With small-town charm, a booming local economy, and fast and convenient commutes into Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, more people are taking notice of Apex as a great place to live. But don’t take our word for it. Money.com ranked Apex as “The Best Place to Live” in 2015. Here are some reasons why this is still true today!

New, Luxurious Homes in Apex, NC

Ideal Location. Located just 20 minutes from Downtown Raleigh, the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the Research Triangle Park, Apex is the place to reap the benefits of one of the country’s most tech-driven regions. Tech powerhouses Amazon and Apple have both announced forthcoming entries into the local economy. Amazon is planning a distribution and fulfillment center in Smithfield, creating 500 jobs. Apple is creating its first East Coast campus at the RTP, a move expected to bring at least 3,000 new jobs. And thanks to a recently-built toll road, the commute to the Triangle has been cut in half. Apex is also close to all the major interstates and highways in the region, giving residents fast access to destinations like The Streets at Southpoint, Crabtree Valley Mall, Beaver Creek Commons, and the neighboring towns of Cary and Holly Springs.

Strong Economy. Like all towns in the Raleigh area, all signs point to strong economic growth in Apex. Both per capita and household income are well above the national average, unemployment is incredibly low, and future job growth is estimated to be nearly 50% over the next 10 years. The cost of housing has steadily increased over the last decade, a positive sign that Raleigh, Apex, and the surrounding areas continue to be a desirable place to live. To maintain a healthy economic balance, health care, utilities, and transportation are still relatively low, and like the rest of North Carolina, Apex homeowners enjoy low property taxes compared to other states.

Top Rated Schools. K-12 public schools in Apex are part of either the Wake County Public School System both of which consistently rank among the state’s best districts. There are also a variety of private and charter schools, giving parents a wide range of choices to give their kids a great head start.

Charming Downtown. Named for being the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad, Apex is one of the most intact turn-of-the-century railroad towns in the country and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The downtown area, which is mostly centered around quaint Salem Street, is home to local restaurants, bakeries, and boutiques. It’s easy to lose track of time looking at architecture, browsing the shops, and taking long and leisurely lunches in Downtown Apex. As charming as it is, Downtown Apex also has a solid foot in the kind of technology that drives growth in this region. Electric vehicle charging stations dot the downtown area, supporting clean energy and giving peace of mind to drivers as they travel the region.

Safety. Apex has been rated one of the safest cities in North Carolina in 2021 by a number of publications and ranking agencies. Alarms.org, for example, factors in crime rate per 1,000 and law enforcement per 1,000 to compile their safest cities lists. Apex was in the top five, well ahead of larger, neighboring cities.