Moving to Lake Wheeler area from San Diego, what to expect?

I saw a post asking a similar question a couple years back so wonder if anything has changed. For context, I grew up in the northeast part of the country (rust belt - somewhat racist but wasn’t everywhere in the 90s)) but have lived in San Diego for the past 20 years or so. Partied, enjoyed the weather but now that I’m old with a kid and another on the way, I’m looking for a lowkey spot to settle in that is safe and relatively affordable.

So lake wheeler is my destination. I’m seeing a 15 minute drive to the more populated cities like Cary, more rural feel, decent schools and the house we got will make my humble home in SD feel like a closet…all a fucking dream to me….or so I hope. I’m more of a homebody now at my age so the beaches and babes (besides the wife) are in my rear view mirror

honest question here…are my expectations regarding lake wheeler on point and realistic? Hoping for less people, less traffic…What’s it like living on the east side of lake wheeler

Thanks for taking the time to reply! Excited to join everyone in Raleigh!!