17 Best Neighborhoods in Raleigh NC
Best Neighborhoods in Raleigh, NC
What are the best places to live in Raleigh? We have you covered with some of the best Raleigh neighborhoods below!
Moving to Raleigh is a popular decision these days as the city has exploded with growth and we are here to help provide information on the best neighborhoods in Raleigh! The state's capital city was recently ranked as the #1 place to live in the country so it's no wonder Raleigh shows up #1 on the list of best places to live in North Carolina!
When it comes to buying a home, Raleigh is an incredible place to plant roots. The population is growing fast and consists of just under 500,000 residents. On average, there are 40 people moving to the Raleigh area daily and the county has a net growth of nearly 70 people per day. There are significant qualities that influence the influx of people wanting to call Raleigh home.
Being a hub for various technology companies, finest academic institutions, and leading the agriculture industry, jobs are plentiful across various career paths. Raleigh offers so many things to do from some of the best restaurants in the world to events downtown for folks of all ages and families with young children. Vacation planning is easy, considering it is only a couple of hours to the country’s highly-ranked beaches as well as an easy drive to the mountains for some of the most scenic hiking trails. Raleigh truly is a great place to live, work, and play. Raleigh real estate is also some of the best, if not the best, value in the country.
What neighborhood is best for you?
Well, it depends on you and your tastes so please contact us in regards to exactly what you are looking for and your price range... we will have a few of the best spots for you to check out! Some folks are looking for areas like the hustle and bustle of Inside The Beltline homes while others want the scene and serenity of an older mature neighborhood.
Want to search Homes for Sale in Raleigh, NC? Click here!
Whether you’re a college student, a young professional, a family, or an older adult, Raleigh is a great place for you. If you need a great Raleigh area Real Estate Agent please let us know. Raleigh real estate is some of the best value in the country, so if you're moving to Raleigh check out all the city has to offer!
Let’s start by examining the neighborhoods in Raleigh and you can determine what may be the best fit for you. My recommendation is to visit and spend time in all of the areas to find what neighborhood you like best.
Without further ado, here are the top picks (In no specific order) for the Best Neighborhoods in Raleigh:
Chapters
Oakwood
Located in downtown, Raleigh, Oakwood is a historic district that dates back to the 1800s. It's important to note that the neighborhood wasn't always a great place to live and it took time to really develop into something special. The Oakwood neighborhood is loaded with incredible oak trees. It is a popular area among professionals working in downtown, Raleigh, particularly among the people moving to Raleigh. In this neighborhood, you will find all types of Real Estate, from restored Grand Victorians built in the 1800s, to newly constructed homes.
Oakwood is a great spot for a young professional, or family, as it offers a short walk to Raleigh’s downtown where there are great restaurants and bars. The trees in this neighborhood are part of the appeal since you feel like you're in a neighborhood and you're actually in downtown Raleigh.
It’s one of Raleigh’s more expensive neighborhoods because of its proximity to downtown and historic culture. Here you can view Oakwood homes for sale in Raleigh.
Cameron Village
Cameron Village offers everything you want within walking distance. Located west of downtown and close to North Carolina State, you’ll find one of the best outdoor shopping centers. Including some of the best brunch places such as Tupelo Honey and Flying Biscuit, locally-owned boutiques, CorePower Yoga and Flywheel for fitness fanatics, and a state-of-the-art library if you want to get work done with minimal distractions.
The Cameron Village shopping area offers great views of the city skyline as well. Real estate in this area begins at around $550,000 and ranges from ranch-style homes to plantation properties. Properties are ideal for young professionals, investors seeking properties to rent to college students, and established folks looking to settle in their homes for the long haul.
Boylan Heights
Boylan Heights is one of the most sought-after areas in Raleigh. Boylan Heights has a rich historic culture. It was established in 1907 as one of the prime suburban Raleigh neighborhoods. Architectural homes found on the street include transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revivals, Dutch Colonials, and foursquare with Colonial Revival or Craftsman detailing.
Boylan Heights is located west of Downtown Raleigh and includes the notorious landmark Dorthea Dix Central Regional hospital. Homeowners recognize the monetary worth and sentimental value to the community, so finding a home in this neighborhood is an opportunity that would not last long.
Hayes Barton
Hayes Barton is one of the most popular places to live in the Raleigh area. With that desirability comes a considerably higher price point. The great location to downtown Raleigh, the history of the neighborhood, the homes with mature trees, and larger lots have a lot to offer any home buyer or potential neighborhood resident. Plenty of restaurants, businesses, and parks nearby make this neighborhood a perfect place for almost everyone looking for a live, work, and play mentality.
