Moving to Raleigh

The Triangle spreads across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and a ring of fast-growing towns, and commutes change a lot depending on which side of I-40 you land. Many people who relocate spend their first one to three months in a furnished place, learn the area, and only then sign a lease or buy.

That's what our furnished condo is for: two bedrooms about a mile from Fenton in Cary, with utilities and Wi-Fi already set up, for $3,500 a month.

1. Book a DMV appointment earlyNew residents who plan to drive must get a North Carolina driver license within 60 days of establishing permanent residence. It's done in person at an NCDMV driver license office. Appointments fill up, so book online as soon as you arrive.
2. Register your carAfter your license, register and title your vehicle at a license plate agency (a separate office from driver licenses). The deadline is when you accept a job in North Carolina or when the reciprocity period with your old state ends, usually 30 days, whichever comes first. Wake County adds a regional registration tax to the fee.
3. Plan for inspections laterAn inspection isn't needed to register for the first time, but your car will need one before you renew.
4. Forward your mail and update accountsSet up USPS mail forwarding, then update your address with your bank, employer and insurance. If you're in temporary housing, decide which address to use until you settle.

Source: NCDMV new resident guidance. Check ncdot.gov/dmv for current documents and fees before you go.

When you sign a long-term lease or buy, these are the companies you'll usually call. Providers can vary by address, so confirm with your landlord or agent.

Electricity

Duke Energy Progress serves most of Raleigh and Wake County. Some areas on the edges are served by Wake Electric.

Water and sewer

Raleigh Water, run by the City of Raleigh, serves Raleigh and several nearby towns. Cary runs its own water service through the Town of Cary.

Natural gas

Enbridge Gas, formerly Dominion Energy North Carolina and PSNC before that. Older paperwork may still use those names.

Internet

Depending on the address, options include Google Fiber, AT&T Fiber and Spectrum. Check availability for the exact address before you commit to a place, especially if you work from home.

Most of Raleigh, Cary and the surrounding towns are in the Wake County Public School System, North Carolina's largest school district.

• Every student is assigned a base elementary, middle and high school by home address. Look yours up with the WCPSS address lookup tool before you choose where to live.
• Base schools can have enrollment caps, so a nearby school isn't always the assigned one.
• You enroll at the base school. Bring your child's birth certificate, proof of your Wake County address, and a parent or guardian photo ID.
• Children entering a North Carolina public school for the first time need a health assessment completed within the previous 12 months, plus required vaccinations.

The Triangle is mostly a driving region, and a few roads shape every commute.

• I-40 is the main east–west route linking Raleigh, Cary, RTP, the airport and Durham. Expect heavy traffic at rush hour.
• I-440, the Beltline, loops around central Raleigh.
• NC 540 arcs around the outside of Raleigh. Parts of it, the Triangle Expressway, are toll roads billed by NC Quick Pass or by mail.
• RDU airport sits between Raleigh and Durham, next to RTP.
• Buses: GoRaleigh runs city routes and GoTriangle connects Raleigh, Cary, RTP and Durham.

Before you sign a lease, drive your commute at the time you'd actually make it. From the condo near Fenton, RTP is about 20 minutes off-peak and downtown Raleigh about 15.

Summers are long, hot and humid, so air conditioning matters. Winters are mild, with occasional ice or light snow that can close roads and schools for a day or two. Spring is beautiful but brings heavy pine pollen, which coats cars in yellow for a few weeks. Fall is many people's favorite season here.