When it comes to buying a new home in Raleigh, it’s a good idea to look just past the city limits and consider some of the popular suburbs and commuter towns. Raleigh is recognized high on the list of the “Best Places to Live in the U.S.”, making it a perfect place to be your urban hub while you explore life in the top suburbs of Raleigh, NC, to buy a new home.
Look just 20 or 30 minutes outside of Raleigh and you’ll get options that are more affordable— including new construction, more space, and more community amenities. Plus, if you work somewhere in the sprawling reaches of Research Triangle Park (RTP), your commute may be the same, whether you’re coming from Raleigh or one of its suburbs.
Here are New Home Inc.’s picks for the top suburbs of Raleigh NC and the distance from each one to downtown Raleigh and to RTP:
Selma: 30.4 miles to downtown Raleigh and 49 miles to RTP
Apex: 16.3 miles to downtown and 17.6 miles to RTP
Fuquay-Varina: 18.7 miles to downtown and 28.6 miles to RTP
Smithfield: 30 miles to downtown and 48.4 miles to RTP
Lillington: 32.1 miles to downtown and 43 miles to RTP
Clayton: 18 miles to downtown and 34.4 miles to RTP
Top Raleigh Suburbs to Buy a New Home
Selma, NC
If you work from home or don’t have to go into the office too much, Selma, NC, is a great town to start your search to buy a new home. Just 30 miles from Downtown Raleigh, from Selma, NC, you can either drive or take a leisurely trip into the city by Amtrak’s daily passenger. Life in the quiet Raleigh suburb offers a relaxed pace with walkable streets, friendly residents, and quaint coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques. It is also 26% less expensive to live in Selma than in Raleigh, which is why many young professionals are moving here. New Home Inc. is building new townhomes in Selma. A townhome is a smart housing option if you want to enjoy all the area has to offer without being tied down to home maintenance and yard work. Just lock and leave and enjoy charming and historic Selma, venture into Raleigh for arts and entertainment, or head south to enjoy North Carolina’s natural beauty at Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center or Cliffs of the Neuse State Park along the Neuse River.
For our new home communities in Selma, check out Woodberry Forest, where we’re launching a new phase. These townhomes feature first-floor guest suites and home offices from the $200s. At Cross Creek, we’re building single-family homes starting at 2,010 square feet and $339,700.
Apex, NC
Perfectly situated for a quick and easy commute to RTP, Apex, NC,is a fast-growing suburb of Raleigh. This southern city of about 60,000 residents sits just southwest of Raleigh, and boasts the motto, “The Peak of Good Living”. Apex is listed #1 on Niche.com’s top 5 of “Best Places to Live in North Carolina” and #3 in “Best Places to Raise a Family in North Carolina”. The exceptional school district is a big draw for families, along with a thriving local economy, and safe neighborhoods. In Apex, it’s easy to separate work from personal life when you come home to a quaint historic downtown, fantastic local restaurants, the beautiful Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, and miles of public greenway ideal for walking, running, and biking. This sought-after commuter town presents a distinct community feel, and Apex has developed into a destination of its own with several popular outdoor festivals that attract people from all over the region. You’ll love the quality of life and convenience that “The Peak of Good Living” in Apex offers.
New Home Inc. is building communities of new homes in the Raleigh suburb of Apex. For estate-style living in Apex, NC, Olde Farm is an exclusive community of just three expansive homesites near Jordan Lake. Coming soon to Apex, Old Sorrell Estates will offer luxury homes within walking distance of Lake Wheeler. We’re finalizing the plans so now is the right time to sign up for our VIP Listso you don’t miss the latest news on the only three homes coming here.
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Just 30 minutes from Downtown Raleigh and 36 minutes from RTP, Fuquay-Varina, NC, is a top option for many people thinking about buying a home in a Raleigh suburb. It was ranked by Homes.com as one of the “Best U.S. Suburbs to Move to in 2021”. This Raleigh suburb is part of the excellent Wake County Public School System, a definite plus for families, and offers a wide variety of amenities and family-friendly attractions. The population of Fuquay-Varina has grown dramatically. The current population of 33,885 reflects an 85.93% increase since 2010. From a burgeoning local food and brew scene to a plethora of festivals and events, Fuquay-Varina has solidified its place as one of America’s most sought-after suburbs.
