Same hustle.A lot more house.
Rich grew up in Jersey, so this one's personal. You can keep the bagel opinions. What changes is how much yard, how much quiet and how much breathing room your money buys.
By Rich Burghgraef, Broker + Team Leader·Updated November 2026
Moving from New York + New Jersey to the Raleigh-Durham area usually means more space for your money, milder winters and shorter commutes. The towns people from NY/NJ tend to love most are Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Wake Forest. North Carolina has a flat 3.99% state income tax for 2026.
I'm a Jersey guy. I know the property tax bill you're thinking about right now, and I know the feeling when you see what a similar budget gets you here. You'll miss the pizza. You won't miss the Turnpike.
Towns you'll probably love.
Cary
Polished, parks-obsessed and very convenient.
See the guide
Apex
The Peak of Good Living (and they mean it).
See the guide
Holly Springs
Where the cul-de-sacs have a baseball team.
See the guide
Wake Forest
Historic downtown, northern hospitality.
See the guideFrom NY/NJ to settled in.
The order we walk our relocation clients through, so nothing sneaks up on you.
- 01Before you list or give notice. Get a real budget from a local lender, then pick two or three towns that fit. The Town Matchmaker helps.
- 02Scout trip (or video tour). Spend a weekend driving the towns at rush hour and on a Saturday. Can't fly in? We'll FaceTime you through homes and neighborhoods.
- 03Make the offer. NC has a due diligence period that works differently than most states. We'll walk you through it so you know exactly what's refundable and when.
- 04Closing. In NC, attorneys handle closings. Many can do much of it remotely, so you don't always have to be here to sign.
- 05First 30 days. Get your NC driver's license and plates, register to vote, and set up utilities and trash pickup with your town.
- 06First 90 days. Find your coffee shop, your greenway and your people. Come run with the Triangle Turtles and Hares. Seriously, we'd love to meet you.
Get your NY/NJ moving plan.
Tell us a little about your move and Rich will send a custom short list: the towns that fit, what homes there really cost right now, and how to house hunt from New York + New Jersey without burning your vacation days.
Quick answers for your move.
Is Raleigh a good place to move from New Jersey or New York?
For a lot of people, yes. The usual reasons are more space for the money, milder winters, a strong job market around Research Triangle Park and lower living costs. You'll find plenty of fellow transplants here, Rich included.
Where do people from New Jersey and New York usually move in the Triangle?
Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Wake Forest are popular because they mix good schools, newer neighborhoods and an easy commute. Downtown Raleigh and Durham pull people who want a more urban feel.
Are property taxes lower in North Carolina than New Jersey?
In most cases, yes. New Jersey's property taxes are famously among the highest in the country. In NC the bill depends on the county and town rate, so we'll show you real numbers for any home you like.