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I wouldn't place Raleigh in the same league as NY, LA, SF, WDC, Chicago and Boston. These have 5-fold or more the population density than Raleigh. But the dist
by Amygaz 10y ago
I wouldn't place Raleigh in the same league as NY, LA, SF, WDC, Chicago and Boston. These have 5-fold or more the population density than Raleigh.
But the distance metric would stick: if you can leave ~7 miles (15 min) outside Raleigh and afford a good land, it compares with Boston area (5-fold pop. density), with 35 miles outside for a house on 1 acre land, and about 75 minutes commute during rush hour (would drop to 35 minutes outside rush hour).
- eitally 10y agoBut I don't think most people get 5x the benefit from living in Boston vs Raleigh. That said, I strongly suspect the greater Raleigh-Durham area is going to dwarf Boston in population in another 15-20 years. It's been growing like gangbusters, honestly since about 1980, and although property has become quite a bit more expensive, it's still nothing like the historically dense urban centers. For example, I'm in the process of selling my 4300sqft house in a beautiful neighborhood in Cary for $525k so I can move to San Jose (into a 1700sqft hovel I paid $1.35m for). If an expected salary for an experienced tech worker in the RDU area is in the $125-150k range (say, 10+ years exp), and is in the $175-220k range in the SFBA, that money goes MUCH further in a second tier metro like Raleigh-Durham.