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2020 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North CarolinaAbout this List

Explore the best suburbs to buy a house based on home values, property taxes, home ownership rates, housing costs, and real estate trends. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Area type classifications are based on populations and proximity to major city centers.

City

City Neighborhood

Suburbs

Towns

Public Schools Grade

Based on data including state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, as well as reviews from students and parents.

A

B

C

D

Based on cost of living factors for an area including housing costs, tax rates, and cost of essentials like food and fuel.

$

$$

$$$

$$$$

Who Lives Here

Families

Young Professionals

Retirees

Walkability

Don't Care

Care

Care A Lot

Crime & Safety Grade

Calculated based on crime rates for murder, assault, rape, burglary, and other crime statistics, as well as reviews from residents.

A

B

C

D

Homes In The Area

Single Family Homes

Large Apt. Buildings

Small Apt. Buildings

Townhomes

Homeownership

Most Own

Balanced

Most Rent

Based on 2012 and 2016 presidential election results compared to the national average.

Very Conservative

Conservative

Balanced

Liberal

Very Liberal

Things to do

Bars

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

Restaurants

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

Coffee Shops

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

Parks

Don't Care

Care

Care a Lot

1 – 25 of 424

Best to Buy a House

Best Places to Live
Best for Families
Most Diverse

424 results

Best Places to Live
Best for Families
Best Public Schools

Most Diverse
Best for Young Professionals
Best for Retirees

Economy

Cost of Living
Best to Buy a House

Health & Outdoors

Healthiest
Outdoor Activities

Fairview
Suburb in North Carolina
2 reviews
#1 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Niche User: I have never felt unsafe in my home. We perhaps are all too comfortable, sleeping with the doors unlocked, but it is a quiet neighborhood.
Read 2 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A
Housing
2,968 Population
View Nearby Homes
Fruitland
Suburb in North Carolina
1 review
#2 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
A
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A
Housing
2,407 Population
View Nearby Homes
Stokesdale
Suburb of Greensboro, NC
12 reviews
#3 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Stokesdale is a very small town in North Carolina. There are a few local businesses, a Subway, a few gas stations, and that’s about it. I have lived in Stokesdale for my entire life. I like the area because it is close to various large North Carolina cities without being large itself. I feel safe in Stokesdale. My only complaint would be that there isn’t much do to around town, but small towns rarely have a lot of activities.
Read 12 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
5,367 Population
View Nearby Homes
Mineral Springs
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
8 reviews
#4 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Niche User: It's still a nature reserve, with horse trail and friendly neighbors.
Read 8 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A
Housing
2,956 Population
View Nearby Homes
Rolesville
Suburb of Raleigh, NC
17 reviews
#5 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: I like that its a quiet, small time vibe but still only 25 minutes away from downtown Raleigh! We're starting to grow and adding more local breweries and unique restaurants. The neighborhoods are all connected with well maintained, tree lined greenways where you will always see someone out walking their dogs, riding bikes, or just enjoying family time.
Read 17 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A
Housing
6,957 Population
View Nearby Homes
Morrisville
Suburb of Raleigh, NC
64 reviews
#6 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Morrisville is very clean and fresh-looking! It's homey and very diverse. I have recently moved here for work and it was very easy to find my current job. Many people commute to Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill to work as well. I like how Morrisville is right in the middle of the triangle, so everything is in easy access! Morrisville offers many wonderful places to eat as well, and a lot of them are privately owned so you get authentic meals. If you are more interested in night life, downtown Raleigh is just down the road, and makes for an easy way to go out with your friends.
Read 64 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Public Schools
A
Housing
25,007 Population
View Nearby Homes
Apex
Suburb of Raleigh, NC
195 reviews
#7 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Apex is a peaceful town in North Carolina located about fifteen miles away from Raleigh. Apex is on the rise to becoming a more popular area with lots of new buildings (stores, apartments, etc.) being built, but throughout my experience here in Apex, I have not had one bit of trouble. There are lots of big chain stores to go to and plenty of restaurants to eat at. There are also plenty of places for entertainment such as Downtown Apex, Beaver Creek Commons, Apex Community Center, and more! I would consider Apex to be a fairly populated area, but not as crowded as Cary or Raleigh. If you are thinking about living in Apex, I would totally recommend it!