Does this Raleigh suburb sound like the right fit for you? New Home Inc. is building a community of new homes in Fuquay-Varina. The Oaks at Kenneth Creek will have 3- to 5-bedrooms homes—1,874 to 3,145 square feet—located just two miles from North Main Street in the downtown area and attractively priced from $539,700.
Smithfield, NC
Living in Smithfield, NC, gives you so many advantages! If you want a small-town lifestyle in a friendly Southern town, where neighbors are friends and shopkeepers know you by name, take a look at Smithfield. If you also want to know your kids are getting a good education and that boredom is simply not an option, bump Smithfield higher up your list of Raleigh suburbs to buy a new home.
The town is steeped in history and tradition. Festivals, town sports leagues, and events are always on the schedule. From the drop-in pickleball games and Three Little Pigs Triathlon to favorites like Food Truck Saturday and Live Music Sundays, living in Smithfield is lively, welcoming, and never dull!
New Home Inc. is excited about our upcoming plans to build communities of new homes in Smithfield, NC. Stay tuned for the big announcement. Or sign up for our VIP List to get the news.
Lillington, NC
What kind of “small town” appeals to you? If a place that’s smaller than five square miles with about 3,600 residents feels just about the right size, we’d like to direct your attention to Lillington, NC. The famous Cape Fear River runs right through the heart of this Raleigh suburb. It’s a scenic, quiet, and close-knit little town.
For recreation, residents enjoy Raven Rock State Park in Lillington. An appealing destination for hikers and paddlers, the park includes Lanier Falls, the Fish Traps rapids, and the namesake, 150-foot-tall Raven Rock. Equestrian trails are available for a horseback ride through this scenic park, along with primitive campsites for a real trip back to nature.
Lillington also has the benefit of a low cost of living, so you can live near Raleigh without paying the urban price. New Home Inc. will soon be giving you options for living in this Raleigh suburb with a community of new homes coming soon! Join our VIP Listto learn more.
Clayton, NC
Clayton, NC, is one of the fastest-growing Raleigh suburbs, thanks in part to the growth of the pharmaceutical industry there, which has brought a lot of jobs to the town. There’s a quintessential hometown feel in Clayton. You see it in events like the Annual Square-to-Square Independence Day Street Festival and ongoing gatherings like Music Bingo, cornhole, karaoke, trivia nights, dodgeball, and even goat yoga (yes, with real goats!). The Clayton Farm & Country Market brings local farmers and artisans to Clayton every week (twice a month in the winter) with their hand-picked, hand-crafted wares.
The Clayton Center is a popular entertainment venue, often filling the 600 seats for live performances and special events. You’ll also find welcome diversions at local craft breweries, nature preserves and farms, galleries, and locally owned shops and eateries. The eclectic activity of this town brings together people with varied interests, but they all share the desire to live life with fun and good people.
All of us at New Home Inc. fell in love with living in Clayton, NC. We’re excited to announce we’ve acquired land to build a community of new homes in Clayton. Let us know if you want to be one of the first to get the details.
New Home Inc. is part of the growing landscape of Raleigh and the surrounding Raleigh suburbs. Look for us to bring you unique homes that include the features you really want in a new home: smart home automation, intelligent use of space, and special attention to indoor air quality and energy efficiency. We’re also offering truly unique choices, like a secure smart home delivery center to protect your packages, a messy kitchen nook that actually keeps your kitchen from getting that way, flex spaces placed where they make sense, and dedicated pet spaces.
When you want the most of living right in the Research Triangle, don’t miss out on these top suburbs of Raleigh to buy a new home. Check out New Home Inc.’s communities and our available new homes for sale here.
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