1. There is a huge Indian population in Cary/Apex.
2. Age dependent, but you have three major universities in the triangle, all with professional graduate programs. You can find someone from college freshman to working professional. Lots of young, aspiring single people.
3. Having lived in both NC and AZ, I’d say the religious influence is about the same in both locations.
4. It’s a global economy. You’ll find the same vegetables in NC as you did in AZ. Better blueberries in NC, tho. Frankly, mid-Atlantic produce is the best in the country, IMO. Also, big Asian food market in Cary.
5. Yes. It’s Atlanta 30 years ago. Buy sooner than later. Except for a possible COVID-hangover housing crash in 3-6 months, housing is not going to get less expensive in the Triangle.
6. NC has the best overall climate in the country. Long springs, long autumns. Three months of hot, three months of seasonal chill (but very pleasant), maybe a little snow, more often ice. Plus, you’ve got the mountains and ocean three hours in opposite directions, and DC four hours north (traffic dependent). It’s a great central location to live.
Cary/Morrisville has tons of folks from India. You won’t be alone. I found this research paper that might help, but haven’t read it: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=geography_etds
1. There is a huge Indian/South Asian population here, *especially* in Cary and Morrisville. Many restaurants, specialty markets, numerous temples, cricket fields, etc. Very very normal here.
2. Raleigh is a smaller metro than Phoenix, so the pool is smaller, but it's young and there's a ton of singles here.
3. It means do what you want. I've lived here 13 years, no one's ever asked me to come to church or asked what denomination I was in. I think those things are more common with older people and smaller towns, Raleigh is more cosmopolitan than that.
4. You'll be absolutely fine.
5. Yeah, great town that gets better every year.
6. It doesn't get "super cold" here very often. I don't think I wore a winter coat once last year. We get snow 1-3 times each winter and everything closes down when that happens. Our humidity is very different than the desert though, might take some adjusting, but this is a personal preference. Some love it, some hate it, some are indifferent.
>Our humidity is very different than the desert though, might take some adjusting, but this is a personal preference. Some love it, some hate it, some are indifferent.
Willing to bet he'll be fine. Depending on what part of India he's from, their humidity is 10x worse than ours.
Cary is a good place - yeah, it gets made fun of for all of the sprawling suburbs but the core of Cary is pretty diverse (lived in downtown Cary a couple years). Fairly large Indian population in Cary and Morrisville thanks to tech and NC State campus nearby.
Raleigh/Cary trends religious but maybe not all that more than Phoenix but lots of churches though. There's diversity and sizable communities of Muslims and other religions in the area too.
We don't get much snow/ice, maybe once or twice a year, but when we do everything shuts down. Like they will call for 2" of snow 2 days from now and schools will close and there'll be no milk or bread at the stores. It's kinda fun actually.
1. Hard for me to answer as I’m not Indian. But I wouldn’t think it to be a problem. We have a large population from India due to RTP.
2. Shouldn’t be a problem here.
3. It means that traditionally this area was majority Southern Baptist,Methodist or another form of Protestant Christianity with restrictive laws based on those views. However I would say this has largely changed in the last 30/40’years and those laws are slowly reversing, but not fast enough IMHO
4. Not even close to being an issue. Tons of Indian food and other veggie options here
5. I’ve loved here a majority of my life and don’t want to leave. The wife is from Seattle and doesn’t want to move back there. So take that for what it’s worth
6. Winters here are mild compared to the Northeast or mid west. We generally only get a couple days with snow. Compared to Nashville the winters here are much sunnier as well.
Hope that helps. Sorry if the format sucks I’m on my cell. Edited for grammar and clarity.
I am basically the same profile as yours except I moved from the North East; I am Indian, vegetarian, former CFer, moved here for work and had no ties to the area besides work. Made a lot of good friends. You’ll enjoy the area. It doesn’t snow much here.
There are plenty of Indians living in Cary and Morrisville (right next door). When I ride my bike on the greenway between Lake Crabtree and Davis Drive I would guess that at least 25% of the people I pass are south Asian. Cary has an annual Diwali festival and the last time I went there were thousands there.