Read 195 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
48,254 Population
View Nearby Homes
Bermuda Run
Suburb of Winston-Salem, NC
7 reviews
#8 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Niche User: We do not experience too much crime in this area.
Read 7 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A
Housing
2,568 Population
View Nearby Homes
Holly Springs
Suburb of Raleigh, NC
117 reviews
#9 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: My hometown, Holly Springs, is truly a beauty. The previously rural town has evolved into a city with a population over 35,000 and many streams of entertainment. It is extremely family friendly, it has one of the lowest crime rates, and is not very far from other surrounding cities. Their are numerous opportunities for kids to succeed coming out of here, with all the amazing schools, rec sports, and other activities for kids to stay productive! The town is still improving, with a hospital an downtown currently being constructed. I would personally seek a change in the tourists attractions to attract even more visitors than those already coming. While Holly Springs is a beautiful city, it could use something, such as a spectacular bowling alley, or an outstanding place for entertainment that will attract tourists to the beautiful town of Holly Springs. If you are ever looking into a town to move in North Carolina near Raleigh, I would definitely recommend Holly Springs!
Read 117 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
33,341 Population
View Nearby Homes
Cary
Suburb of Raleigh, NC
444 reviews
#10 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Cary is a wonderful place to live overall! It is right next Research Triangle Park (RTP), which is filled with many companies like Cisco, IBM, & Biogen. Also, the Wake County Public School System provides many opportunities to K-12 kids. Also, the colleges located in NC are amazing! The choices range from Duke, NCSU, UNC Chapel Hill, & much more! In the community, there is always something to do. Downtown Cary has many activities to do like reading a book at their newest library, learning new things at the Cary Arts Center, or enjoying ice cream at a local ice cream parlor.
Read 444 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
163,266 Population
View Nearby Homes
Lewisville
Suburb of Winston-Salem, NC
35 reviews
#11 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Lewisvillle is a wonderful place to live. The downtown area is very quaint, and there are a number of family-friendly activities, including live theatre, available year-round in the town square. It’s a safe, quiet area, and it’s not polluted with the usual fast-food franchises and chain stores, but those are minutes away for anyone interested!
Read 35 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
13,657 Population
View Nearby Homes
Davidson
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
23 reviews
#12 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Small town atmosphere near the big-city amenities of Charlotte- great schools and great neighbors! Affordability can be a concern, as well as traffic.
Read 23 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
12,666 Population
View Nearby Homes
Harrisburg
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
41 reviews
#13 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: I have grown up in Harrisburg and walked with it through remodeling, construction, and growth. Harrisburg feels like a very small community, but also offers large opportunities. One of my favorite things about my town is the community events. For example, every 4th of July, Harrisburg park hosts fireworks, rides, food, games, etc. as well as a parade through the main road. These events really tie the community together. One thing that could be improved is the amount of traffic.
Read 41 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
15,269 Population
View Nearby Homes
Oak Ridge
Suburb of Greensboro, NC
24 reviews
#14 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Love our small town! Great access to grocery store, hair cut, dance, eye doctor, dentist, fast food, urgent care, gas, dry cleaning and so much more. Schools are excellent and neighborhoods are friendly.
Read 24 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
6,829 Population
View Nearby Homes
Clemmons
Suburb of Winston-Salem, NC
71 reviews
#15 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: The Clemmons community is so strong and supportive of one another. You truly feel the love from all neighbors and surrounding store and restaurants. Everyone is very kind and friendly!
Read 71 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A
Housing
20,050 Population
View Nearby Homes
Forest Oaks
Suburb of Greensboro, NC
4 reviews
#16 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: I love Forest Oaks. The neighborhood is very friendly and safe. There are a variety of clubhouse sports and activities to get involved with. The houses are nice, different and spread out. Overall, I like the neighborhood I live in very much.
Read 4 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A
Housing
3,683 Population
View Nearby Homes
Waxhaw
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
79 reviews
