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5 Things You Should Know BEFORE Moving to Holly Springs, NC {2025 Guide}

Ryan Fitzgerald Ryan Fitzgerald
Mar 27, 2025 • 11 min read
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5 Things You Should Know BEFORE Moving to Holly Springs, NC {2025 Guide}
WRITTEN BY
Ryan Fitzgerald
Ryan Fitzgerald
Realtor

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!

Chapters
01
Holly Springs is a Safe Place to Live
02
Affordability of Homes in Holly Springs
03
The Weather in Holly Springs
04
Things to Do in Holly Springs
05
Restaurants and Breweries in Holly Springs

Living in Holly Springs, NC

Are you considering a move to Holly Springs, NC? Find out why so many folks want to live in Holly Springs! 

Holly Springs is one of the best places to live in North Carolina and the country, so it is no wonder that many families and young professionals want to live here. Whether you're ready to dive into this article or would prefer to contact us to talk to one of our Realtors firsthand, we are here to help you.

With a population of 46,271, Holly Springs has grown around 5-6% over the past ten years. Found in a convenient location, Holly Springs is about 20 minutes from the State Capital and other nearby towns including Cary and Apex. 

Holly Springs isn't just another suburb – it's a community that defies expectations. Nestled in Wake County, this town is a perfect blend of small-town charm and modern convenience that catches everyone by surprise.

Everything is seemingly new in Holly Springs, from the semiprofessional ballpark to Holly Springs Town Center for shopping and dining. The weather in Holly Springs includes a mild Winter with warmer Springs and Falls, allowing for golf nearly year-round. The homes for sale in Holly Springs are new and affordable, with many unique neighborhoods being developed.

Here are five things to know before moving to Holly Springs

1. Holly Springs is a Safe Place to Live

Holly Springs is a safe place to live. Ranked as the fifth best place in North Carolina to raise a family, safety is a top priority for many homebuyers. The residents will be the first to tell you, and a quick Google search will show just how proud they are of their town.

With a crime rate lower than the state average, many families are moving here for its high safety rating alone. The crime rate in Holly Springs is 11.67 per 1,000 residents and it is considered 39% safer than other cities of similar size in the United States. Theft is the most common type of crime. 

Here are the annual crimes in Holly Springs: 

Violent Crime  Property Crime  Total Crime 
Number of Crimes  40 500 540
Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents  0.86 10.81 11.67

Here are your chances of becoming a victim of crime in Holly Springs vs. the rest of North Carolina: 

Crime Type  Holly Springs  North Carolina 
Violent Crime  one in 1,157 one in 256
Proprety Crime  one in 93 one in 48

 

*Data sourced from NeighborhoodScout

Holly Springs has some great family neighborhoods and easy access to shopping, dining, and the airport. If you're looking for a great place to live in the Triangle area, Holly Springs is a great town to check out. 

One of the many things folks love about Holly Springs is how functional and livable the town is. The city's overall grade is an A+, which is hard to beat. 

Some of the best neighborhoods in Holly Springs include:

12 Oaks

12 Oaks is one of Holly Springs's most prestigious golf communities. 12 Oaks offers beautiful homes for sale and easy access to everything the City has to offer. The community provides a top-notch clubhouse, pool, and workout facility and is sometimes used as a wedding venue.

The Oakview Elementary School is located on the cusp of the neighborhood, making it easy for parents to pick up and drop off their children for school. There is a Target within a 5-minute drive, a movie theater, countless restaurants, and shopping. The ballpark is also right down the road. 

Woodcreek 

Woodcreek is a new community in Holly Springs with some Apex addresses. The community is on the border of both towns giving it the best of both worlds. Whether you want to head to Holly Springs Town Center or the Beaver Creek Commons in Apex, you are only a short ride from them both.

Woodcreek is one of the more popular neighborhoods for folks moving to Holly Springs, NC, because it offers so many things to do and ways for people to meet one another in the area.

Wescott

Wescott is another great community that people living in Holly Springs rave about. If you're moving to the Holly Springs area and looking for a more mature yet still newer neighborhood, you need to check out Wescott. You will find Wescott real estate sitting on decent sized lots.

Holly Glen

Holly Glen offers prime real estate and is another large community in Holly Springs that is sought-after. The community offers excellent amenities, with a great clubhouse, pool, and waterslide.

