I've been here for 15 years, the last 12 in the same house. If you're working in Ballantyne, there's a great range of houses from $150K-$1M, all within a 10-15 minute commute, 20-30 if you want to live in Union County. I pay $2700/yr on a $210K house in Charlotte. In the past 5-10 years, dozens of bars and pizza places have sprouted up, great places to work out (the Y and other places), MILFs galore, and beer available after 8 PM, people from all over the east coast.
Most the schools around here are fine, good dedicated teachers. Look for these schools in Meck Co:
Elem: Hawk Ridge, Elon Park, Ballantyne, Endhaven, McKee, McAlpine, Polo Ridge, Providence Spring
Middle: Community House, South Charlotte Middle, Jay M. Robinson
High: Ardrey Kell, Providence
Leave the Land of Steady Habits behind with it's lace curtains, rotting, aging, core and 100+ inches of snow. In NC it will be 70+ degrees from next week until November.