2017 Best Suburbs to Buy a House in North CarolinaAbout this List

Morrisville

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 34

Current Resident: Morrisville a great place to live. I moved here with my parents 5 years ago and have only had positive experiences. I live in a townhouse in a small close knit community, that is only a three minute walk away from a Harris Teeter, Gas Station, Subways, Pizza Place, Indian grocery stores, and many more restaurants. The crime levels around here as far as I know are very low. The only thefts that I have heard of happened a couple miles over in Cary. Kids who live in Morrisville also have access to great elementary schools like Cedar Fork, middle schools like Davis Drive and West Cary, and high schools like Panther Creek and Green Hope. Many of my neighbors and my dad all work in the IT Department, as it is always looking for new employees. There are also several other job opportunities here for adults and teenagers like myself. Overall, it's a great place to live and highly recommend it to anyone moving to North Carolina or looking for a new place to live.
Read 34 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• A

• 21,726 Population

Holly Springs

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 73

Current Resident: Holly Springs has grown in the past seven years since I moved to North Carolina. A lot of people from the upper states have relocated to this small city. It is mostly because the public schools in this area are ranked very high compared to others in the state. Therefore, families are encouraged to buy within the area and have their children go to good schools. Recently, a shopping center was built and a highway was reconstructed which led to an expressway towards Raleigh/Durham. This had led more people within the Triangle to move in or near Holly Springs. Three years ago before the mall was built, there was not much to do. But now, there are restaurants, a cinema, and different shopping centers that people can go to.
Read 73 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 28,640 Population

Cary

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 261

Current Resident: I love Cary! It's one of the best places to raise a family. There's really nice shopping centers, parks, and greenways all throughout Cary. If you sign up for town of Cary updates, the town is really great about updating you on public safety, crime, road closures, new businesses, etc. The downtown Cary is really nice too. Everything is kept nice and clean.
The downsides to Cary is everything comes with a price. The taxes are high and housing is expensive. I would also like to see better traffic safety. I rarely find police patrol in school zones and people are REALLY bad about running red lights, but there is nothing being done to fix it. Red light cameras would be a great thing here.
Read 261 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 151,186 Population

Apex

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 110

Current Resident: I moved to Apex, North Carolina when I was 8 from New Jersey. You can imagine it was quite a shocking change, but a good one. At the time, Apex had a small town feel, where you knew many people and everything had easy access. I was able to find community activates to participate in, such as gymnastics. My neighborhood is great, and has annual Christmas parties and sleigh rides in winter and pizza parties and yard sales in the summer. However, Apex has been growing at a rapid rate for many years now, and many things are changing that we as townspeople do not like. Homes are being built where there used to be beautiful woods. Schools are overflowing and classrooms are packed. A Publix is being built right across from an elementary school, where my favorite festive house was. They knocked down a hidden mansion to build another neighborhood. The thing is I do not want to see Apex change. It already has, and it can be argued whether it was for the better or not.
Read 110 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 42,220 Population

Marvin

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 5

Niche User: I love living in North Carolina, it's beautiful, and my allergies are a lot better in this state. I moved from Livonia, Michigan back in November 2005.
Read 5 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 5,938 Population

Weddington

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 27

Niche User: I love living where I do! I find the people here to be very nice, and find there are a lot of fun and interesting things to do. With great shops and areas for you to fine fun hobbies, you can't go wrong!
Read 27 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A

• 10,091 Population

Fearrington Village

• Town in North Carolina

• A+

• A

• A

• 2,797 Population

Waxhaw

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 24

Current Resident: Small town, country charm right outside of large Charlotte (about 45 minutes from downtown, including traffic/19 miles). Historic shops and buildings, Friday night events during summer and special community events throughout the year including holiday celebrations, animal care events, and school related functions. Town has great small eateries and local farmer's market.
Read 24 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• A-