It is a little further out than the previously mentioned communities, so be ready to deal with a little more traffic than you otherwise may need to when driving down Route 55 in Holly Springs. The good news is that excellent schools and top-rated shopping are close by. 

Holly Springs is the fifth best place to raise a family in NC graphic

2. Affordability of Homes in Holly Springs

The homes for sale in Holly Springs are affordable compared to where people are moving from. Most people moving to Holly Springs come from all over the country, with many coming from places like the northeast, Virginia, Florida, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

The Holly Springs real estate market is a healthy one. Even though housing prices are 7% higher than the national average, those who move here are shocked at how affordable the homes are in Holly Springs compared to other areas. Seeing slow and steady appreciation every year, the town is built on a foundation of being a great place to live and raise a family.

The best part about buying a home in Holly Springs, NC, is that it is one of the most risk-averse markets in the country should we hit a recession. With plentiful jobs here in Holly Springs, there is too much opportunity for a serious setback like elsewhere.

With a cost of living that is only 4% higher than the national average, residents get take advantage of utlitiy costs that are 6% lower than the national average and transportation expenses that are 8% lower. 

If you're moving to Raleigh or anywhere in Wake County, you must ride through Holly Springs. 

new townhomes in a suburban area with driveways and garages

3. The Weather in Holly Springs

Holly Springs offers folks a comfortable environment to live nearly year-round. We experience some severe rain from time to time, but that helps keep the grass green, the air fresh, and the appreciation for lovely days coming back repeatedly. 

Best known for its humid subtropical climate, Holly Springs residents can expect hot and humid summers and cold and short winters. The city receives regular rainfall throughout the year, with an average of 47 inches

Weather in Holly Springs, North Carolina

4. Things to Do in Holly Springs

One of the best parts about Holly Springs is its proximity to everything the Triangle area offers. This is the number one driving force behind the town's continued growth—a short commute to work, the airport, shopping, dining, and much more.

Holly Springs offers an excellent combination of location between Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Cary and affordability. Folks working in one of these nearby areas will find Holly Springs an attractive 20-40-minute commute to work.

With its proximity to Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill, you can be at NC State, Duke University, or UNC-Chapel Hill within 40-50 minutes. Access to some of the most outstanding universities in the world also gives you an excellent opportunity to cheer on your local team.

The historic Leslie-Alford-Mims House has even turned into a sought-after wedding venue

NC State University Clock Tower on a sunny day with an NC Flag

Many of the professors who work at NC State University live in Holly Springs or one of its nearby neighbors. Folks from all over the country are moving to Holly Springs and loving it. 

Healthcare is huge in the Holly Springs/Raleigh area, with some of the best hospitals in the world, with Duke, UNC, and WakeMed all providing top-notch healthcare.

There are many things to do in Holly Springs, from the minor league baseball team, the Holly Springs Salamanders, to hiking nature trails to the quick and easy drive to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, the North Carolina beaches, and the mountains. 

Home to multiple community centers, extensive bicycle and walking trails, numerous sports leagues, annual festivals and community events, and due to its proximity to cultural attractions in the Triangle, you will never be bored when living in Holly Springs. 

Check out these local favorite things to do in Holly Springs: 

Bass Lake Park: Featuring walking trails, a nature center, and picnic pavillions. 

Holly Springs Farmers Market: Featuring farm-fresh produce, pasture-raised meats, and baked goods. 

Holly Springs Community Library: Choose from a good selection of books. 

Wine 100: Sample different wines and sit outside on the patio. 

5. Restaurants and Breweries in Holly Springs

Holly Springs has some great restaurants for those coming to town and looking to try local cuisine. There are also some great restaurants in Raleigh and top-rated restaurants in Cary, which are only a short drive away.

Aside from the chain restaurants found in any fast-growing part of the country, Holly Springs has some local spots that have become fan favorites of the folks living here.

Check out these local favorite restaurants and breweries in Holly Springs, NC: 

Pimiento Tea Room 

Visit the Pimiento Tea Room with family and friends to enjoy a wide selection of teas, craft beverages, and a rotating menu of southern-inspired dishes. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch, this beloved restaurant features live music and a supper club on select nights. 