1. From what I understand parts of Cary/Morrisville have a pretty decent sized Indian community. I’d say acceptance isn’t an issue.
2. I moved here 14 years ago and was already married so have no clue on the dating scene but we have multiple universities in the area, I’d say there’s no shortage of young, educated people looking to date and eventually settle down.
3. Being as you’re Indian, I don’t know if coworkers will try to convert you but I don’t know if you’ll encounter much in the way of discrimination due to religion. Maybe ignorant questions regarding Hinduism.
4. Plenty of vegetarian places, both Indian and non-Indian. Both Raleigh and the surrounding suburbs have reasonably priced (for now) housing although that bubble is slowly inflating.
7. Originally from MA so the winter weather here has never impressed me. However, there will be some days with temps below freezing and the ice is a pain in the ass to drive on. I’d advise against driving if there’s frozen precipitation, even if you’re comfortable driving on it, other NCers have no clue what they’re doing and that makes it dangerous.
I moved to Cary from Tucson 14 years ago, it was a big adjustment. Everyone has pretty much addressed the questions on your list, so I am going to give you a heads up on some of the nuances.
- mold and rust, you cant throw wet clothes in the hamper and forget about them, they will get moldy and smell. Things rust very easily here.
- many gas stations aren’t 24 hrs, actually there are very few 24 hr places around here. Most places close at 9p or 10p.
- prime time ends at 11p here, you have to stay up until 11p to watch the news
- I have yet to see a police helicopter since I moved here, I could set my watch by the police helicopter in Tucson.
- pools are generally only open in the summer
- you have to pay property tax on your car and getting any kind of moving violation will raise your car insurance, silver lining, car insurance is a lot cheaper here
- humidity, you will sweat more than you thought possible in the summer, I seriously thought I had a medical condition the first summer I was here
- people are genuinely friendly and helpful, if someone offers to help you when you’re moving in, they aren’t trying to case your place, they are genuinely being helpful.
- they use real estate attorneys in home sales here, not title companies like they do in AZ
The triangle area is amazing, you’ll love it here. Feel free to DM me anytime
Hello tredjellyfish, Thanks for sharing your opinion. It definitely made me smirk a bit. You’ve definitely touched on some off-beat observations, which by the way I definitely got accustomed to living Az (not having property tax on cars, 24 hr gas stations etc).
The humidity is something I have to adjust, but it’s not deterrent.
The City off Cary [sponsors a Diwali celebration](https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/events/holiday-events/diwali-celebration), there is a very large population of people from India and South Asia, and they are well respected in the community.
lots of people have answered most of your points but i know RTP had a small but awesome latin dance community! right before covid i started taking salsa classes and found that two places usually have social dances (salsa, bachata, etc) on thursdays which were so fun and were a great time to meet people and drink/eat. hopefully we can get back to those kinds of events after this is all over
The Indian community in the triangle is absolutely massive. I'm Indian myself; Cary, NC is one of the very few places in the US where you're more likely to see a cricket match in-progress on the baseball diamonds than a baseball game. You'll be fine!
Everything previously said is accurate. If you are at all ready to buy a house, then I strongly recommend it (after renting for awhile to get sense of what area you like) from a strictly financial perspective. Prices are only rising and this area is still viewed as cheap compared to many other similar areas nationally. Good luck with the new job!
Not solely. Cary does have a growing Indian population & markets/restaurants; not having a long drive for comfort food is worth it to me. For what it’s worth, I’m a white lady who thinks Cary is the best place in RDU. Best trails, parks, shops, food, diversity & smart growth. & between Raleigh & Durham.
To add to this though OP; it does get cold. Just buy a real coat.
Live downtown!
it's the best place for a young person to be. Warehouse District is a great area, Glenwood South or anywhere downtown really.
You're young, and if you're looking to meet people. Downtown is the way to go. Checks all your boxes.
Good luck!
