Young professionals have a whole lot on their plate. Between the endless email barrage, pitching that awesome new idea to your boss, and balancing your work with your life, finding a new place to call home is probably the last thing you want to do after a long day.
That’s why we made a list of the 5 best suburbs for young professionals near
Raleigh based on data from the U.S. Census and AreaVibes and input from
local Movoto real estate agent Aimee Anderson.
Then we crunched the numbers, which we’ll talk more about at the end this post, but for now let’s take a look at the winners.
The 5 Best Raleigh Suburbs For Young Professionals Are…
1. Morrisville
Key Stats:
- Unemployment rate: 5.1 percent
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 39.9 percent
- Residents with professional occupations: 64.5 percent
- Residents age 22-29: 11.3 percent
Morrisville is one of Anderson’s picks for young professionals looking to live outside of Raleigh, partly because of the many options of eating out and outdoor recreation.
Housing options in Morrisville are diverse, with options ranging from Victorian houses to new construction condos, row homes, and single family homes on spacious lots.
At scenic Lake Crabtree County Park, residents gather for mountain biking, hiking, boating, and fishing.
Grab a bite after work at one of Morrisville’s local restaurants. From down home barbeque at Smokey’s BBQ Shack, to upscale Full Moon Oyster Bar, there’s something for every palate.
After dinner, catch a flick at Stone Theaters, and catch up on some shopping at Park West Village Shopping Center.
Morrisville is a 20-minute drive from downtown Raleigh, a convenient distance for commuters or nightlife enthusiasts.
2. Knightdale
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 99, compared to the Raleigh average of 103
- Residents age 22-29: 11.4 percent
With a median resident age of 32.6, Knightdale is a fit for young professionals who want to live among peers. This friendly close-knit community, nine miles of east of Raleigh, has a laid back suburban vibe.
Home buyers in Knightdale will have their pick of affordable starter homes, from two story and ranch homes on large lots to new construction condos.
Hike along the Neuse River Trail or go on a jog through well-manicured Knightdale Station Park. Regular community events like Food Truck Thursdays and the Saturday Knightdale Farmers Market are a great way to get out and meet the neighbors and grab some good grub while you’re at it.
3. Cary
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 37.1 percent
- Residents with professional occupations: 59.4 percent
- Unemployment rate: 5.3 percent
With a population of over 140,000, Cary has several big city amenities like fine dining, arts and culture, and nightlife, without the overwhelming congestion. New construction condos and two-story single-family homes with spacious yards are common finds in Cary.
Koka Booth Amphitheater books big name indie musicians like Colbie Caillat and Death Cab for Cutie, and hosts several local music festivals and movie nights.
Foodies will also get their fix in Cary, with local joints like City Barbeque serving up classic local fare, or Banana Leaf serving Cantonese food with a fusion twist. Grab a drink and hearty meal at Doherty’s Irish Pub & Restaurant after work, and survive hump day by jamming out to live Irish music on Wednesday nights.
4. Zebulon
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 91, compared to the Raleigh average of 103
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $58,750
For young professionals seeking a small town vibe, Zebulon may just be the perfect home. Housing in Zebulon ranges from small ranch starter homes to large multi-story family homes, most of which are new construction on large lots.
Local brunch spot McLean’s Ole Time Cafe’s comfort food dishes are the perfect way to start your Sunday morning, while dining at Cattails Restaurant provides a clear view of a Mudcats baseball game with an upscale meal.
Zebulon’s quiet, laid-back vibe and close knit community are perfect for young professionals looking for a peaceful retreat after work, but if you’re craving more nightlife and entertainment, Raleigh is just a 25 minute drive away.
5. Apex
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 40.8 percent
- Residents with professional occupations: 61 percent
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $55,829
A historic downtown, local restaurants and shops, and regular community events draw new residents to Apex. Homes in Apex are often newly constructed, but are built in the Charleston style.
Stock up on fresh local produce at the Apex Farmers Market or skip cooking and grab a bite on one of Salem Street’s restaurants like Salem Street Pub or Rock Harbor Grill.
Events like the annual Latino Arts Festival are perfect for the young professional with a growing art collection, and the Peak City Pig Festival is a great way to bond with new neighbors over North Carolina barbeque.
Get Back To Enjoying Your Weekend
Now that you have a list of the best suburbs near Raleigh for young professionals, you can get back to spending your precious weekend time however you want.
If you’re ready to start
searching for homes to buy, let us know. We’ll connect you with one of
Movoto’s top real estate agents in the Raleigh area.
Our Methodology
To create this list, we researched the following important criteria for young professionals:
- Unemployment rate
- Percent of residents age 22-29
- Percent of residents who attained a bachelor’s degree
- Median earnings for those who attained a bachelor’s degree
- Percent of residents who work in management, business, financial, or other professional fields
- Cost of living
Then, because some things are just a little more important to young professionals than others, we weighted the percent of residents age 22-29 to make up 30 percent of our score, and median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders and cost of living to make up 20 percent. The rest of our categories made up 10 percent of the total score.
We averaged those weighted scores into one overall score, and the suburbs with the lowest five scores made it onto our list.
Want to see how all 12 Raleigh suburbs we ranked measured up? Check out the table below:
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