I don't live there, but here's my experiences with the area:

-it's a "big college town" in a lot of ways, with lots of PHDs and a university centered economy, so unemployment is low

-cheap, although prices are climbing...still way cheaper than MA

-kind of a "mix of cultures" - a lot of NY/NJ/PA types there combined with the "native southerners" who are most definitely not like the NYC types - some people mind this, others don't

-there's a decent amount of entertainment, theatre and whatnot, and it's pretty inexpensive compared to the northeast

-it is flat there, so it might make things like hiking a little difficult...you are pretty close to the beach though if that interests you at all

Hope that helps.

-dustyn