10 Pros and Cons of Living in Raleigh, NC
Pros and Cons of Moving To Raleigh
What are the pros and cons of living in Raleigh, NC? Consider these ten pros and cons if you are considering moving to Raleigh!
Raleigh is not only the capital city of North Carolina but is a growing technological and business hub that offers a big city feel with plenty of southern charm. Best known for its fantastic education, convenient location, and unique culture, it is no wonder why Raleigh is one of the best places to live in North Carolina and a sought-after destination in the Southeastern United States.
With a fast-growing population, Raleigh is the second biggest city in North Carolina, right behind Charlotte. It is often a popular place for young professionals and families to settle down since it is a kid-friendly city with plenty of opportunities to flourish.
If you are considering moving to Raleigh and want to compare the pros and cons of living in the city before making a decision, you have come to the right place.
Here are the pros and cons of calling Raleigh home
Chapters
1. Pro: Affordable Cost of Living
One of the biggest reasons so many families and young professionals move to Raleigh is its affordability. With a cost of living 4% lower than the national average, the city has a lot to offer without the high prices of other similar-sized metropolitan areas.
Not only are the costs of goods and services generally below average, but there are also lower property taxes, making Raleigh a great place to purchase real estate. Many people from the northeast and California are choosing to move to Raleigh for the cost of living alone.
| Cost of Living Item | Average Cost of Living in Raleigh, NC |
| Energy Bill | $180.36/month |
| Phone Bill | $194.02/month |
| Doctor's Visit | $128.16 |
| Dentist Visit | $110.57 |
| Veterinary Visit | $56.75 |
| Loaf of Bread | $3.55 |
| Gallon of Milk | $2.23 |
*Data Sourced from PayScale.
A good salary to live comfortably in Raleigh is around $102,752 annually. Overall, Raleigh has more affordable housing options and is considered a cheaper place to live than Charlotte and Durham.
While many families love living in Raleigh, the area is also very sought-after by retirees. It is considered one of the best places to retire in the country, partly for its affordable cost of living and housing options.
2. Pro: Beautiful Homes For Sale
Raleigh is the place to be if you are looking for beautiful homes for sale. As one of the hottest real estate markets in the United States right now, many people moving to Raleigh are looking for single-family homes in safe neighborhoods.
With a current median list price of $786,879, most homes spend an average of 61 days on the market, and the average price per square foot in Raleigh is $302.
Featuring many up-and-coming neighborhoods, Raleigh and the entire Triangle area are bursting with new construction as more and more people decide to move to the area and call Raleigh home.
No matter what you are looking for in a home or what home style you prefer, Raleigh has endless options available for you and your family. The many great suburbs of Raleigh located just outside the city center also offer plenty of great homes.
3. Pro: Numerous Job Opportunities
Located in the heart of Research Triangle Park, Raleigh is best known for its employment opportunities, which is one of the many reasons why so many people are moving here.
Recognized as one of the most significant innovation hubs in the country, this East Coast city is home to a rising number of tech, life sciences, agritech, and biotech companies.
Technology giant Apple is set to build a campus in the Research Triangle Park region by 2026, bringing in tons of new jobs and further boosting the Raleigh economy.
Raleigh is also a great place for small businesses and startups since the city supports entrepreneurship and offers many resources for business owners. Raleigh is a great place to call home if you are moving for work or a new job opportunity.
4. Pro: Top-Rated Education
Raleigh, without a doubt, is one of the best cities for those looking for higher education opportunities. Surrounded by some of the best colleges in the state and the country, residents have their pick of small colleges and large universities.
Some of the best colleges near Raleigh include North Carolina State University, Meredith College, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University. No matter what you want to study or whether you want to get an undergraduate or graduate degree, there are plenty of schools to choose from to reach your goals.
For families with school-aged children, Raleigh is part of the Wake County Public School System, which is not only the largest public school system in the state but also one of the highest-rated. Containing 193 schools in the district, there are 103 preschools, 119 elementary schools, 44 middle schools, and 34 high schools.
5. Pro: Plethora of Outdoor Activities
If you love all things adventure, then look no further than Raleigh. This North Carolina city is full of fun outdoor activities that can be enjoyed year-round. Featuring many parks, hiking trails, playgrounds, and picnic areas, there is always something to do throughout the week for all ages. Bring your pets along and visit one of the pet-friendly hotels, parks, restaurants, and more.
William B. Umstead State Park is located here, which covers 5,599 acres and is the perfect place for hiking, camping, horseback riding, paddling, fishing, and picnicking.
Raleigh is also within a four-hour drive to the mountain city of Asheville and is a three-hour drive from the beaches of the Outer Banks, both of which make perfect day or weekend trips.
6. Pro: Fun Things To Do
Raleigh is a growing area with great restaurants, trendy bars, breweries, museums, and live music venues. No matter how you like to spend your free time, there is always something exciting going on in and around the city.
