The Ultimate Guide to Clayton's Top 10 Neighborhoods

Clayton, NC is booming with residential options for every lifestyle. Which neighborhoods offer the best value, amenities, and quality of life? This comprehensive guide showcases the ten finest communities Clayton has to offer.

Clayton's evolution from a small railroad town to a vibrant suburban destination has created a diverse tapestry of neighborhoods. Each community brings something unique to the table.

Buyers searching for homes in Clayton have numerous excellent options. What defines "best" depends entirely on individual preferences and priorities.

The Raleigh Realty team brings extensive experience in Clayton real estate. They've helped countless families discover their ideal match within the town's varied neighborhoods.

Some buyers prioritize golf course living with manicured fairways just steps from their door. Others seek equestrian properties with ample space for horses to roam. Many families value planned developments with pools, playgrounds, and social activities built into the community structure.

For those who prefer independence and privacy, Clayton also offers neighborhoods with spacious lots and minimal restrictions—no HOA dictating house colors or lawn maintenance schedules.

The wonderful thing about Clayton? All these options coexist within the same charming town.

Are you interested in exploring homes for sale in Clayton? The following neighborhoods represent the best of the best in local real estate. Each offers distinctive advantages worth considering.

For those planning a move to Clayton, understanding these neighborhood differences is essential for making the right choice.

Do you have questions about these communities or want to see them in person? Contact Raleigh Realty or call (919) 249-8536 to arrange tours of Clayton's most desirable neighborhoods.

Clayton, NC

The town of Clayton is located just east of the state Capital of Raleigh and is home to many who work in the Capital and Research Triangle Park. The last phase of the Triangle Expressway, or 540, called the Southeast Extension, will have an interchange outside Clayton, allowing for much shorter commute times to Cary, Durham, and North Raleigh.

The town is a short 2.5-hour drive to the coast and about four hours to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Clayton is approximately halfway between Bangor, Maine, and Key Largo, Florida, which puts it slap bang in the middle of the country and is twenty minutes from I95.

One of the largest construction projects in the state is underway at the new Novo Nordisk facility. It will take about four years to complete and employ over 700 workers. This is part of a growing biotechnology industry that has grown up around Clayton.

Schools are another reason for the growth in the area, as many Johnston County Schools get high marks and are very popular with parents and students. Johnston County Schools currently operate on a traditional calendar, and schools are assigned based on boundary maps surrounding each school.

The town of Clayton and the surrounding neighborhoods with a Clayton mailing address are growing steadily. New subdivisions are constantly starting, while established subdivisions open new phases to keep up with the demand. Re-sale homes can be found in various price ranges and conditions. If the homes have been updated with new kitchens, appliances, flooring, etc., and are in a certain price range, they tend to sell quickly, sometimes immediately.

Home prices have typically been lower in Clayton and Johnston County than in other parts of the Triangle, while the quality of the homes is equally as good, if not better. This has been largely due to the availability of land at more affordable prices, but that is also changing as demand for homes increases. You will find cheap real estate in Clayton for growing families, empty nesters, active adults, 55-plus folks, and first-time home buyers. 

Here are the best places to live in Clayton

Broadmoor/Broadmoor West

Broadmoor is located in the Cleveland community close to the area known as 40/42 because of its proximity to the major interchange of both highways. The homes available usually range in size from around 2,000 square feet to just over 4,000 square feet. 

The original homes were all brick built from around 1996 on. The neighborhood has a community pool, clubhouse, and playground. Broadmoor West currently offers new construction homes starting in the mid to high $300,000’s.

Flowers Plantation

Flowers Plantation is one of the largest residential developments in the Triangle, offering homes for first-time home buyers to custom-built executive homes and lots in between. The very well-maintained community comprises many different neighborhoods with homes for sale starting in the $200,000's up to $800,000. 

There is a retail center, Flowers Crossroads, which is anchored by a Harris Teeter supermarket and CVS drug store, along with specialty stores and restaurants. Flowers Plantation residents can enjoy walking trails, two pools, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Some of the neighborhoods are in the gated section of the development, while others are not and thus have lower HOA dues.

Glen Laurel

Glen Laurel has long been the top neighborhood in Clayton for higher-end custom-built homes. Built around the Neuse Golf Course, the subdivision offers older homes, many of which are updated, on the golf course with mature landscaping and newer phases with new homes built by regional semi-custom and local custom builders.

The homes for sale in Glen Laurel start in the mid to upper $200,000 range. There are usually many different home styles available, and several basement homes can be found in Glen Laurel. It is located five minutes from Downtown Clayton and in the city limits, with services provided by Clayton.

Portofino

The premier equestrian community in the Triangle is Portofino in Clayton. A world-class horse barn and show rings, along with cross-country fences, make this the ideal neighborhood for the horse enthusiast. But there are plenty of nonhorsy reasons people choose to live in Portofino.

Built on hundreds of wooded acres along the Neuse River, the development has preserved many natural elements while providing bike and walking trails, canoe access on the river, fishing ponds, and more. The magnificent clubhouse and pool reserved for Portofino residents are one of a kind and used for community cookouts, birthday parties, and the occasional wedding.

Soon to be a completely gated community, Portofino is home to several new neighborhoods offering some of the finest homes in the Triangle. Homes start in the high $300,000's, with many homes on large private lots.

Riverwood

Riverwood is the name of two neighborhoods in Clayton, Riverwood Athletic Club and Riverwood Golf. Riverwood Athletic Club is a large, planned development with many phases and types of housing.

Single-family homes predominantly, as well as townhomes and apartments. This neighborhood is home to two schools, Riverwood Elementary, and Riverwood Middle, along with a fitness center and an indoor and outdoor pool.

Homes for sale in Riverwood start in the mid $100,000s up to the $400,000's. Riverwood Golf is a short drive away and features golf course living with homes priced from the mid $200,000’s to the mid $500,000’s.

Taft Woods East/West

Taft Woods East is a new neighborhood of homes built by area builder Legacy Custom Homes. The homes start in the high $300,000’s up to the mid $400,000’s. Taft Woods East is unique for the size of the lots and the wooded privacy offered to homeowners.

Located five minutes from the Flowers Plantation development with shopping, recreation, and good schools. Taft Woods West is next door and features custom-built homes that were built in the early to mid-2000s. These homes are also on larger wooded lots, and prices start in the mid $300,000’s.

Tuscany

Tuscany is a neighborhood of single-family homes and patio homes located on Highway 42 East, just minutes from Downtown Clayton and Flowers Plantation. The subdivision has a community pool and clubhouse.

New phases are called The Vistas at Tuscany and The Enclave at Tuscany. Homes in Tuscany start in the low $200,000s up to the mid $300,000s.

Winston Pointe

Winston Pointe is a neighborhood of new and resale homes just outside the city limits of Clayton, so there are no city taxes. The subdivision comprises single-family homes built by a selection of regional builders.

The homes for sale in Winston Pointe range from the mid $200,00 to the mid $ 300,000. A community pool is planned, and it should be completed in 2017. House plans include ranch and two-story homes.