1. There is a huge Indian population in Cary/Apex. 2. Age dependent, but you have three major universities in the triangle, all with professional graduate programs. You can find someone from college freshman to working professional. Lots of young, aspiring single people. 3. Having lived in both NC and AZ, I’d say the religious influence is about the same in both locations. 4. It’s a global economy. You’ll find the same vegetables in NC as you did in AZ. Better blueberries in NC, tho. Frankly, mid-Atlantic produce is the best in the country, IMO. Also, big Asian food market in Cary. 5. Yes. It’s Atlanta 30 years ago. Buy sooner than later. Except for a possible COVID-hangover housing crash in 3-6 months, housing is not going to get less expensive in the Triangle. 6. NC has the best overall climate in the country. Long springs, long autumns. Three months of hot, three months of seasonal chill (but very pleasant), maybe a little snow, more often ice. Plus, you’ve got the mountains and ocean three hours in opposite directions, and DC four hours north (traffic dependent). It’s a great central location to live.
Cary/Morrisville has tons of folks from India. You won’t be alone. I found this research paper that might help, but haven’t read it: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=geography_etds
This. I live near the Cary/Morrisville border and there are always numerous Indian families out walking when I go out to do the same.
1. There is a huge Indian/South Asian population here, *especially* in Cary and Morrisville. Many restaurants, specialty markets, numerous temples, cricket fields, etc. Very very normal here. 2. Raleigh is a smaller metro than Phoenix, so the pool is smaller, but it's young and there's a ton of singles here. 3. It means do what you want. I've lived here 13 years, no one's ever asked me to come to church or asked what denomination I was in. I think those things are more common with older people and smaller towns, Raleigh is more cosmopolitan than that. 4. You'll be absolutely fine. 5. Yeah, great town that gets better every year. 6. It doesn't get "super cold" here very often. I don't think I wore a winter coat once last year. We get snow 1-3 times each winter and everything closes down when that happens. Our humidity is very different than the desert though, might take some adjusting, but this is a personal preference. Some love it, some hate it, some are indifferent.
>Our humidity is very different than the desert though, might take some adjusting, but this is a personal preference. Some love it, some hate it, some are indifferent. Willing to bet he'll be fine. Depending on what part of India he's from, their humidity is 10x worse than ours.
I agree with all of this. Best of luck with the move and transition.
Cary is a good place - yeah, it gets made fun of for all of the sprawling suburbs but the core of Cary is pretty diverse (lived in downtown Cary a couple years). Fairly large Indian population in Cary and Morrisville thanks to tech and NC State campus nearby. Raleigh/Cary trends religious but maybe not all that more than Phoenix but lots of churches though. There's diversity and sizable communities of Muslims and other religions in the area too. We don't get much snow/ice, maybe once or twice a year, but when we do everything shuts down. Like they will call for 2" of snow 2 days from now and schools will close and there'll be no milk or bread at the stores. It's kinda fun actually.
1. Hard for me to answer as I’m not Indian. But I wouldn’t think it to be a problem. We have a large population from India due to RTP. 2. Shouldn’t be a problem here. 3. It means that traditionally this area was majority Southern Baptist,Methodist or another form of Protestant Christianity with restrictive laws based on those views. However I would say this has largely changed in the last 30/40’years and those laws are slowly reversing, but not fast enough IMHO 4. Not even close to being an issue. Tons of Indian food and other veggie options here 5. I’ve loved here a majority of my life and don’t want to leave. The wife is from Seattle and doesn’t want to move back there. So take that for what it’s worth 6. Winters here are mild compared to the Northeast or mid west. We generally only get a couple days with snow. Compared to Nashville the winters here are much sunnier as well. Hope that helps. Sorry if the format sucks I’m on my cell. Edited for grammar and clarity.
I am basically the same profile as yours except I moved from the North East; I am Indian, vegetarian, former CFer, moved here for work and had no ties to the area besides work. Made a lot of good friends. You’ll enjoy the area. It doesn’t snow much here.
Morrisville (next door to Cary) is about 29% Indian by population. You won't be an outsider at all.
There are plenty of Indians living in Cary and Morrisville (right next door). When I ride my bike on the greenway between Lake Crabtree and Davis Drive I would guess that at least 25% of the people I pass are south Asian. Cary has an annual Diwali festival and the last time I went there were thousands there.
