Best Neighborhoods and Places to Live in Raleigh

Moving to Raleigh is a popular decision these days. The city has grown recently — so how can you choose from the best neighborhoods in Raleigh?

Raleigh is a hub for various technology companies, the finest academic institutions, and the leading agriculture industry, so jobs are plentiful across various career paths. Vacation planning is easy, considering it is only a couple of hours to some of the country’s best beaches an easy drive to the mountains for some of the most scenic hiking trails. Raleigh truly is a great place to live, work, and play. 

But what neighborhood is best for you?

 

Well, it depends on your tastes. Contact us and we’ll help you find what you’re looking for in your price range. Some folks are looking for areas like the hustle and bustle of Inside the Beltline home, while others want the serenity of an older, more mature neighborhood. In the meantime, keep reading to learn more about some of the best neighborhoods in Raleigh, in no particular order, to see if any seem like a good fit for you.

 

Methodology disclaimer: We sourced median home prices for each neighborhood from Neighborhood Scout in July 2023.

1. Oakwood

Best for: Young professionals

Median home price: $645,798

Located in Downtown Raleigh, Oakwood is a historic district that dates back to the 1800s. It's important to note that the neighborhood wasn't always a great place to live, and it took time to develop into something special. The Oakwood neighborhood is loaded with incredible oak trees. It is a popular area among professionals working in Downtown Raleigh, particularly among the Raleigh newcomers. 

 

In this neighborhood, you will find all types of real estate, from restored Grand Victorians built in the 1800s to colonial-style homes to newly constructed homes. Oakwood is a great spot for a young professional or family because it offers a short walk to Downtown Raleigh, where there are great restaurants and bars. 

 

The many trees in this neighborhood are part of the appeal since it gives a cozy neighborhood feel to the bustling downtown. Oakwood is one of Raleigh’s more expensive neighborhoods because of its prime location and historic culture. 

 

Check out homes for sale in Oakwood to find your home in this trendy neighborhood.

2. Cameron Village

Best for: Young professionals with bustling social lives

Median home price: $729,174

Cameron Village offers everything you could want within walking distance. Located west of downtown and close to North Carolina State, you’ll find one of the best outdoor shopping centers, the Village District. Check out the food, including one of the best brunch places, the Flying Biscuit Café. You’ll never tire of the locally owned boutiques, yoga studios for fitness fanatics, spas, and even a state-of-the-art library if you want to get work done with minimal distractions.

 

The Cameron Village shopping area offers great views of the city skyline as well. Real estate in this area begins at around $550,000 and ranges from ranch-style homes to historic properties. It's ideal for young professionals, investors seeking properties to rent to college students, and established folks looking to settle in their homes for the long haul.

 

Check out homes for sale in Cameron Village for the perfect home to live in through all life’s changes.

3. Boylan Heights

Best for: Envious location

Median home price: $662,129

Boylan Heights is one of the most sought-after areas in Raleigh. It was established in 1907 as one of the prime suburban Raleigh neighborhoods and continues to share in the rich history of Raleigh’s development. Architectural homes found on the street include transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revivals, Dutch Colonials, and Foursquares with Colonial Revival or Craftsman detailing.

 

Boylan Heights is located west of Downtown Raleigh and includes Dorothea Dix Park, which has one of the best farmer's markets in Raleigh, fields, and walking paths. Homeowners recognize the monetary worth and sentimental value to the community, so finding a home in this neighborhood is an opportunity that won't last long.

 

Check out homes in Boylan Heights for a home in one of Raleigh’s most popular neighborhoods.

4. Hayes Barton

Best for: Larger homes and lots

Median home price: $1.3 million

 

Hayes Barton is one of the most popular and expensive places to live in Raleigh. With that desirability comes a considerably higher price point. The excellent location in Downtown Raleigh, the neighborhood's history, the homes with mature trees, and the larger lots have much to offer any home buyer.

 

There are plenty of restaurants, businesses, and parks nearby, making this neighborhood perfect for almost anyone looking for a live, work, and play lifestyle. Because of the location and high demand, Hayes Barton homes usually cost well over a million dollars.

 

Check out homes in Hayes Barton.

5. Mordecai

Best for: Historic homes

Median home price: $616,736

 

Mordecai is a reasonably small neighborhood, but it’s also one of the most historic areas in Raleigh. Residents love the landmark homes while staying within walking distance of plenty of other restaurants, cafes, and things to do in Raleigh.

 

Mordecai has exploded recently as a fantastic place to live, largely thanks to its prime location. It's a bit north of Oakwood, making it a slightly further walk to all that Downtown Raleigh has to offer, but it’s developed a culture of its own.

 

Check out homes for sale in Mordecai for a historic home without sacrificing your metropolitan lifestyle.

6. Downtown Raleigh

Best for: Central location

Median home price: $529,117

You'll find Downtown Raleigh to be one of the most desirable places to live. If you’re a young professional looking for easy access to city life, Raleigh is the place to be.

 

Downtown offers single-family homes with yard space ideal for outdoor entertainment, townhouses that offer city skyline views, and condos within walking distance to bars, coffee shops, and some of the best restaurants in Raleigh. 

 

Check out homes in Downtown Raleigh for a can’t-beat-it location in one of North Carolina’s most popular cities.

7. South Park

Best for: Up-and-coming neighborhood

Median home price: $544,306

 

Located just south of Downtown Raleigh, South Park is a great up-and-coming neighborhood. It's just a heartbeat away from downtown city life but has excellent neighborly vibes. Like the neighborhoods of Oakwood and Mordecai, South Park has been experiencing some fast-paced new construction, with new commercial developments also coming.

