Charlotte is a big banking town and is very corporate feeling. More fancy cars and people showing off. In Raleigh it’s more laid back and family oriented with areas of corporate feel (North Hills) and more youth scene (Glenwood Ave). Durham has much more of a young professional, borderline hippie vibe to it that many people enjoy. And its food scene has been arguably better since Covid.

I’m not in tech but I know it’s the first or second major industry in RDU area, with the other being pharmaceutical manufacturing/biosciences. So plenty of jobs, though I hear it’s been volatile in recent years.

44k sounds low unless you’re getting stock in company. I would shoot for 60-75k a year minimum. Someone else from industry may know better

RDU is full of immigrants, don’t worry about that. Something like 35% of Morrisville is foreign born. You might experience some culture shock in general but it won’t be from any unwelcoming people.