2019 Best Suburbs to Live in North CarolinaAbout this List

Morrisville

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 53

Current Resident: Morrisville is a family friendly community with very well manicured parks and beautiful scenery. There are plenty of shopping centers and grocery stores that are very well maintained and, the people here seem to care for their community by trying to keep it clean. I just moved here about three weeks ago from Colorado but i feel a tighter sense of community here and can definitely tell a difference in the people i encounter everyday. Everyone here is friendly and willing to strike up a conversation just in passing. I would have to say that Morrisville is a nice place if you are looking to settle down and start a family.
Read 53 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 23,873 Population

Cary

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 365

Current Resident: It's a lovely community- no gaudy billboards or advertisements that get in your face, plenty of nature, a sweet little downtown with mom & pop shops, good restaurants, and good schools; quite frankly, I think we're experiencing an artistic and cultural renaissance down here! Our local Arts center is one of Cary's trademarks, and has garnered some beneficial urban development around it as well. I think it's a great setting for diversity and raising children, and has plenty of entertainment and resources to go around.
Read 365 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 159,715 Population

Davidson

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 21

Current Resident: I've lived in Davidson for 10 years and the Lake Norman area for 10 before that. This is by far the best place to live in the Charlotte area, especially for families. It's like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life with the even better addition of a top-tier University at its center.
Read 21 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 12,325 Population

Apex

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 164

Current Resident: Apex is a nice, little-but booming- town. Construction happens everywhere- new schools, supermarkets, and various buildings. One of my biggest concerns for this town is that it is growing too fast. There is lots of traffic in some areas, especially because of construction- and they have to widen the roads very often. However, the city itself seems beautiful. There are lots of parks and greenways. Culture is very diverse, people love to travel here from many different states-even countries! It is very family friendly, one of the best places to live in the world! There is just so much opportunity here.
Read 164 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 45,899 Population

Chapel Hill

• Town in North Carolina
• 160

Former Resident: It's a great college town that still has plenty of professional residents. I found an area that was mostly grad students (Finley Forest) and it is quiet, safe, and well-kept. Franklin Street is full of good food and places to drink. It's close to Raleigh and Durham, so there's always something to do. Being in the middle of the state allows for fairly easy access to the beach and the mountains. I loved living there and will miss it immensely!
Read 160 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 59,234 Population

Carrboro

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 28

Current Resident: I love this liberal, inclusive, walkable community! I love the farmer's markets, the coffee shops, the greenway and public spaces, co-op market and public transportation. It's a wonderful town where all are welcome.
Read 28 Reviews

• A+

• A+

• 21,099 Population

Clemmons

• Town in North Carolina
• 47

Current Resident: I really like Clemmons because you're about 20 minutes from the busy and fast paced part of Winston so its quite and peaceful. Plenty of restaurants to go to if you don't want to drive in to W-S. The only thing is every morning the traffic going into Winston is really bad sometimes there 50 and 60 minute delays, same goes for going out of Winston. You should live here if you don't want to live in Winston, but you're close enough to the southern part of Winston to access the things there.
Read 47 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 19,844 Population

Holly Springs

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 101

Current Resident: Positioned close enough to Raleigh yet far enough from the congestion of the medium metropolis, Holly Springs repeatedly ranks as one of the best places to live in the US based upon factors such as median household income, safety, average degree attainment as well as low unemployment rates. Although rapid growth is a trait of the area which includes Apex, Cary Morrisville and Fuquay-Varina; Holly Springs is a small hometown that is exceptionally family friendly and had remained a secret gem until recent times. We love our town and please do not spread the word of how sweet it is!
Read 101 Reviews

• A+

• A

• 31,827 Population

Huntersville

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 169

Current Resident: I have lived in Huntersville NC for almost 15 years. The area is smaller than others, but is full of fun things to do! I went to school here, learned how to drive here and since my family still lives here, I visit in the summer and on holidays when I am home from school. It is the perfect place for starting a family. throughout my time living in Huntersville, I have watched newly married couples move in across the street and have their first, and sometimes even second, kid before wishing them farewell when they decided its time to move into a new home.
Read 169 Reviews

• A+

• B+

• 53,302 Population

Weddington

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 37

Current Resident: Weddington is constantly growing in terms of shopping centers, jobs, and houses. With all the good that this brings the community, it does cause the problem of overcrowding in schools. No new high schools have been built in recent years, and its starting to show. Weddington High School has amazing academics and phenomenal athletic programs, but classrooms are bursting with students. I would say redistricting was a practical solution, but every other school in the county has this problem. The community of Weddington is very welcoming. Though there aren't any big attractions around, there is still plenty to keep you busy and many places to eat, though its mostly chain restaurants. Its only about a 30 min drive to Charlotte and the CLT Airport, and nearly equal driving distance to the Appalachian Mountains and Outer Banks. It is a great place to settle and to raise children of all ages. In short, Weddington is an above average, though fairly standard suburb and a great community.
Read 37 Reviews

• A

• A

• 10,388 Population

Matthews

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 120

Current Resident: Matthews has an overall friendly attitude. You walk into a store and people greet you, ask you about your day, and are definitely ready and willing to have a nice conversation. Very family friendly with movie theatres, ice rinks, trampoline parks, go-carting, mini golf, and honestly way more than can be listing forever. I never have a hard time entertaining visitors from out of state. Charlotte is constantly growing, so job opportunities are booming. My biggest concern is the public high schools. The public schools I have gone to and visited usually have a vibe of disrespect. It’s more than not wanting to go to school, like most teenagers, it’s like students are outwardly hostile to the people around them because of their environment.
Read 120 Reviews