• 11,586 Population

Harrisburg

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 17

Current Resident: I have lived in Harrisburg, NC since 2002. I was 8 years old and grew up in the public schools of Harrisburg. I thoroughly enjoyed Harrisburg's public schools until I started high school at Hickory Ridge. I went there for my first two years and did not enjoy it. Luckily, I was able to transfer to Performance Learning Center (PLC) in Concord, NC where I was able to work on my classes at my own pace. Having the opportunity to go to PLC has been my favorite part about living in Harrisburg so far.
Read 17 Reviews

• A

• A

• A-

• 13,883 Population

Stallings

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 24

Niche User: My little suburb of Charlotte is absolutely the perfect place to grow up. The people are kind and caring, and the house is close enough to the city that entertainment is never hard to come by. At the same time, it's far enough away from the city that crime isn't something to worry about, and it's quiet at night. While I want to move somewhere with a bit more energy as I enter my professional life, I would definitely recommend Matthews as a place to grow up.
Read 24 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A-

• 14,495 Population

Huntersville

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 141

Niche User: I live in a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina, called Huntersville. When I was a little over a year old, my parents moved my entire family because my dad got a job in Charlotte. In 1999, the population of Huntersville was a little under 20,000 people. It's been 17 years since we have moved here, and the expanding wheat fields next to my neighborhood have evolved into shopping centers that bring countless numbers of shoppers from other suburbs around Charlotte. The population has skyrocketed to over 50,000. Huntersville has become a town that many people have heard of now, with new, trendy restaurants ranging from high-end sushi restaurants to rustic burger bars. Huntersville is conveniently located about twenty minutes from the city, with many employees, like my dad, commuting on the bus system to work every day. Just past Charlotte is Carowinds, an amusement park that brings countless tourists to my area from all over the country. Charlotte is a growing city, with plenty of jobs opening every day. The Bank of America headquarters is located in Charlotte, which opens up many jobs that place hopeful employees in Charlotte's suburbs. Also, there are a few shopping malls in the area, including one outdoor mall called Birkdale located in the heart of Huntersville.
Read 141 Reviews

• A+

• B+

• A-

• 50,433 Population

Wake Forest

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 95

Works Here: My overall experience with Wake Forest is great! I have been around in the area for about almost 5 years and have meet many new people, tried new foods, and learned more about different nationalities.
Read 95 Reviews

• A+

• A

• A-

• 34,786 Population

Wesley Chapel

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 23

Current Resident: I moved to Wesley Chapel in 2004 from a town in New Jersey. I consider it my home town for all intents and purposes, and I feel proud in saying so. Wesley Chapel fostered me from the time I was a first grader to the time I was a senior in high school. The local elementary school was filled with teachers who supported their students and were truly passionate about what they were doing. As I made my way into high school, that same mentality prevailed. There is a large shopping center in the middle of the town that hosts plenty of shops and restaurants, and the housing developments in the area are great. Proud to say I was able to grow up here.
Read 23 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A-

• 8,010 Population

Indian Trail

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 80

Current Resident: Indian Trail is a quiet and peaceful little town that's a great place for anyone searching for affordable, peaceful living. Throughout the area, there are many quiet communities, many ideal for those looking for a large family home. Within the area you have a variety of things that are in close proximity. Indian Trail has multiple super markets, schools, ethnic restaurants, and a movie theater, all within a 5 mile radius. The best part is that there is no night life to worry about in town. For those who do enjoy that lifestyle, Charlotte is not very far from the town allowing those who enjoy the night scene to fulfill their energetic urge. Overall, the area itself is such a beautiful place with many qualities that gives it a special charm to it. I strongly recommend those who are looking for a nice town to start a family at to check out Indian Trail, allowing the town to show all that it offers.
Read 80 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A-

• 35,602 Population

Cornelius

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 14

Niche User: The police are ALWAYS driving around, checking things out, keeping the streets safe. They don't have much to do in the area because it's quite safe. They just ticket speeding drivers (somewhat prevalent) but don't go overboard with it, which is nice because you don't have to worry about dealing with any butthole cops pulling you over for going 48 in a 45 just because they have nothing better to do. They just want to keep the streets as safe as possible. There have been episodes, though, such as the police chase car accident on Jetton last year and the more recent outbreak of car break-ins. People just need to watch what they put in their cars and remain cautious, as many think that they are immune to criminal acts like that because they're in a safe area, when in reality it can happen anywhere.
Read 14 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• A-

