Raleigh continues to attract people to live and work in and around the city. It’s the state capital, the second most populous city in North Carolina, and the seat for Wake County. If you want to live near but not in Raleigh, consider buying a new home in Willow Spring, Wake County, NC.
Living in Willow Spring, North Carolina
Wake County, NC, has a population of approximately 1.2 million people, with 488,000 of them living in Raleigh, 187,000 in Cary, 75,000 in Apex, and 44,000 in Fuquay-Varina.
And then there are the small towns spread throughout Wake County. WIllow Spring is a quiet rural town that used to be a well-kept secret. The unincorporated area has a unique feature: part of it is located in Wake County, where it’s known as “Willow Spring” and the other section is in Johnston County and called “Willow Springs”.
Since we’re looking at Wake County, Willow Spring is the Raleigh suburb side that keeps you living within the same county limits. With a population of 16,186—just 521 people per square mile—Willow Spring is situated 15 miles south of Raleigh, about a 20-minute commute on US 401. This highway takes you to the newly completed NC 540 Loop, which runs around the perimeter of Raleigh. Get on the Loop and drive quickly to the area of the city without driving through it. A real time-saver!
People who look at buying a new home in Willow Spring, Wake County, NC, are frequently looking for a rural lifestyle. Of course, they want important things to be nearby, but they choose open spaces over bustling shopping and dining venues. These homebuyers appreciate the rolling landscapes and the comfort of living in a place where you know your neighbors. It’s that lifestyle that attracts them to Willow Spring.
The families living in Willow Spring, North Carolina, are served by the Wake County Public School System. Willow Springs Elementary School and Willow Spring High School provide advanced educational initiatives that deliver a well-rounded academic experience. And represents one more benefit to living in Willow Spring, NC.
Popular Raleigh Suburbs near Willow Spring
So, buying a new home in Willow Spring, NC, puts you close to Raleigh and the endless array of things to do there. But that’s not the only benefit of this location in the southern region of Wake County. Willow Spring is close to other popular Raleigh suburbs.
Fuquay-Varina: 14 miles
One of the largest suburbs in Wake County, Fuquay-Varina, NC, has grown 28% in population in just the last 4 years, to approximately 44,000 people. The towns of Fuquay and Varina merged in 1963, which created 2 downtown districts that continue to thrive today. From Willow Spring, drive 14 miles to Fuquay-Varina to take advantage of the many offerings available in this much larger suburb: recreation, cultural, entertainment, shopping, dining, history, and more.
Fuquay-Varina Arts Center hosts live performances of music, dance, and theater, as well as offering classes in the performing arts and exhibits. South Park has a new splash pad, along with a full slate of recreational facilities. Scenic parks in the town include Fuquay Mineral Spring Park, where visitors used to come to partake of the healing waters of the mineral springs in the 19th century. Fuquay-Varina is also known for having great schools—a significant factor that has contributed to the population growth here.
Smithfield: 25 miles
Willow Spring sits 25 miles west of Smithfield, North Carolina, another thriving Raleigh suburb. The town is located in Johnston County but is quite close to Wake County. It’s worth a trip to Smithfield for attractions like the Ava Gardner Museum, Carolina Premium Outlets, historic Howell Theatre, and unique special events, including the popular Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival. Downtown Smithfield is a fun place to browse, too. Explore the many locally owned shops, restaurants, and other businesses. If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy the architecture that dates back to the 1890s.
Clayton: 17 miles
Originally a railroad town, Clayton, NC, is 17 miles northeast of Willow Spring, a drive you can make in just 21 minutes. Like Smithfeld, Clayton is located over the border in Johnston County, 15 miles from Raleigh. The town has grown from a population of about 7,000 residents in 2000 to 31,390 in 2024, a staggering 348% increase in just 4 years! Global corporations—like Bayer, Caterpillar, Novo Nordisk, and Grifols—are located in Clayton, supporting a robust job market. You can commute to work in Clayton and return home to the more rural Willow Spring.
Clayton also attracts visitors for its cultural, recreational, and entertainment scene. The Clayton Sculpture Trail winds through Downtown Clayton, past a variety of shops and restaurants where you can take a break from the visual energy. The Clayton Center is the performing arts venue that presents a year ‘round calendar of events.
Visit the suburbs, come home to WIllow Spring
In the midst of all these wonderful Raleigh suburbs, why should you choose Willow Spring? As we mentioned, it’s a quiet haven of country living. Willow Spring is close to what you need but with enough room in between to give you open spaces.
New Home Inc. builds new homes for sale near Raleigh in all of these cities and towns. We recently began developing Gardner Farms, a community of new homes in Willow Spring, NC, to give homebuyers the best of all this location has to offer.
Gardner Farms
For Gardner Farms, we chose an area just 4 miles from Fuquay-Varina. You’re only minutes away from a tempting array of amenities that fill this nearby town. It’s like living in Fuquay-Varina, but with the more rural vibe in Willow Spring.
Gardner Farms is truly a reflection of Willow Spring. It’s a small neighborhood of 43 homes—cozy, friendly, and peaceful. So you can truly experience the wide open spaces, we designed the Gardner Farms homesites to give you more land around your home. The lots give you a range of choices, from 0.5 to 2.3 acres!
The Gardner Farms floor plans present many variations that give you options to create the home you want while maintaining curb appeal throughout the neighborhood. Come for a tour of the furnished model and the quick move-in homes for sale in Willow Spring, NC, at Gardner Farms.
Country homes, modern features
Imagine pairing this idyllic country lifestyle with a brand new home that includes modern amenities.
New Home Inc. designs our homes to actually perform for you. We’ve anticipated needs that other builders have overlooked. We call this approach “Future-Proof” homes.
As you think about buying a new home in Willow Spring, North Carolina, here are some of the innovative included features that turn house hunters into New Home Inc. homebuyers.
- Smart home automation package gives you a control panel, whole home network panel, smart door lock, smart thermostat, and video doorbell. You start with the right smart home technology and with our package, and it’s easy to add more!
- The fully enclosed, secured Smart Home Delivery Center protects your packages from the weather and porch pirates.
- Our “messy kitchen” service pantry adds on to your work and storage space by providing a separate nook with cabinets, countertops, and the option of a sink, mini-fridge, dishwasher, wine chiller, and other features that reduce the traffic and messes in your kitchen.
- The oversized kitchen island has seating on 3 sides expands the function of this valuable space.
- If you have an electric vehicle, you’ll appreciate the forethought of including an electric vehicle charging station rough-in. All the behind-the-wall work is done, making it simple to finish the station.
- ecoSelect Home Efficiency Program incorporates energy efficiency throughout your home, which delivers significant savings on your utility bills.
- Whole home air filtration system protects your family by reducing indoor pollutants.
- CAT6 cabling is the latest in wiring and delivers strong, reliable connections throughout your home without dead zones. Don’t settle for less than CAT6 cabling in your new home!
- We even feature pet spaces, like a nook under the stairs and a grooming station, if you want them.
These details demonstrate New Home Inc.’s dedication to building homes the way you want to live. We aren’t limited by the way things have always been done. When you want more for your investment, please consider New Home Inc. as your builder.
Let New Home Inc. bring you home to Willow Spring
Does buying a new home in Willow Spring, Wake County, NC, seem like the right fit for you? Take the next step and plan to visit this scenic region. New Home Inc. is building new homes for sale in Willow Spring, as well as new homes in our growing communities in Lillington, Fuquay-Varina, and Smithfield.
Contact New Home Inc. to get a closer look at Gardner Farms and see the life you could be living in Willow Spring, North Carolina.