Two friends enjoying a cup of tea together

Mi Cancun Mexican Restaurant

For all of you Mexican food lovers, fear not. Holly Springs has some great Mexican restaurants, and the best is Mi Cancun Mexican Restaurant, also conveniently located in Holly Springs Town Center. It's a great spot for tacos, burritos, and margaritas. 

Osha Thai Kitchen and Sushi

Many folks love Asian cuisine, and Holly Springs has much to offer in this department. Osha Thai Kitchen and Sushi is a top-notch Thai and sushi restaurant offering so much more, including some classics like stir fry and curry dishes.

If you're looking for a Thai or sushi fix, you'll want to stop in and grab a bite at Osha Thai Kitchen and Sushi.

Cristo's Bistro  

If you're anything like me, Italian is a go-to when answering the question, 'What do I want to eat?' Finding great Italian restaurants in Holly Springs is something you'll be okay with because Cristo's Bistro is top-notch. 

My Way Tavern

My Way Tavern has a lot of different locations around the Triangle, including one in Downtown Raleigh, one of Raleigh's best neighborhoods. The Holly Springs location is a favorite among many people living in Holly Springs or even Fuquay-Varina as a great place to grab your buddies and watch the game.

My Way Tavern is your classic American bar food menu, with burgers, chicken wings, and fries rounding out a terrific meal.

Bombshell Brewing

Brewing great beer isn't always a man's job; ask the ladies who created Bombshell Brewing, one of Holly Springs's top breweries.

The Bombshell Brewing Company has taken off locally and received some national attention. You'll find the Bombshell Brewing ladies have decades of experience brewing truly great beer for the locals of Holly Springs. 

Carolina Brewing

Carolina Brewing is another great local brewery in Holly Springs with an awesome taproom. The residents of Holly Springs love Carolina Brewing Company, also known as CBC, for their great beer and the great time you'll have when visiting their taproom.

With great beer and great food trucks, you can't go wrong with a visit to CBC. 

Pouring beer into glass from a tap

Pros and Cons of Living in Holly Springs 
Pros: 
  • Great location 
  • Affordable real estate 
  • Low crime rate 
  • Beautiful weather 
  • Excellent restaurants 
  • Job opportunities
  • Highly-rated schools
  • Family-friendly things to do 
  • Green spaces and parks 
Cons: 
  • New construction traffic
  • High humidity 

Methodology 

The affordability of homes, crime rate, cost of living, weather and climate, neighborhoods, things to do, and amenitites were considered when determing what to know about life in Holly Springs, NC. Data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Town of Holly Springs, Payscale, and NeighborhoodScout

FAQs 

Why move to Holly Springs, NC? 

Holly Springs is a growing subrub near Raleigh that offers small-town charm with access to big-city amenities. Families, young professionals, and retirees love living in Holly Springs for its growing job market, great parks, excellent education, community events, affordable homes, and great restaurants. 

Is Holly Springs rural or urban? 

Featuring a mixture of established neighborhoods and new subdivisions, Holly Springs is considered a suburban area that is known for its growing population and location within the Research Triangle. 

Does Holly Springs, NC have a downtown? 

Yes, Holly Springs has a lovely downtown district which is home to many thriving businesses including local boutiques, restaurants, yoga studios, and wine bars. 

Moving to Holly Springs - Final Thoughts 

Holly Springs isn't just a place to live – it's a lifestyle. It's where modern convenience meets small-town charm, where families thrive, and where community truly means something.

There are many great reasons to move to Holly Springs, and if you have any further questions, we would love to help you answer them. Please get in touch with our team of experienced Realty Specialists and let us know the best ways to help you. 

We have helped many families moving to Holly Springs from California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and the entire northeast. Most residents in Holly Springs are initially from around the country, so you will have no problem making new friends. 

Ready to talk? Our local Realtors can't wait to help you with your move to Holly Springs, you can contact us here to get in touch!

WRITTEN BY
Ryan Fitzgerald
Ryan Fitzgerald
Realtor

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!

Chapters
01
Holly Springs is a Safe Place to Live
02
Affordability of Homes in Holly Springs
03
The Weather in Holly Springs
04
Things to Do in Holly Springs
05
Restaurants and Breweries in Holly Springs

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