16 Pros and Cons of Living in Raleigh, NC

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Living in Raleigh, NC means access to the biggest public and private learning institutions in the US.

The Research Triangle also means plenty of jobs, especially in the tech industry.

But what else does Raleigh have to offer for someone planning to move to the city? 

Pros of Living in Raleigh, NC

1. Raleigh is the Capital City of North Carolina

For those individuals who want to live in the capital city of a state, Raleigh is an excellent choice.

State Tech states, “The city has won financial support for its modernization efforts, including grants from the Knight Foundation and Next Century Cities, and IDC has honored Raleigh with a Smart Cities North America Award.”

2. Tech Jobs in the Research Triangle

Working in the tech industry?

Opt for a move to Raleigh. According to Duke University, “The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina is also called the Research Triangle because of its proximity to three major research universities—Duke, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University—as well as being a hub for technology and biotech companies.” 

3. Home to a Plethora of Universities and Colleges

Raleigh, NC has a ton of colleges and universities.

The city is convenient to Durham and Chapel Hill, two other cities making up the local Research Triangle.

The competition among these three cities to attract and maintain the brightest in technology is easy to see with the number of academic institutions in Raleigh.

This includes North Carolina State University, as well as Meredith College, Living Arts College, and Shaw University. 

4. Pullen Park and Lake Howell

Since 1887, Pullen Park has been a center point for many family gatherings and outdoor events.

The park is open to the public and features a train ride, carousel, and other traditional park activities for families.

There is also Lake Howell, where you can canoe or kayak and maybe toss in your fishing pole. 

5. North Carolina Museum of Art

For those who are curious about curated works of commercialized art, the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) is a major find.

Located in Raleigh, the museum features an expansive building of architectural interest.

Once inside, you can explore the Museum Park, with a pond and water features along with hundreds of art exhibits.

Ancient art and modern collections are paired side by side in some instances.

Art nouveau, mummies of Egypt, and local artists are just a sample of what to see at the NCMA.

6. Hiking for Thousands of Miles in Several Areas

There is a lot of outdoors to see in Raleigh, even though it is a metropolis with a cityscape.

The city is located in Hemlock Bluffs Nature with 140 acres to explore.

You can take an even longer hike at the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

That long hiking trail reaches an entire 1,000 miles!

The state-wide trail goes from Clingman’s Dome in the Appalachians and reaches the Outer Banks by way of all the major cities.

7. Southern Pit Barbeque

When you go to Raleigh, there you have to try barbeque or barbecue, or even BBQ.

However you spell it, there are two ways to get the smokiest, juiciest meats on the planet while in Raleigh.

“The main food that North Carolina is known for is barbecue.

North Carolina has two styles of barbecue: Eastern and Lexington. Eastern, found from the coast to Piedmont, cooks whole hogs over oak coals, and then seasons the meat with a thin, tangy vinegar and pepper sauce,” said Foodie Travel USA. 

Lexington, NC is a town west of Raleigh about 100 miles away.

This is the western side of North Carolina where Winston-Salem is located.

The Eastern barbecue is found anywhere east of Raleigh.

So pretty much, in Raleigh, you are able to sample sauces and succulent smoked pork from both sides of the state without offending anyone.

8. Plenty of Vegan and Vegetarian Places

According to Happy Cow, there are 101 vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Raleigh, NC.

The highest rated places are Pure Vegan Cafe, Fiction Kitchen, Irregardless Cafe, and Element Gastropub.

With names like that, you can be sure to have an intellectual experience while dining on plant-based cuisine.

A lot of big cities in the US have zero vegan restaurants, including Sioux Falls, South Dakota, so more than 100?

That’s a huge win for anyone who is living the vegan lifestyle and wanting to explore more cuisine outside of California.

Cons of Living in Raleigh, NC

1. Lack of Affordable Housing

The cost and availability are issues in Raleigh, just as they are in any big city.

In Raleigh, the cost of living in housing is 118.5 of the national average of 100.

This is compared to a housing cost ratio of 81 for the entire state.

Furthermore, the cost of living for a family of four is $3,203 a month for living expenses that do not include rent.

You read that correctly–you can expect to spend $3,200 on food, clothing, utilities, and miscellaneous things and then rent on top of that. 

According to Wake County Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Jessica Holmes, “”I focus on the children specifically, because many people do not realize that we have more homeless children in our school system, than many districts have children.”

This is also an indicator that families cannot afford housing in Raleigh and many are homeless.

2. Questionable Water Supply

The water supply is not up to par for safe drinking standards.

More specifically, Raleigh tap water is testing for a higher level of Perfluoralkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

These are the notorious “forever chemicals” that cannot be removed using Brita filters.

In a news report regarding water quality in Raleigh, a Duke University study reports, “Most carbon filters in pitchers, refrigerators and whole house filtering systems do not remove PFAS and some even make them worse.”

3. Big City Lifestyle of an Urban Metropolis

Looking at Raleigh architecture is like going to a storybook fairytale setting.

The global-shaped building and two bright blue glass skyscrapers behind it look more like art than architecture.

Moving to Raleigh means living among these works of art and getting adjusted to life without suburbia.

This is a high-tech capital of industry and an urban metropolis where the smartest and richest graduates give way to the neatest-looking inventions. 

4. Central Location

If you love to live by the ocean, forget seeing the Atlantic daily in Raleigh.

The city is in northeastern central North Carolina and closer to the northern border.

It takes more than three hours to get to the nearest ocean scenery, and for some, that is far too far to live from the sea.

For beachcombers and those interested in the Outer Banks area of the coastal plains of North Carolina, Raleigh is not quite there.

But you could take a weekend vacation to visit for sure.

5. Muggy Weather and Lack of Snow

The weather in Raleigh can be summed up in two phrases.

It is muggy and humid with temperatures reaching 100 many days in the summer.

The humidity is partially due to the relatively close proximity to the ocean and its fronts.

In the winter months, Raleigh gets an average of four inches of snow, and the season is sharply cold but super short compared to midwestern and northern states.

Your snowmen will be Minions and you will not get to wear your winter boots that you bought made of slick leather and worn to your knees.

That could be enough to make you say hasta la vista to Raleigh.

6. It’s a Lotta Haunted, the Entire City

Triangle ghost hunters come around searching for over a dozen different ghosts and presences known to frequent Raleigh.

Crybaby Lane is a good example.

But since the Capitol Building in Raleigh started out as a tomb of the dead, what should we expect?

Some ghosts are bound to be hanging around the city after dark.

The city was also founded a long time ago on New Year’s Eve in 1792.

This means you can be sure to hear more than just modern-day bells ringing on the last day of the year.

I am sure the ghosts are stacked up over the centuries and are ready to party, too!

7. Life in the Southeast Has Regional Constraints

For starters, outside of Raleigh, agriculture is the main source of economic growth.

The biggest crop is tobacco, followed by cotton, both of which are not grown in most other US states in such abundance.

There are also negative connotations about both tobacco and cotton with poor residents.

If you are not from around here, you will have a hard time fitting in for sure. 

8. Higher Crime Rate for NC

The crime rate in Raleigh is a problem for some populations and depending on which neighborhood you are living in.

The city crime index is 20, meaning Raleigh is less safe than 80 percent of other US cities.

The biggest issues are violent crime and property crime.

Nearly 10,000 property crimes were committed in Raleigh in 2021. 

Pros and Cons of Living in Raleigh, NC – Summary Table

Raleigh Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Raleigh Safety Review

Safety Index:

74

• OVERALL RISK: LOW
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
• MUGGING RISK: LOW
• TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW