Originally Posted by MattOR

I lived in NC for close to year and found it pleasant enough. Hard to know what constitutes pros and cons as everything is personal but here's my take:

Pros - The climate pleasant as it rarely gets too hot or cold, although the humidity makes it feel hotter than it really is. Nothing like Australia tho...The people are very polite and friendly. The economy is good as Charlotte is a major financial center and the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle is a global tech hub. The cost of living is reasonable - certainly when compared to the northeast or west coast. You can own a nice house for what you would pay for a tiny studio apartment in Seattle. Lots of history with many towns that predate the revolution. Pretty hills in the western part of the state and nice beaches in the east. The pace of life is a little less fast paced than other parts of the country. Good air links to the UK with daily direct flights between London, Manchester, Charlotte,and Raleigh. Flight time is ~7 hours which makes a week long trip a doable proposition. If you are conservative then you will love the politics.

Cons - The Smokey Mountains and the beaches are a long way from the main cities. The rest of it is really bland. Just mono-culture forests, fields, sub-divisions, and sprawl with long commutes. If you are liberal you will hate the politics

Personally NC was a bit too dull for me but I can certainly see the appeal if you are looking for a place where your money will go further. Best of luck to you.

Originally Posted by MattOR

I lived in NC for close to year and found it pleasant enough. Hard to know what constitutes pros and cons as everything is personal but here's my take:

Pros - The climate pleasant as it rarely gets too hot or cold, although the humidity makes it feel hotter than it really is. Nothing like Australia tho...The people are very polite and friendly. The economy is good as Charlotte is a major financial center and the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle is a global tech hub. The cost of living is reasonable - certainly when compared to the northeast or west coast. You can own a nice house for what you would pay for a tiny studio apartment in Seattle. Lots of history with many towns that predate the revolution. Pretty hills in the western part of the state and nice beaches in the east. The pace of life is a little less fast paced than other parts of the country. Good air links to the UK with daily direct flights between London, Manchester, Charlotte,and Raleigh. Flight time is ~7 hours which makes a week long trip a doable proposition. If you are conservative then you will love the politics.

Cons - The Smokey Mountains and the beaches are a long way from the main cities. The rest of it is really bland. Just mono-culture forests, fields, sub-divisions, and sprawl with long commutes. If you are liberal you will hate the politics

Personally NC was a bit too dull for me but I can certainly see the appeal if you are looking for a place where your money will go further. Best of luck to you.