Moving From Pennsylvania to North Carolina
Pennsylvania is where the United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence were written. North Carolina has the famous Duke University, and the state was also where the Wright Brothers completed their first successful air flight.
Both states have a fascinating history, but if you’re thinking about moving from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, there are a few different things you should consider.
Benefits of Moving From Pennsylvania to North Carolina
Below are some of the benefits of moving from the Keystone State to the Tar Heel State.
Weather and Climate
You’ll feel the difference between the two states right away. North Carolina is warmer and more humid than Pennsylvania.
North Carolina is considered subtropical in certain areas, with moist summers that can sit near 90°F. However, it’s hard to generalize North Carolina’s temperatures because it’s split up into three geographic regions that experience different climates — the coast, the piedmont, and the mountains.
The western part of the state includes part of the Appalachian mountains, making colder temperatures and snowfall more prevalent the higher you go up in altitude. But for the most part, North Carolina experiences hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters with barely any snowfall. The coastal region of the state can get two inches of snowfall, while the southern part of the mountains can get a little over a foot of snow a year.
That’s not true with Pennsylvania, which is known for its freezing, icy winters. Summers can get humid too, but not as hot as North Carolina. If you like warmer climates, you’ll love North Carolina.
Save Money
The average cost of living is cheaper in North Carolina compared to Pennsylvania. However, not everything is cheaper in the southern state. While groceries and transportation are more affordable in North Carolina, Pennsylvania has cheaper housing and health care services.
Pennsylvania has a higher population than North Carolina, according to the 2012 U.S. Census. You’re bound to save more money living in the latter.
Barbecue Culture
While Pennsylvania has the Philly Cheesesteak, North Carolina has endless barbecue spots to try. It’s among the top states with the best barbecue culture, outranked only by Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri. You’ll have no trouble finding fantastic barbecue restaurants near your new home.
Diverse Ecosystems
Like the beach? Like the mountains? North Carolina has both types of ecosystems for you to explore.
If you live in Raleigh, the capital located toward the center of the state, it will take you a little under three hours to drive to the ocean and about the same amount of time to get to the mountains. If you’re feeling like a daytime hike or a relaxing trip to the beach, you don’t have to leave your state to get whatever type of vacation you want.
By comparison, Pennsylvania is almost totally covered in the mountains, with some rolling hills and valleys mixed in. Much of the state is also heavily forested, with only a small portion touching the water.
Cost of Moving From Pennsylvania to North Carolina
The average linehaul moving cost from Pennsylvania to North Carolina with Allied is $3,300. However, many factors can influence that number, such as the amount of stuff you’re moving, the weight of items you’re moving, the distance of the move, and whether you want movers to help pack and unpack. You can get a more accurate moving estimate with our Instaquote tool above.
Most Popular Cities in North Carolina
North Carolina has some great cities. Here are a few places you should consider moving to.
Raleigh
Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks because of the oak trees lining the streets at the heart of the city. Raleigh is also North Carolina’s capital, so it’s the site of major concerts and theater production, street celebrations, and even the craft beer festival Brewgaloo.
There’s also the famous Pullen Park, the first park in the state that’s still a popular tourist attraction. You can find an aquatic center, art center, theatre, and even a red caboose in the 66.4-acre park.
Raleigh also has the North Carolina Museum of Natural History, with exhibits featuring North Carolina’s native wildlife, its geology, the types of ecosystems the state contains, and what the state looked like before humans settled there. It’s fun and educational for all ages.
You can also find colleges and universities in Raleigh, such as North Carolina State University. When school is in session, you can catch a football game or perhaps a student theatre production there.
Charlotte
Whether it’s food, nature, sports, arts, concerts, or shopping you want, Charlotte has it all.
Foodies will have a blast in the Queen City. It not only has ample offerings of BBQ, burgers, and seafood, but it’s also the Pimento Cheese Capital of the World. It’s known as Carolina caviar, and local producers manufacture at least 45,000 pounds per week.
If you get tired of eating, you could pop over to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where you’ll find artifacts, exhibits, a large theater, and even a broadcast studio that can entertain fans and non-fans alike.
There’s also the Carowinds amusement park for the thrill-seekers out there. You’ll find not only heart-pumping roller coasters and calmer family rides, but also a water park. There’s also entertaining shows and concerts, restaurants, and even wilderness lodgings for the nature lovers.
You can also find plenty of historical tours and sites, bars, shopping centers, and art museums in Charlotte.
Asheville
Asheville is equal parts historic and quirky. Perhaps the biggest attraction in the city is the Biltmore House. It’s a 250-room French Renaissance chateau built under the direction of George Biltmore.
It was the living quarters of the wealthy Biltmore family until it was opened up to the public in the 30s. It’s now a popular tourist destination that also is known for its environmental stewardship.
You can also find the Asheville Pinball Museum for lovers of all things vintage. There you can see 30 pinball tables, 20 arcade games — some of which date back to the 1940s.
If you’re interested in more macabre topics, you can visit the Asheville Mystery Museum. You’ll not only find haunted dolls but stories of hangings, murders, and other gruesome events that occurred in Asheville.
Don’t forget to check out the delicious restaurants, flowing bars, and thriving music scene. If you’re above the drinking age, you can even pop into Off the Wagon Dueling Piano Bar and other unique haunts in the city.
How to Move From Pennsylvania to North Carolina
Don’t count on having a basement or basement storage in your home. Basements aren’t common in North Carolina — or in the southeast United States, really — because the state’s topsoil is rich in clay.
The clumpy red clay is hard to dig up and doesn’t drain well. If builders manage to dig away enough clay to build a basement, its walls will almost always be damp and become prone to rotting. If a house claims to have a basement, it will probably be built on a hill that has portions of the bottom level sticking out of the earth.
Storage is going to be different in your new home, but North Carolina has plenty of other benefits to consider. The first step is getting all your stuff there, and that’s where our expert movers at Allied come in.
Allied has more than 90 years of both local and long-distance moving experience, so our trusted professionals can help you move to your new home no matter the terrain or style of home (with a basement or without). We can help you pack, unpack, transport your belongings across the country, and even help you ship special items.
We move people every day, and we can help you too. Fill out an Instaquote today to get started.