, 99% of the people in Raleigh and Charlotte will live in a typical, cookie-cutter home, go to the grocery store, and take their kids to soccer. Thus, to that extent, these two "cities" are interchangeable, as is Atlanta.
With new developments Raleigh might feel like a big city in the decade
@@Mothmann. I doubt it. Raleigh is really lame. If someone wants inexpensive, suburban housing and doesn't care about having a vibrant downtown, Raleigh is acceptable. Charlotte is still far superior.
CLT isn’t a little ATL l, it’s actually twice the size land wise and population. ATL only has a bigger metro area and metro population.
I absolutely love Stamford and the size of it and location. So ty for choosing for me 😂 I'll look more into Raleigh.
In 30 yrs Raleigh will be much different than now. Just like Ellen said Raleigh was not planning to be a large city it kind of just happen that way. I think in 30 yrs both Charlotte and Raleigh will both still be criticize for lack of identity. They just too damn close to each other. Just embrace the name "metrolina". Greensboro/Winston-Salem is on the come up and honestly they not much different from charlotte/Raleigh either.
Most unique cities in NC to me are:
Asheville
Wilmington
Sandhills Region
Goldsboro
I’ve actually never been to Goldsboro!! What is interesting about it?
One more thing and you can check the U.S. Census but Raleigh has more density than Charlotte remember Charlotte is much larger than Raleigh Proper in square miles, don't be. Fool by those Tall beautiful buildings lol
Wake County is a larger county in Size and Population. Raleigh with the smaller towns and cities that have basically merged with Raleigh its actually bigger than Charlotte if you just count the two counties and Charlotte does have more options for nightlife but none of there nightlife districts can touch Glenwood South's energy and vibe based on the people who compared the two that I talked too.
Great information about the nightlife!! I’m not much into that at this stage of my life so it’s helpful for people to get that info!
@@EllenPitts Well, I'm 50 but still living the life lol and, I love your new haircut😉
Metro Charlotte has a larger population
@cgpxae2119 Again we already know that, I'm comparing JUST the two Counties by themselves and Wake County has more people that's really all, I'm saying lol
@@MrRalboi919 by bout 30,000...mostly students
JS ✌
U listed Duke UNC Campbell as Raliegh schools when they arent even in the same county much less in Raliegh. They are in Durham Chapel Hill and Buies Creek. Yet you only listed a few in Charlottes city limits?
Campbell opened a campus is Raleigh a couple years ago.
UNCC, J.C. Smith, Queens, Davidson all in Mecklenburg county.
I love Raleigh I think it’s a good place to live like also also been thinking about Raleigh lately in the future I have a feeling like in 10 years Raleigh will become a very busy city in the downtown of Raleigh will be twice as big In the future I have a feeling that probably eventually will make all the make the city streets bigger in downtown to handle all the traffic and I have a feeling that Raleigh will be building new apartment buildings open spaces shopping centers grocery stores with all these companies coming to Raleigh I have a feeling more companies will be coming like why do you think Raleigh already planning ahead for the future like you’re going to make a commuter train like I have a feeling in 10 years the traffic in Raleigh’s gonna be crazy in Rollies already planning to make a commuter train and the plane to make a new bus system and Rawlins building new shopping centers and the soccer stadium like I have a feeling in 10 years Raleigh will probably be as big as Charlotte
Maybe!! You never can tell. Thanks for watching!
Nope, firstly, although progress is being worked on, I like your self-esteem, but if you realize the km2 is more expansive than the city of Raleigh, which could not surpass the skyline of different suburbs in the square expansion, but getting there will only be in your dreams since we are already working. In buildings of 42 and 45 floors or more or 30 floors, it will not take away its position. In 10 years, there will be a double population and at that time, even if it is 10 years, Charlotte NC will already be annexed to the South End skyline.
They can quietly evolve Raleigh but surpass Charlotte North Carolina and we are really the economic boost of the state Bank America and Wells Fargo and more since the beginning we began to grow by mass other things already at that time it would be doing train but Charlotte North Carolina already had that experience and make different alternatives and more efficient the airport will exceed the double rdu after it ends I also see vague opinions of Raleigh and arriving the impulse of Charlotte North Carolina in restaurants is not by the feet as you know if you have already been in Charlotte it must first be developed the whole annexation ejm with south end and more but raleigh is more mixed the density in the center the city as we know from a long time ago would have developed in the capital of my state but well I imagined a big city 😅 yours is fine anyway Having said progress, the rest to achieve or overcome, well, nah.
Of course you'd say something that I've been saying for a long time: Raleigh needs a brand identity! Charlotte does get the same criticism.
FWIW, the updated CSA estimates for the Triangle and Charlotte are:
Triangle: 2,190,786
Charlotte: 2,920,892
Given the land areas of each, the Triangle is slightly more densely populated overall, but they aren't really all that different in that metric.
For me, I'll stick with Raleigh. IMO it's more authentic, historic, and its core isn't encircled by freeways. This allows a more organic and meaningful transition between the very core of the city and its adjacent neighborhoods and communities. I also like that Raleigh has the state's largest university just a stone's throw away from the very center of downtown. Lastly, and most importantly, I like the people in Raleigh. I appreciate the creativity and research oriented minds of its citizenry, and casualness of how people present themselves and interact with each other. It's not a 3 piece suit sort of city.
I totally agree with you!!
