FL → NC · The City Beautiful to City of Oaks

Moving from Orlando to Raleigh?

Orlando to Raleigh — FL 0% to NC 4.5% costs $4,500/yr, housing 4% cheaper — Disney/Lockheed sim → RTP biotech + Wolfspeed.

590 mi Distance
9 hr Drive time
-4% lower Home prices
$-4,500/yr Tax savings on $100K

The Story

Orlando-to-Raleigh is Disney/Lockheed sim → RTP biotech + Wolfspeed move. FL 0% → NC 4.5% costs $4,500/yr (drops to $3,990 in 2026). Housing similar, COL 3% higher. Pull: Research Triangle Park, Duke/UNC/NC State, biotech corridor, Wolfspeed silicon carbide (Lockheed sim semi bridge), four real seasons.

Why This Move

Why people move from Orlando to Raleigh.

Research Triangle Park — IBM, Cisco, SAS, Wolfspeed
Lockheed Orlando sim → Wolfspeed silicon carbide direct bridge
Duke/UNC/NC State Tier 1 research universities
Biotech corridor — Biogen, GSK, Merck, Eli Lilly facilities
Four real seasons (vs hurricane season)
Less hurricane risk inland
College sports — ACC, Tobacco Road
NC tax dropping to 3.99% in 2026

Cost Comparison

The money side of FL → NC.

Orlando

Median home$370,000
Income tax0% (FL)
Cost index99

Raleigh

Median home$385,000
Income tax4.5% (NC flat — dropping to 3.99% in 2026)
Cost index102

What to Do in Raleigh

Things you'll want to know about your new city.

Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Raleigh, organized by what kind of day you're planning.

Outdoors & Recreation

Umstead State Park — 5,500 acres in city limits; biking, hiking, fishing
JC Raulston Arboretum — 10-acre garden at NC State; free
Falls Lake State Recreation Area — 12,000-acre lake; paddling, swimming, hiking

Culture & Arts

North Carolina Museum of Art — 164-acre park with sculptures and trails; free general admission
Historic Oakwood — Victorian neighborhood with ghost-tour-worthy history
PNC Arena (Hurricanes) — NHL hockey; concerts
Carter-Finley Stadium / NC State — Wolfpack football

Family-Friendly

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences — Largest natural history museum in Southeast; free admission
Pullen Park — 1887 carousel, train, paddle boats
Marbles Kids Museum — Hands-on play museum, IMAX downtown

Where to Eat

Raleigh's essential restaurants.

The dining list every Raleigh resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.

Crawford and Son New Southern Mordecai

James Beard nominee; Scott Crawford
Ashley Christensen restaurants (Poole's, Beasley's) Southern American Downtown

Ashley Christensen empire; James Beard winner
M Sushi Japanese Downtown

Modern omakase
Jolie French Downtown

Modern French bistro
Brewery Bhavana Burmese / brewery Downtown

Brewery + Burmese restaurant + flower shop + bookstore
Death & Taxes American wood-fire Downtown

Ashley Christensen's wood-fired flagship
Stanbury American Mordecai

Open-fire cooking, neighborhood favorite
Beasley's Chicken + Honey Fried chicken Downtown

Hot fried chicken, Christensen group

Where to Live

Best Raleigh neighborhoods for Orlando transplants.

Mapped to the Orlando neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.

Five Points

If Thornton Park was your scene — walkable urban, restaurants
Glenwood South

If you wanted nightlife — walkable, restaurants
North Hills

If you wanted mixed-use — walkable, shopping
Cary (suburb)

If Lake Nona was your model — master-planned, top schools
Apex (suburb)

If Winter Park was your goal — affluent, top schools
Holly Springs (suburb)

If Baldwin Park was your scene — newer family, planned

Climate & Walkability

What daily life feels like in Raleigh.

Climate

Humid subtropical. Hot, humid summers (70-90°F, June-Aug). Mild winters (32-52°F, occasional snow/ice). Spring and fall are spectacular. 213 sun days/year.

Summer68-89°F
Winter32-52°F
Sun days/yr213
Rainfall47 inches

Walkability

Walk Score31/100
Transit Score27/100
Bike Score36/100

Raleigh is car-dependent — most errands require driving.

Outdoors & Recreation

Umstead State Park — 5,500 acres in city
Falls Lake State Recreation Area — paddle, swim, hike
Lake Crabtree County Park — sailing, biking
Greenway system — 100+ miles of paved trails connecting Raleigh
NC mountains (3 hrs west) — Asheville, Blue Ridge
NC beaches (2.5 hrs east) — Outer Banks, Wilmington

Reality Check

What changes about your daily life.

FL 0% becomes NC 4.5% (→3.99% 2026) — costs $4,500/year on $100K
Housing similar — $370K Orlando becomes $385K Raleigh
COL 3% higher
Climate flips humid subtropical to humid subtropical with cooler winters
Property tax NC 0.8% similar to FL 0.9%
Car-dependent both
Orlando Lockheed sim → RTP Wolfspeed semi direct bridge
Sports — gain Hurricanes/Wolfpack/Tar Heels, lose Magic

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-95 N

590 miles via Jacksonville, Savannah. 9 hours / 1 day.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 590 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$3,500-$6,500
Container/PODS$2,500-$4,200
DIY (26-ft truck)$1,800-$3,200
Best monthsApr-Oct
Lead time4-6 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions