Living in North Carolina: 3 Reasons to Relocate

As Millennials, we are constantly looking for change: a new place to find a job, start a business, or go to school. While Millennial hubs like Austin, Texas, or Portland, Oregon, have earned a lot of attention, don’t rule out North Carolina. With cities that consistently rank high on lists by Bloomberg and Forbes, North Carolina has a lot to offer in terms of job opportunities, education, and quality of life. Here are three reasons to consider living in North Carolina.

1. Educated Workforce

If you’re looking to start a business, you’ll find plenty of top talent in North Carolina. The state boasts a highly skilled and educated workforce, thanks to its strong university system, which includes North Carolina Community College System’s 58 campuses and the University of North Carolina’s 17 campuses. It also offers 36 private colleges and universities, such as Wake Forest University and Elon University.

Another source of highly educated workers is the Research Triangle, a region home to Duke University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and 170 of the world’s top research organizations and high-tech companies that recruit talent from these institutions.

The icing on the top of the cake is that North Carolina workers are said to be 36 percent more productive than the average American worker.

2. Growing Population and Job Opportunities

If you decide to take advantage of the opportunities North Carolina has to offer, you won’t be the only person making the move. North Carolina saw an overall population growth of 4.3 percent between 2010 and 2014, which is higher than the national growth of 3.3 percent.

Additionally, Forbes’ list of America’s Fastest-Growing Cities in 2015 included Raleigh and Charlotte, and it’s no wonder why. With major employers like IBM, General Electric, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck & Co., the Research Triangle’s economy is strong and expected to get stronger.

3. Low Cost of Living

You can enjoy a great quality of life without spending a ton of money in North Carolina. The cost of living in the state is, on average, lower than the national average. If you’re looking to move to one of North Carolina’s most affordable towns, check out Indian Trail, Stallings, Knightdale, and Monroe.

North Carolina also boasts a temperate climate. Winters are mild and short, and spring and fall are long and lovely. Summer in North Carolina can be a bit sultry, but it’s the perfect time of year to take advantage of the state’s great outdoors, including various national forests, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Outer Banks. North Carolina is also home to top-notch golf courses like Pinehurst Resort, which hosted the U.S. Open in 2014, and a vibrant cultural scene, with a wide variety of museums and music festivals to keep the whole family entertained.

There are quite a few reasons why North Carolina is a great place to call home. In fact, from 1992 through 2011, North Carolina gained $26 billion in adjusted gross income. From its growing population and job opportunities to its low cost of living, the Tar Heel State has a lot to offer today’s Millennial.

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