• 26,866 Population

Davidson

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 12

Former Resident: Very nice area. Mainly suited to middle class families. Davidson college is downtown and has a beautiful campus with frequent events occurring. Downtown there are restaurants, stores, gyms, etc. It is minutes away from Lake Norman. It is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Charlotte. Overall, a lovely place to live or attend University.
Read 12 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• A-

• 11,765 Population

Matthews

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 93

Current Resident: In my 17 years living in Matthews, I've seen it grow exponentially. It's such a tight knit community, despite being a relatively large area. Community events like Matthews Alive, Playhouse, art shows, etc. bring the town together to enjoy each other's company.
Read 93 Reviews

• A+

• A-

• A-

• 29,352 Population

Lake Park

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 3

Current Resident: I have been very fortunate to live in such a family friendly and safe environment my whole life. From social events, restaurants, schools, churches, and swim team this neighborhood really has been home to me. There are so many great qualities that make Lake Park such a great community. I have never felt any type of danger thanks to our very own police officers, I have met some of my best friends though the swim team and overall it's a great place to live and call home.
Read 3 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• A-

• 3,636 Population

Rolesville

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 11

Current Resident: Rolesville is a wonderful small town with a variety of food and shopping. It is a very safe area with a quick responding police force. The best part is the location, it is close to raleigh but also close to rural areas. When I grow older, if I work in this area I will definitely choose to live in Rolesville.
Read 11 Reviews

• A

• A-

• A-

• 5,006 Population

Zebulon

• Town in North Carolina
• 9

Current Resident: Zebulon is a great town and has plenty of friendly people. There is always something to do in Zebulon, whether it be shop, eat or go to a favorite spot to meet up with friends.
Read 9 Reviews

• A

• B+

• B+

• 4,690 Population

Knightdale

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 46

Current Resident: I love Knightdale! This community is hands down the best! It has great shopping and plenty of community events. The sense of community is very strong in this town. We have a very active town government and a wonderful interactive police department. We also have a very active community Facebook page to help keep everyone up on town business as well as sharing ideas for the town, welcoming new neighbors and meeting people. Knightdale has that small town feel while being very close to Raleigh. It's convenient to 540, 440, and 495/264. 8 wouldn't think of living anywhere else!
Read 46 Reviews

• A

• B

• B+

• 13,243 Population

Unionville

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 15

Niche User: This is a nice and safe area with many public schools to choose from. Public libraries, cities, gas stations, garage sales, and malls are all available. It is nice to be in the suburbs, but close to the city of Charlotte.
Read 15 Reviews

• B

• A-

• B+

• 6,295 Population

Mooresville

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 80

Former Resident: I moved to Mooresville when I was 5 years old, and my parents still reside there. Mooresville has grown immensely since we first arrived, and I believe it will continue to thrive in the future. About 25 minutes North of Charlotte, Mooresville is a great family location and is located near the beautiful Lake Norman. Growing up on the lake was an amazing experience and contributed to my love of nature and the outdoors. I still enjoy returning to Mooresville to see my parents, go to my favorite restaurants, or enjoy swimming in the lake in the summer!
Read 80 Reviews

• A

• A

• B+

• 34,930 Population

Garner

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 61

Former Resident: Garner is quiet, convenient part of Wake county with a lot to offer. Only minutes from downtown Raleigh, the entire Triangle area is just minutes away. My favorite part of Garner is the growing park system and their focus on revitalizing downtown. Great place to live!
Read 61 Reviews

• A

• A

• B+

• 27,160 Population

Fuquay-Varina

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 49

Current Resident: We relocated to Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina from Connecticut in 2009. Moving is always a huge adjustment, especially when moving to another state where you don't know anyone. Fuquay-Varina instantly felt like home. The residents were warm and welcoming. The schools have been wonderful for our children. Now that we live here, we couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Read 49 Reviews

• A

• A-

• B+

• 21,399 Population