The best area I'm familiar with is Research Triangle Park (RTP). Above average salaries and relatively low cost of living. There's a growing food scene, people

The best area I'm familiar with is Research Triangle Park (RTP). Above average salaries and relatively low cost of living. There's a growing food scene, people are active and it's at the beginning of a cultural renewal imo. Of course, being in NC comes with some problems due to the legacy of racism that exists in some pockets of society (pretty easy to avoid, you'll know it when you see it), but I loved growing up there.