So, I may be relocating to the Charlotte, NC area. Based on what I see, it seems like the southern suburbs are where I am interested.

For a house, could possibly go as high as the low 4's. The mid 3's would be much more desirable. 4 bedrooms plus an office or 5 bedrooms.

Kids are 7 and 8 so good schools are a must. How do NC schools compare to MA schools? My kids go to a great school in MA I wonder if a great school in NC is equivalent?

A house in a neighborhood is also a must. I have seen that there are developments with a community center / pool / etc. Seems like that would be very nice as the wife wants an active social environment. For example: the Lawson development in Waxhaw.

Commute isn't really a consideration.

I have never been to Charlotte. Any tips from locals?

Nothing specific to add but I have a work colleague who lives in a Charlotte suburb. He showed me pictures of his house...it was huge and beautiful and he bought it in the low 300s. It briefly made me consider moving down there.

So, I may be relocating to the Charlotte, NC area. Based on what I see, it seems like the southern suburbs are where I am interested.

For a house, could possibly go as high as the low 4's. The mid 3's would be much more desirable. 4 bedrooms plus an office or 5 bedrooms.

Kids are 7 and 8 so good schools are a must. How do NC schools compare to MA schools? My kids go to a great school in MA I wonder if a great school in NC is equivalent?

A house in a neighborhood is also a must. I have seen that there are developments with a community center / pool / etc. Seems like that would be very nice as the wife wants an active social environment. For example: the Lawson development in Waxhaw.

Commute isn't really a consideration.

I have never been to Charlotte. Any tips from locals?

Used to live in Lawson. Very nice community but long commute to uptown.

I know it's all location, location, location, but it's crazy to see low 3's for that size house. Over here you're looking at mid 7's, and that's in the lesser parts of town. You want a respectable area? 1.2 million minimum.

Used to live in Lawson. Very nice community but long commute to uptown.
The commute is a non-issue. Is there a lot of 'neighborhood socializing'? Ex: dinner parties, poker parties, cookouts, movie nights, etc? Do folks use the pool, community center? And if they do, is it 'too crowded'?

Anything to know about that development? Best areas within it, etc?

Live in tega cay area of South Carolina.

Guessing that NC schools in general won't be competitive with MA schools, but that's probably a lot of homerism talking there too. I imagine in some localized areas you might find some okay schools.

Probably a fair assessment overall, but I'm sure there are areas that are quite good (I've seen Raleigh high on large city lists).

How States Compare in the 2013 Best High Schools Rankings - US News and World Report (http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2013/04/22/how-states-compare-in-the-2013-best-high-schools-rankings)

Schools go with the neighborhood. You should have an easy enough time getting the house you're looking for and at least a decent school to plug into.

Probably a fair assessment overall, but I'm sure there are areas that are quite good (I've seen Raleigh high on large city lists).

How States Compare in the 2013 Best High Schools Rankings - US News and World Report (http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2013/04/22/how-states-compare-in-the-2013-best-high-schools-rankings)

It pains me to see Wisconsin so low. It used to be one of the best states in the country for education. Thanks to assholes like Walker and his Republican cronies, though, that's done and over with.

Stunned to see Nevada 47th. Thought sure it would be 49th or 50th.