Moving to Greensboro

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Aug 17, 2004

Greensboro is a nice size city, growing everyday. I think the traffic is terrible, the rent is high, and the crime rate is going up, but that is city life. Depending on whether you mind a short drive there are some very country towns south of Greensboro that are not as fast. These are on 220 south. Moses Cone is a modern facility. There are 4 hospitals under the same Cone system, the pay is O K not great, they do have a retention bonus of 1000.00 for every 6 months you stay employed after the first year. They do not pay a sign on bonus. High Point Regional a little south of Greensboro is a little better paying. The school systems in Greensboro are very bad to very good. It depends on the area you live in. The weather is hot in summer and mild in winter. If there is a snow the city almost closes down. There are ice storms to deal with and it makes travel very dangerous in the winter. There have been lots of changes in the work environment in the area, changing from mills to technology. Fed Ex is opening a hub there, it will bring lots of business and jobs within the next few years. Taxes on property are high. These are just some of my thoughts, I have family close to there and this is what they tell me. They always go to Cone for care. Good luck .

nekhismom · Aug 18, 2004

I grew up in Greensboro! I absolutely LOVED it!

I can agree with a lot of what barefootlady said above. It is a growing city, and it's changing from factory and mill work to technology. There are 2 public universities in the city, two private universities, and a couple of community colleges, so it is somewhat of a college town, but not overwhelmingly so.

The traffic is typical of a city, though not all that bad. It's a drop in the hat compared to NYC or philly traffic. If you can do that, then you will have absolutely NO problems in Greensboro.

If you have a family, you will want to try to live in the West or northwest side of Greensboro. The northwest school district is the best in the area, but it is NOT anywhere near the city. I think the northwest area is inconvenient. I had to drive to Northwest high my senior year for a class, and it felt like it was WAAAAAY out there.

Western Guilford schools are also good. The area is more centrally located, but still not right on top of downtown. Lots of nearby conveniences, though.

The prices of housing really vary. Of course, if you're coming from New York city, then the prices of housing will be nothing compared to what you're used to paying. Apartments range from $400/mo to $1000+ a month for a 2-3 bedroom. It all depends on what area you choose to live in, and you will pay more for the nicer areas. A lot of houses come with a nice sized yard, both front AND back. The prices are really going to depend on what you want. If you don't mind driving, Kernersville is a cheaper place to live, and has lots of options.

As to cost of living, when I made $10.10/hr and there were 3 people in my house, I did well. I was happy and I could pay all my bills. I wasn't living in the BEST house, or driving the BEST car, but I was making it. I wasn't a nurse then, either, so I had HEAPS less stress. :rotfl: I had left greensboro before I became a nurse, so I can't help with the work environment questions.

If I can give you any more info about the area, feel free to post here or PM me! Good luck!

steve_80 · Aug 19, 2004

Thanks very much, guys!

Maggie in NC · Aug 20, 2004

I also grew up outside of Greensboro and agree with the previous post regarding looking in the county. If you want to go a little further, Jamestown has great schools, less traffic, and little more "homey" feel. (A little biased since I grew up there...) The schools are good and it puts you in good poximity to High Point and Winston Salem. Greensboro/High Point are great places to live! You'll enjoy sophisticated southern charm with good shopping and a decent drive to the beach or the mountains if you want to explore. Best of luck to you!