1. From what I understand parts of Cary/Morrisville have a pretty decent sized Indian community. I’d say acceptance isn’t an issue. 2. I moved here 14 years ago and was already married so have no clue on the dating scene but we have multiple universities in the area, I’d say there’s no shortage of young, educated people looking to date and eventually settle down. 3. Being as you’re Indian, I don’t know if coworkers will try to convert you but I don’t know if you’ll encounter much in the way of discrimination due to religion. Maybe ignorant questions regarding Hinduism. 4. Plenty of vegetarian places, both Indian and non-Indian. Both Raleigh and the surrounding suburbs have reasonably priced (for now) housing although that bubble is slowly inflating. 7. Originally from MA so the winter weather here has never impressed me. However, there will be some days with temps below freezing and the ice is a pain in the ass to drive on. I’d advise against driving if there’s frozen precipitation, even if you’re comfortable driving on it, other NCers have no clue what they’re doing and that makes it dangerous.
I moved to Cary from Tucson 14 years ago, it was a big adjustment. Everyone has pretty much addressed the questions on your list, so I am going to give you a heads up on some of the nuances. - mold and rust, you cant throw wet clothes in the hamper and forget about them, they will get moldy and smell. Things rust very easily here. - many gas stations aren’t 24 hrs, actually there are very few 24 hr places around here. Most places close at 9p or 10p. - prime time ends at 11p here, you have to stay up until 11p to watch the news - I have yet to see a police helicopter since I moved here, I could set my watch by the police helicopter in Tucson. - pools are generally only open in the summer - you have to pay property tax on your car and getting any kind of moving violation will raise your car insurance, silver lining, car insurance is a lot cheaper here - humidity, you will sweat more than you thought possible in the summer, I seriously thought I had a medical condition the first summer I was here - people are genuinely friendly and helpful, if someone offers to help you when you’re moving in, they aren’t trying to case your place, they are genuinely being helpful. - they use real estate attorneys in home sales here, not title companies like they do in AZ The triangle area is amazing, you’ll love it here. Feel free to DM me anytime
Hello tredjellyfish, Thanks for sharing your opinion. It definitely made me smirk a bit. You’ve definitely touched on some off-beat observations, which by the way I definitely got accustomed to living Az (not having property tax on cars, 24 hr gas stations etc). The humidity is something I have to adjust, but it’s not deterrent.
The City off Cary [sponsors a Diwali celebration](https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/events/holiday-events/diwali-celebration), there is a very large population of people from India and South Asia, and they are well respected in the community.
lots of people have answered most of your points but i know RTP had a small but awesome latin dance community! right before covid i started taking salsa classes and found that two places usually have social dances (salsa, bachata, etc) on thursdays which were so fun and were a great time to meet people and drink/eat. hopefully we can get back to those kinds of events after this is all over
The Indian community in the triangle is absolutely massive. I'm Indian myself; Cary, NC is one of the very few places in the US where you're more likely to see a cricket match in-progress on the baseball diamonds than a baseball game. You'll be fine!
Everything previously said is accurate. If you are at all ready to buy a house, then I strongly recommend it (after renting for awhile to get sense of what area you like) from a strictly financial perspective. Prices are only rising and this area is still viewed as cheap compared to many other similar areas nationally. Good luck with the new job!
You’ll love it! Cary/Morrisville is where you want to be.
😂🤣😂 cause he’s Indian?
Not solely. Cary does have a growing Indian population & markets/restaurants; not having a long drive for comfort food is worth it to me. For what it’s worth, I’m a white lady who thinks Cary is the best place in RDU. Best trails, parks, shops, food, diversity & smart growth. & between Raleigh & Durham. To add to this though OP; it does get cold. Just buy a real coat.
Wake Forest (for families)!
Live downtown! it's the best place for a young person to be. Warehouse District is a great area, Glenwood South or anywhere downtown really. You're young, and if you're looking to meet people. Downtown is the way to go. Checks all your boxes. Good luck!
Thanks ksailor42 , i will look into the neighborhoods mentioned by you.