Hayes Barton homes are usually well over half a million because of the location and desirability of the homes/lots. If you're looking for a great home in the Downtown Raleigh area where you can still have land and some peace and quiet, this is a perfect neighborhood for you to explore!
Mordecai
A fairly small neighborhood but among the city’s most historic. Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States was born here. The livability score ranks Mordecai as the 5th best neighborhood in Raleigh thanks to its amenities, crime rates, and education. Mordecai has exploded in recent years as an amazing place to live and it is in large part thanks to where the neighborhood is situated. It's a bit north of Oakwood making it a slightly further walk to all that downtown Raleigh has to offer. If you're looking for a great neighborhood in Raleigh, look no further than Mordecai.
Check out all the Mordecai Homes for Sale in Raleigh.
Downtown
You’ll find the life of Downtown Raleigh to be one of the most desirable places to live. If you’re a young professional looking to have easy access to city life then Raleigh is the place to be. Raleigh is 18-35% more affordable than in other growing cities such as Charlotte, Atlanta, and Austin, and the average age of residents is 33. Downtown offers single-family homes with yard space ideal for outdoor entertainment, townhouses that offer city skyline views, and condos within walking distance to bars, restaurants, and some of the best coffee shops. The average price of a home downtown is just under $500,000.
South Park
Located just south of Downtown Raleigh, South Park is a great up-and-coming neighborhood. This neighborhood is just a heartbeat away from downtown city life but has great neighborly vibes. Like the neighborhoods of Oakwood and Mordecai South Park has been experiencing some fast-paced new construction with new commercial developments also coming to the area.
Homes are affordable for the location and begin at around $200,000, though new construction is now $400,000 and up. This is a well-established neighborhood with a longstanding history. Homes in this neighborhood were built in the 1930s, but you’ll also find newly constructed homes being built that consist of two-story 3-4 bedroom detached houses. This area encompasses Shaw University, the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center, Little Rock Trail, the Chavis Pool, and the new Transfer Co. Food Hall.
North Hills
If you are moving to Raleigh, North Hills would be a great spot to check out.
Located just North of the beltline, it’s Raleigh’s fastest-growing area. One day there are trees and the next there is a shopping mall. North Hills is a great area and neighborhood for anyone who is moving to Raleigh. They possess some great schools for children, the Crabtree Valley Mall for shoppers, great restaurants, live entertainment, and countless parks.
Live music, movies, shopping, fine dining, fast food, outdoor workout events, and farmers' markets are all part of regular living activities in North Hills. The popularity of the neighborhood has grown exponentially. It is perfect for all demographics as it offers great school districts, easy access to major highways, and entertainment in one centralized area. Anyone interested in golf would love that Carolina Country Club is right in your neighborhood. There are also multiple access points to the Greenway for runners, dog walkers, and bikers. Ranch and luxury-style homes are available starting at approximately $450,000. Each home offers unique characteristics that are aesthetically appreciative, and definitely worth a look! It's truly one of the best places to live in Raleigh.
The Real Estate in North Hills, Raleigh offers apartments to those looking to rent, and single-family homes for those looking to buy. It’s a great neighborhood for young families, young professionals, and older adult families. There is something for everyone in this neighborhood.
Check out all the North Hills homes for sale in, Raleigh.
Wakefield
If you like living in a suburban neighborhood with easy access to downtown, then Wakefield is an area to consider. Wakefield is located in the northeast region of Raleigh and is thirty minutes from downtown. There is easy access to grocery stores, healthcare facilities, and highly rated public schools. Love to golf? Most North Carolina natives do too. This would be a convenient location to pick up with the TPC Wakefield Country Club right in your neighborhood.
Falls River
Looking for an ideal family neighborhood? Falls River is an impeccable area to see. The majority of this neighborhood was built in 2002 and offers easy access to greenways adjacent to the Neuse River. Falling in the Wakefield School District, you can be reassured knowing that you reside in a quality educational district. Some of the best restaurants are right in town with Anthony’s Touch of Italy and Cafe Buongiorno’s close by.
Brier Creek
Located in the heart of the Triangle - directly between Raleigh and Durham, and just north of the Cary-Apex area, Brier Creek is a fast-growing neighborhood. If North Hills isn’t the fastest developing area it is possibly Brier Creek which was mostly golf courses and trees in 1990. It is now how to thousands of single-family residences, and condominiums, and offers great access to RDU – Raleigh’s international airport.
A golfer’s paradise as Brier Creek Country Club, an Arnold Palmer-designed course, is a luxurious golf community offering million-dollar homes. Golfer’s who are moving to Raleigh, NC will love the Brier Creek area.
This neighborhood is particularly appealing to young professionals, families, and older adults, as the access to interstates 40 and 540 offer easy transportation, to other areas of the Triangle.