• A

• A

• 30,760 Population

Wake Forest

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 125

Current Resident: We love it here! My family and I moved to Wake Forest from a Sacramento, CA suburb and our quality of life has increased significantly. Their parks and recreation programs are exceptional and very affordable. There is everything you need within driving distance, and if you live near downtown, everything you need is really close by. Lots of businesses that are well supported by the residents, especially in the downtown area. There is a terrific local art and music scene too! I love that we can still drive by developed areas and still see lots and lots of trees. People are friendly and welcoming. It's the perfect mixture of urban and rural, and I am very grateful that we made it our home.
Read 125 Reviews

• A

• A

• 38,473 Population

Cornelius

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 26

Current Resident: Cornelius is a wonderful little town outside of Charlotte! With Lake Norman, Uptown, and other fun activities just a short drive away, it is the perfect place for families, young professionals, or retirees.
Read 26 Reviews

• A

• A

• 28,052 Population

Oak Ridge

• Town in North Carolina
• 19

Former Resident: I grew up here and seven years after moving I still consider it home. One of the best places to raise a family being in a small town with a decent amount to do. Not to mention Greensboro is only half an hour away which has lots to do. Basketball is huge here and the local public school offers every sport for kids to play. I played Softball, basketball, and cheered as a kid here and the town was a whole community through this, a great way to get to know people. There is also a local pool that many people go too. I love this town and highly recommend this as a place to raise a family.
Read 19 Reviews

• A

• A

• 6,728 Population

Avery Creek

• Town in North Carolina

• A

• B+

• 2,320 Population

Marvin

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 6

Current Resident: Marvin is a great community for individuals who want their kids to be given a great education. All of the schools in Marvin have amazing teachers who create a fantastic learning environment. One factor I would change about Marvin is its diversity. Most of the individuals in the Marvin suburb are primarily of the Caucasian race. I would love to see more races present in Marvin, so individusls could be exposed to other cultures, which would enhance their knowledge of the world.
Read 6 Reviews

• A

• A+

• 6,174 Population

Harrisburg

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 36

Current Resident: I love Harrisburg, it's such a cute and quint place to live. It's on the road of expansion now, and if I could change anything, I would say the traffic in the intersection on Highway 49 and Veteran's Bridge. It's nearly impossible to drive in that area from like 3:30-6:00. It's also a bit dangerous too. Since most of the left turning lanes don't get green lights for very long, people will take any small chance they get to turn and it's so dangerous.
Some places also need extra entrances so that it doesn't get super busy. They did that at the high school, and it's helped so much.
I'm very excited for the Chick Fil A that's in the process of being built right now. I just hope it's built and opened by the time I graduate.
Read 36 Reviews

• A

• A

• 14,856 Population

Lewisville

• Town in North Carolina
• 32

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 32 Reviews

• A

• A

• 13,516 Population

Knightdale

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 62

Current Resident: I love Knightdale! It’s small yet accommodating for that family that wants a slower and quiet lifestyle. It’s in a prime location where you can easily jump on the belt line and get to neighboring larger cities within 30-45 mins. Low crimes, good schools, prime real estate are all great qualities to consider when moving to Knightdale.
Read 62 Reviews

• A

• B

• 14,363 Population

Royal Pines

• Town in North Carolina

• A

• B+

• 4,829 Population

Rolesville

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC
• 15

Current Resident: When I first moved to Rolesville, it was one of the smallest towns in North Carolina. Since I've lived here, it has grown tremendously. It's still a small town, but it's much more lively now. The growth of businesses is evident as new neighborhoods are being built and traffic through town increases. There are still certain areas of Rolesville that are very "country", but there are also plenty of things to do while in town. At the moment, it's not as diverse as it should be, but it's definitely getting there as it continues to grow.
Read 15 Reviews

• A

• B+

• 6,308 Population

Biltmore Forest

• Town in North Carolina

• A

• B+

• 1,517 Population

Pineville

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 12

Current Resident: I absolutely enjoy Pineville, it's nice and cozy. Although it isn't too big, it has so much to offer as far as different restaurants and local community activities. I love going down the to park during the summertime where the rec center plans movie nights and even festivals! This small suburb gives you the small community feel but with big city amenities.
Read 12 Reviews

• A

• A-

• 8,418 Population

Waxhaw

• Suburb of Charlotte, NC
• 60

Current Resident: I recently moved to Waxhaw NC from Buffalo NY. It was the best decision I've every made in my life. I love that everything you could even want is no further than a maximum 20 min drive. You're not far from a beautiful big city (Charlotte) that is clean, growing and thriving. The stars at night are beautiful since there is not many street lights and the nature is breathtaking. Not to mention the weather.
Good God, every day is prettier than the day before!Maybe it's the fact that I left one of the most disgusting places on earth (Buffalo NY) that made me love this city so much but either way I am blessed to get the opportunity to build a life and raise a family in a beautiful place where the sun is shining and the government isnt knocking at your door trying to take everything they can. To anyone thinking of leaving NY for change, do it. Thank you NC for saving my life.
Read 60 Reviews

• A

• A-

• 13,343 Population

Fearrington Village

• Town in North Carolina

• A

• A

• 2,784 Population