We love the casual vibe people present with as well. Great observation.
There are a lot of people on this website who are pro Charlotte. I think Charlotte is great, but I would like to put a plug in for Raleigh. First of all, Raleigh does not have a small town feel. It's a mid size city and feels as such. It has first class museums, i.e., Natural Science Museum, N.C. Museum of Art, N.C. History Museum, and unique smaller museums. Raleigh has the wonderful N.C Symphony, N.C. Ballet, N.C. Opera, and many live music outlets. Many restaurants in Raleigh have been nationally recognized with James Beard award winning chefs. Raleigh is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with The Research Triangle Park and the region's universities being a big draw. Plus, it's a visually beautiful city.
You said your husband edits these? The edits were really funny this go around 😂
Thank you!! We had actually found an editor who has been editing for us the last few weeks, but this one my husband actually did edit. His edits are so much better but it’s so time consuming!!
@@EllenPitts my son is a TH-camr and has only ever edited one of his own videos. He says editors are definitely worth the expense because of how time consuming the process is. That being said, your husband did a great job!
He has been editing our videos for several years and we’ve tried other editors but it’s really hard to find someone who understands how the edit impacts the viewers experience.Please have your son reach out to me! We would like to have an editor on staff by the end of the year. I would love to see his work and keep him in mind for when we’re ready to move forward!! have him email me at ellen.pitts@compass.com 🙂
@@EllenPitts he doesn’t edit himself but has 3 or 4 active editors for his content right now. He said he finds his editors by putting out tweets asking for applications through e-mail. He also said you can ask TH-cam friends who they work with and if they’re looking for additional work. I know finding someone who can give you the finished product you’re looking for is no easy task. Thumbnails and titles are enough work on their own.😄 Wishing you the best of luck!
Gotcha!!! Well let him know that if he has any overflow editors he isn’t able to use to please send them my way!! 😀Would you mind sharing his channel? It would be interesting to analyze his edits knowing he has four editors collaborating.
Raleigh is Charlotte's little brother and will always follow in the footsteps of Charlotte.
I say BS Charlotte way better city and is actually a city Raleigh like a town
Charlotte because of the transit options as a blind person who doesnt drive
“In my opinion, Charlotte and Raleigh don’t know who they are yet”.
Talk about a back handed comment on steroids! When did she become the ID police? The only reason you may feel that way is because theses cities (Presently) are not Dominated with the population the likes of Portland and Seattle and I hope it stays that way for a long time.
Mecklenburg county jail is larger that Wake County jail.😊
Hehehehe
Great content
Glad you enjoyed it!!
She forgot to mention that Charlotte is actually the wild wild west
Have you ever been there? Seems to me to be a silly statement.
@@user-es9mb8wi3m LMFAO I LIVE IN CHARLOTTE, ITS THE FUCKING WILD WILD WEST 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 YOU MUST BE WHITE ,
@@user-es9mb8wi3m there's hasn't been one night here someone ain't die over night , You trippin
I do understand what you are saying. @@bluntsdro
Charlotte. We got a light rail, and they are building a lot of stuff on this light rail. They put in 1 billion dollar worth of stuff in Southend. Now they billing 7 billion dollars worth of stuff in Southend because of the light rail. We had three Lakes. Mountain Island Lake Lake Norman and Lake Wylie. them Lake be very busy. We got a water park but it's in Carowinds but they are busy too. One of Charlotte newscaster said we were the 24 congested city in the country now you they stand with the 35th. It shocked me that you might want to move to Charlotte even though I thought you were a mountain woman. I am like the Uptown Charlotte Skyline way better than Raleigh. The reason people don't look at you at the eye because we got a lot of Northerners people living here that don't do that. We are Southerners we like to talk
I really love uptown Charlotte. It’s just beautiful!!
Man you from Lancaster they barley got one stop light stop it your not from no Charlotte lol
@@MrRalboi919 first of all you never been in Lancaster if you only got one traffic light. Second of all I work in Charlotte everyday I don't know what you talking about. I got family Charlotte Lancaster Rock Hill Concord Lincoln County North Carolina Fort Mill Waxhaw Columbia Fort Lawn Chester Etc. I am from Lancaster. It don't mean that I'm stay there. I stay in the Charlotte Metro area that's still part of the Charlotte area. Why do you come down to South Carolina to get gas. You need to shut up you don't know what you're talking about.
So, I guess we have a echo in the room, lol Jarvis she has given Charlotte it's Flowers dude lol half the stuff you said was mentioned in the video smh lol, also notice how he's states we have alot of Northerner in Charlotte lol, Well we have them too, actually enough to where we can actually have a Wegmans grocery store, actually several in the Raleigh Wake County area, matter fact folks have groups that charter buses every three months to come up to little old Raleigh to Shop, because they don't have one in Big Charlotte lol 🤣🫣, of Charlottean feel like they should have these coveted and carefully chosen high growth Markets .
@@MrRalboi919 did you know Lancaster County is the fastest-growing county in the state of South Carolina. Why you getting my hometown a bad rap but most of y'all people are moving here here it ain't you staying Concord
Raleigh sucks dong
I thought for sure this was a One Piece reference.
Charlotte hates anyone how is not a Mason!!!!!!
Sorry our city is such a bad place. Crazy your kid chose to come to our dumpy community for school.
I don’t think you actually watched the video 😀