Just southwest of Raleigh and Cary is nestled the small but growing community of Apex. This Raleigh suburb has a sleepy, small-town feel, but its proximity to some of the largest cities in the state offers easy access to some of the best educational, business, and recreational opportunities. That means that residents can enjoy the benefits of living in a close-knit community without sacrificing the advantages of living in a larger city. For that reason and many more, Apex was named the best place to live in the country by Money magazine in 2015.
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Apex itself has plenty of great employers, but its many job opportunities lie beyond the town itself. Apex is just 18 miles from Research Triangle Park, where leading technology and healthcare companies are headquartered, such as GlaxxoSmithKline and IBM. People come from all over the country to work at these companies, which helps drive the popularity of Apex real estate.
The top employers within Apex itself include Wake County Public Schools, Cooper Industries, Rex Healthcare, and the N.C. Department of Correction.
Thanks to those business opportunities, residents of Apex have a much higher median income than the rest of the state. The median income was $89,475 in 2013 for a household and $106,283 for a family. In contrast, the median income in North Carolina was $46,334.
Apex residents enjoy a higher average income than the rest of the state, but they also have lower housing prices than some other areas of the country where health and technology jobs are prevalent. The median list price for Apex real estate was $375,000 in January. Home prices are well over $1 million in places like Silicon Valley where there are similar job opportunities.
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Apex is part of the Wake County Public Schools system, which is among the top rated school systems in the state and the country. There are 17 schools in the town, including magnet and specialty schools. Many of the schools consistently score above average when compared to other schools in the state. Families have their choice of schools, and their choices are overwhelmingly good ones.
Families can head over to the Eva Perry Regional Library after school for further enrichment, or they can go to one of the numerous parks offered by the town and individual neighborhoods. In addition to the kid-friendly parks, the town also offers a skate plaza, dog park, and disc golf course. Families have many options for wholesome, inexpensive recreational activities.
Apex maintains its family friendly reputation with its low overall crime rate. The most common type of crime in the town is theft, which was committed at a rate of 399 incidents per 100,000 people in 2005. The town's overall crime rate was 141.8 per 100,000 people that same year.
Apex is a safe and inviting place for families. It is no wonder then that 75 percent of households were families, and 65 percent of those households included children under the age of 18.
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Apex offers plenty of entertainment opportunities for both families and individuals. One of its most popular events each year is Peakfest, a huge street fair that takes place every May in the historic downtown region. Peakfest includes over 200 arts and crafts vendors selling their locally created wares. The huge event also includes street performers, musicians, food trucks, and even some rides for the kids.
Other popular events include the yearly Jazz Festival and the Concerts at the Depot in the spring and summer.
Art lovers can stroll the town's galleries during its First Fridays events each month, or they can stop into the Halle Cultural Arts Center to check out the galleries or take a class in one of the studios. The center also has a small theater for live performances.
Apex does have some historical locations, as well, for those who like to learn more about what life was like in the past. Residents can ride the historic New Hope Valley Railway at the N.C. Railroad Museum, or they can take a tour of the historic Hughes and Salem Streets or the Apex Union Depot, a wonderful example of late Victorian architecture.
At the end of the day, residents can choose from one of the many wonderful restaurants around Apex, such as the popular Peak City Grille and Bar, Salem Street Pub, or Skipper's Fish Fry. Most of the restaurants in town are locally or regionally operated, so you really get a down-home feel and local flavor.
Staying fit and healthy is easy in Apex. The town maintains more than 11 miles of greenway trails, where residents can enjoy running, walking, or cycling. Most of the trails are asphalt to make it easier to maintain even footing, but there are a few natural trails for those who prefer the challenge. Most of the trails also wind through wooded areas, which creates a lovely view while also offering shade.
The Nature Park and Seymour Athletic Fields offers sand volleyball and tennis courts, a soccer field, and an outdoor ampitheatre. The whole family can come to the park to stay fit or to enjoy some fun and friendly games.
In addition to staying fit, the town of Apex also makes it easy to eat healthy. The Apex Farmers' Market is open every Saturday from April to October in downtown Apex. Residents can shop for everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade candles from local farmers. They can eat food that is fresh and in season, and they can feel good about supporting local farmers and the local economy.
Apex is a wonderful, family friendly community that offers a little bit of something for everyone. The word is spreading about this Southern gem, causing the population to grow and Apex real estate to become even more valuable. We won't be surprised to see this wonderful community end up on more lists of great places to live or do business.