For families looking for best schools in the Raleigh area, Brier Creek has plans to develop a new campus in 2016. Brier Creek is located in Wake county, the best county for schools.
For retirees, The Cardinal is a new continuing care community.
Check out all the Brier Creek homes for sale in Raleigh.
Five Points
You’ll know it when you see it. It’s a confusing intersection where you’re likely to make a mistake the first time you drive through it. It’s located north of Raleigh’s downtown and includes many small neighborhoods, restaurants, bars, and boutique shops.
The location of Five Points offers some great views of the skyscrapers located downtown, and there is easy access to downtown Raleigh. Other smaller neighborhoods are located near five points, and there are some great parks nearby.
Bryson Village
One of the newest neighborhoods in Raleigh is Bryson Village. A D.R. Horton community, Bryson Village offers fantastic homes with good size lots for reasonable prices. The neighborhood is located next to 540 which gives you easy access all around the Triangle. Once the 540 loop is finished it will make transportation even easier.
Check out the availability of homes for sale in the Bryson Village neighborhood. Below you will find a short video with photos of the neighborhood and some of the construction that is going on. If you'd like more information on the neighborhood please let us know and we can put you in touch with some of our clients who live there.
Stonehenge
Located North of Raleigh and just below 540, Stonehenge is home to some great Real Estate including single-family homes and townhouses, offering comfortable living for all. The local amenities include all types of local clubs, Seven Oaks Swim and Racquet Club, a Halloween parade, and a Christmas light contest
For those moving to Raleigh Stonehenge is a great neighborhood for you to check out. It offers easy transportation around the Research Triangle Park area.
For retirees, this is a particularly great neighborhood with lots of options for seniors in the area. Retirement communities include The Cypress of Raleigh, Abbotswood at Stonehenge, and Springmoor.
Check out all the Stonehenge homes for sale in Raleigh.
Six Forks
Located in North Raleigh, Six Forks is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Raleigh, with a median home price of just under $500,000. Many of the homes in the Six Forks area are between three and five bedrooms and built between 1970 and 1990.
The Six Forks neighborhood is wealthier than 99.2% of the neighborhoods in the United States. There is a large amount of wealth concentrated in this area of Raleigh.
Six Forks is among the best neighborhoods for families in North Carolina, as Neighborhood Scout has them ranked better than 99.6% of neighborhoods in the state of North Carolina. This is a tribute to the top public schools, low crime rates, and high occupancy rates.
One unique fact about the Six Forks neighborhood is that it has more British and Welsh ancestry than any other neighborhood in America with almost 2% of residents having their ancestry there.
Check out the Six Forks Homes for Sale in Raleigh.
Glenwood Ave Area
Real Estate in the Glenwood neighborhood tops the charts with a median sales price of just over $700,000. In the Glenwood Ave/ Pasquotank Dr neighborhood homes are older and typically built between 1940 and 1970, there are a number of residences that were built prior to 1940.
Moving to Raleigh from out of state and not sure what part of Raleigh to move to? You can take a virtual drive down Glenwood Ave and Pasquotank Dr here this area has a ton to offer. With easy access to downtown, this neighborhood is one of the best for raising a family in Raleigh.
Oberlin/Glenwood Ave
Real Estate in the Oberlin/Glenwood Ave area is around a median price of $630,000 and is mostly owner-occupied. These homes widely vary in terms of what year they were built.
The Oberlin neighborhood offers great access to some of the best Raleigh has to offer in terms of restaurant
Check out all the Glenwood Homes for Sale in Raleigh.
North Carolina State University
Great place for college students, real estate investors, as the vacancy rates are extremely low in this neighborhood. The NCSU area also has the benefits of being the fastest appreciating neighborhood in Raleigh since 1990.
Check out all the NC State homes for sale in Raleigh.
Final Thoughts on the Best Neighborhoods in Raleigh:
Our local Realtors are excellent resources when it comes to navigating the Raleigh Real Estate Market - If you'd like some first-hand help please contact us here and we can better assist you based on your goals! If you're not ready to talk to a Realtor just yet please feel free to jump in our Facebook group call Raleigh Life!
If you're looking for the best neighborhoods in other places around Raleigh we have written an article for each area that may appeal to you:
Best Neighborhoods in Cary, NC
Best Neighborhoods in Apex, NC
Best Neighborhoods in Holly Springs, NC
Best Neighborhoods in Durham, NC
Best Neighborhoods in Chapel Hill, NC
Best Neighborhoods in Garner, NC
Best Neighborhoods in Clayton, NC
Have a neighborhood you’d like to see added? Let us know in the comments below or check out the best neighborhoods in Charlotte, NC!