Offering plenty of free and family-friendly activities, you will never be bored when living in Raleigh, which is why its fun things to do are one of the many pros of living in the area.
7. Con: Competitive Housing Market
The housing market in Raleigh is very competitive and in high demand as more people move to the area and are in need of housing. Due to buyer-friendly conditions, it is an excellent time to purchase a home in the area, which could be challenging if everyone else is also looking to buy at the same time.
The real estate market in the Triangle region is predicted to keep growing as big companies move to the area and bring more people in search of jobs. This means that buying a home in Raleigh is a great investment opportunity, but be prepared for a competitive real estate environment.
8. Con: Limited Nightlife
Be prepared for limited nightlife options when moving to Raleigh. Though this might not be a con for everyone, it is important to remember if you enjoy staying out late and hanging out with friends at bars and clubs.
Most of the nightlife scene is located on Glenwood Avenue in Downtown Raleigh. While there are certainly fun bars and good places to dance and enjoy live music, there are fewer options than in other large metropolitan areas.
Some of the best bars in Downtown Raleigh include the Botanical Lounge, Watts and Ward, Boxcar Bar and Arcade, and The Avenue. Most of the bars Downtown are within walking distance from each other, making it easy to bar-hop.
9. Con: Traffic
The population in Raleigh is exploding, and there is no chance of it slowing down soon. About 56 people move to Wake County daily to enjoy all that Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle region has to offer.
With large population growth comes increased traffic levels on major highways and backroads. Considered a con, lots of traffic is important to consider if you will be commuting to and from work in Raleigh.
Regarding Raleigh driving and commute times, the average one-way commute in Raleigh takes about 24 minutes, which is shorter than the national average but is still a reasonable amount of time.
Most residents drive a car since everything in the area is spread out. Still, public transportation options are available, and most of them consist of bus routes through GoRaleigh, GoTriangle, and the R Line.
Interstate 540 is undergoing an extension and is being constructed in two phases. This 540 project will extend the Triangle Expressway and connect the greater Raleigh area's towns and cities. Though this is a toll road, the complete 540 Interstate will help lower traffic and reduce commute times. Phase one of this project is expected to open to traffic in mid-2024, and phase two will open in 2028.
10. Con: High Humidity
Located in a humid subtropical climate, Raleigh has beautiful weather throughout the year but very high humidity. Experiencing all four seasons, the winters are generally moderate, and the summers are hot and muggy.
Humidity might not be an issue for everyone. Still, it will shock new residents, especially those from California or elsewhere on the West Coast, where humidity levels are not as nearly as bad.
One of the best ways to beat the heat and high humidity during the summer is to hang out in your backyard swimming pool or visit a splash pad at a local park with your kids.
Methodology
We used data and information from several sources and our knowledge from living in the area to determine the pros and cons of living in Raleigh.
Most of the data was sourced from the following sources:
FAQs
Is Raleigh, NC, a good place to live?
Raleigh is considered one of the best places to live in North Carolina since it is extremely family-friendly, features beautiful and affordable real estate, and offers a booming job market since it is located in Research Triangle Park.
What city is safer, Charlotte or Raleigh?
Raleigh is considered to be a safer place to live than Charlotte with a lower violent and property crime rate. In fact, Raleigh continually ranks high on national ranking when it comes to home and community safety.
What is the safest suburb of Raleigh?
Cary is one of the best and safest suburbs in Raleigh and is considered one of the safest places to live in the country for its low violent and property crime rates.
Pros and Cons of Living in Raleigh, NC - Final Thoughts
Raleigh has plenty to offer its residents, and in our opinion, the pros certainly outweigh the cons of this "City of Oaks." If you are looking for an affordable city with beautiful real estate, then Raleigh is a fantastic option for you and your family.
Though the humidity may be high and the traffic might be increasing due to Raleigh's popularity, these are all minor issues in the grand scheme. Raleigh is a land of opportunity and offers its residents a rewarding and high-quality life.
If you are ready to find your dream home in Raleigh or the Triangle area, contact the experts at Raleigh Realty. We are here to help and are prepared to answer your questions about the home-buying process or what life is like in Raleigh.
Ryan Fitzgerald
Hi there! Nice to 'meet' you and thanks for visiting our Raleigh Real Estate Blog! My name is Ryan Fitzgerald, and I'm a REALTOR® in Raleigh-Durham, NC, the owner of Raleigh Realty. I work alongside some of the best Realtors in Raleigh. You can find more of my real estate content on Forbes, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and more. Realtor Magazine named me a top 30 under 30 Realtor in the country (it was a long time ago haha). Any way, that's enough about me. I'd love to learn more about you if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook and Instagram or connect with our team at Raleigh Realty. Looking forward to connecting!
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