#17 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Waxhaw is an amazing small town in North Carolina. The shops, parks, restaurants, and monumental railroad bridge, is located in downtown Waxhaw. The historical aspect draws many people striving to learn more about our town, state, and even country. There are many things to do here, such as go to parks, walk across the large bridge overlooking the railroad, and support wonderful small businesses. Waxhaw is a safe place, with nice neighborhoods. It has remained spacey; it has not been overly developed. This gives the feeling of fresh air and room to move. Overall, Waxhaw is a great place to live!
Read 79 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A-
Housing
14,383 Population
View Nearby Homes
Indian Trail
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
113 reviews
#18 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Indian Trail is a very livable community with local restaurants. The location gives residents easy access to Charlotte, Matthews, and Monroe, which opens up various opportunities. The traffic in Indian Trail has increased over the years, however it has not been accompanied with increased utility or road work. Overall, Indian Trail is a wonderful place to live and a wonderful community.
Read 113 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A-
Housing
37,983 Population
View Nearby Homes
Midway
Suburb of Winston-Salem, NC
9 reviews
#19 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: The town of Midway North Carolina here in Davidson county is amazing! The people that live here all pull together. It's very welcoming, and very safe! The neighbors all pull together AND work together to help those in need. This is a great town to raise your Children! The Best Schools in the
Surrounding Piedmont-Triad. Excellent Churches.
This is definitely an A+ community
Read 9 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
B
Public Schools
A-
Housing
4,815 Population
View Nearby Homes
Stallings
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
26 reviews
#20 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: We have lived in Stallings for the past 8 months. We love the closeness of Matthews and downtown Charlotte. Stallings has a small town feel but with access to everything Charlotte has to offer.
Read 26 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A-
Housing
15,240 Population
View Nearby Homes
Lake Park
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
3 reviews
#21 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Lake Park is one of the nicer neighborhoods in the area. It is really pretty and walking friendly. There is a tennis court, basketball court, a pool (with a swim team), parks, churches, even a school and day care. There are festivals throughout the year, and they constantly have smaller events sprinkled throughout the year. There are a lot of families living here, so a lot of kids.
Read 3 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A-
Housing
3,753 Population
View Nearby Homes
Cornelius
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
37 reviews
#22 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: I have lived in Cornelius all of my life and have enjoyed living in this southern small town greatly. I grew up around the city either going on Lake Norman in the summer time with my family, or bundling up for the occasional snow day, which any amount of snow would cancel school, we received in the winter. Cornelius is located right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, where I go frequently for sporting events, group gatherings or just for dinner and a night out on the town. The people of Cornelius are very welcoming and always love to meet the new neighbors coming every year!
Read 37 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A-
Housing
28,649 Population
View Nearby Homes
Hemby Bridge
Suburb of Charlotte, NC
1 review
#23 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: Hemby Bridge is a quiet rural area outside Charlotte, NC. With a small town you know a lot of people because you live, go to school with and play together. While you don't have the big shopping, dining and entertainment you get in a big city, there is enough here to keep you busy. Sports, movies, small business make it a nice place to live.
Read 1 Review
B+
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Public Schools
A-
Housing
2,044 Population
View Nearby Homes
Mills River
Suburb in North Carolina
7 reviews
#24 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Works Here: Mills River is a great small town with lots of outdoor activities and local breweries to check out. They have a very good schools in the area and great homes near by them as well. The Grocery store named Ingles is a large grocery with fresh local foods and they also have a Starbucks inside.
Read 7 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A-
Housing
7,173 Population
View Nearby Homes
Summerfield
Suburb of Greensboro, NC
20 reviews
#25 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North Carolina
Current Resident: I love Summerfield! It’s a town right outside of Greensboro, NC. It has everything you need to survive, grocery store, restaurant, gas station, and a few restaurants. There’s plenty of nature and the people are so nice!
Read 20 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A
Public Schools
A-
Housing
11,044 Population
View Nearby Homes
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About This List

Explore the best suburbs to buy a house based on home values, property taxes, home ownership rates, housing costs, and real estate trends. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Where Niche Grades come from and how Niche calculates rankings.

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