 

South Park is a well-established neighborhood with a long-standing history. Homes in this neighborhood were built in the 1930s, but you’ll also find newly constructed homes consisting of two-story three-to-four-bedroom detached houses. This area encompasses Shaw University, the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, Little Rock Greenway Trail, John Chavis Memorial Park, and Transfer Co. Food Hall. 

 

Explore homes in South Park today to find your home in one of the best Raleigh neighborhoods.

8. North Hills

Best for: Family-friendly neighborhood

Median home price: $539,785

Located just North of the beltline, North Hills is developing rapidly and constantly changing. North Hills is a great area and neighborhood for anyone who’s moving to Raleigh. It has great schools, easy access to major highways, the Crabtree Valley Mall for shoppers, great restaurants, live entertainment, and countless parks.

 

Live music, movies, shopping, fine dining, fast food, community events, and farmer's markets are all part of regular living activities in North Hills. Anyone interested in golf will love that Carolina Country Club is right in your neighborhood. There are also multiple access points to the Greenway for runners, dog walkers, and bikers. 

 

Each home offers unique characteristics that are aesthetically appreciative and worth a look! It’s a great neighborhood for young families, young professionals, and older adult families alike, which is just one reason why its popularity has grown exponentially.

 

Check out homes for sale in North Hills to find a home in this trendy neighborhood.

9. Wakefield

Best for: Suburban feel 

Median home price: $317,363

 

If you like living in a suburban neighborhood with easy access to downtown, Wakefield is an area to consider. Wakefield is located in the northeast region of Raleigh and is 30 minutes from downtown. Easy access to grocery stores, healthcare facilities, and highly rated public schools exists. Do you love to golf? Many North Carolina natives do, too. This would be a convenient location to pick up with the TPC Wakefield Country Club in your neighborhood.

 

Check out homes in Wakefield today to find a home that offers a suburban lifestyle while still in Raleigh.

10. Falls River

Best for: Young families

Median home price: $515,000

 

Looking for an ideal family neighborhood? Falls River is an impeccable area to see. The majority of this neighborhood was built in 2002 and offers easy access to greenways adjacent to the Neuse River. Falling in the Wakefield School District, you can rest assured knowing you reside in a quality educational district. 

 

The median home price in Falls River is more affordable than other Raleigh neighborhoods — ideal for when you’re saving up to send kids off to college and want a family-friendly community.

 

Check out homes in Falls River to find the best home for your growing family.

11. Brier Creek

Best for: Location between Raleigh and Durham

Median home price: $904,274

Located in the heart of the Triangle — directly between Raleigh and Durham and just north of the Cary-Apex area — Brier Creek is a fast-growing neighborhood. Almost utterly undeveloped in the '90s, Brier Creek looks quite different now. It’s now home to thousands of single-family residences and condominiums and offers excellent access to RDU, Raleigh’s international airport.

 

Brier Creek Country Club, an Arnold Palmer-designed course, is a luxurious golf community offering million-dollar homes. Golfers who are moving to Raleigh will love the Brier Creek area. 

 

This neighborhood is particularly appealing to young professionals, families, and older adults, as the access to Interstates 40 and 540 offers easy transportation to other areas of the Triangle. Brier Creek is located in Wake County and has highly rated public schools—perfect for families.

Check out all the homes for sale in Brier Creek if you’re ready to give Wake County a chance.

12. Five Points

Best for: A blend of several Raleigh neighborhoods

Median home price: $698,134

 

The Five Points neighborhood is a bit of a misnomer, named after an infamous intersection where six roads meet. Some residents consider parts of the following neighborhoods to be in the Five Points area:

 

• Bloomsbury

• Hayes Barton

• Georgetown

• Villa Park

• Roanoke Park

• White Oak Forest

• Vanguard Park

• Oxford Park

 

It’s located north of Raleigh’s downtown and includes many restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. Five Points offers great views of the skyscrapers downtown, and it is easy to access Downtown Raleigh.

 

Check out homes in Five Points today to live in a neighborhood where you can enjoy a variety of architectural styles without traveling too far.

13. Bryson Village

Best for: Maximizing budget

Median home price: $376,945

 

Bryson Village is one of Raleigh's newest neighborhoods. It’s a D.R. Horton community offering fantastic homes, good-sized lots, and reasonable prices. The neighborhood is located next to Interstate 540, giving you easy access throughout the Triangle. Once the 540 loop is finished, transportation will be even more accessible.

 

Check out the availability of homes for sale in the Bryson Village neighborhood for a well-connected community with great value. 

14. Stonehenge

Best for: Retirees

Median home price: $476,874

 

Located north of Raleigh and below Interstate 540, Stonehenge is home to some great real estate. There are a variety of single-family homes and townhouses, so you can explore all types of homes to see what feels right for you. Amenities include several local clubs, including Seven Oaks Swim and Racquet Club.

 

Stonehenge is a great neighborhood to check out for those moving to Raleigh. It offers easy transportation around the Research Triangle Park area. This is a particularly great neighborhood with lots of options for retirees and seniors. Retirement communities include The Cypress of Raleigh, Abbotswood at Stonehenge, and Springmoor.

 

Check homes for sale in Stonehenge for a neighborhood you can enjoy throughout your retirement years.

15. Six Forks

Best for: Larger homes

Median home price: $502,746

 

Located in north Raleigh, Six Forks has a median home price of around $500,000. Many of the homes in the Six Forks area are between three and five bedrooms and were built between 1970 and 1990.

 

Six Forks is among the best neighborhoods for families in North Carolina. 

 

Check out Six Forks homes for sale in Raleigh for a larger home with all the space you need.

16. Oberlin and Glenwood Ave.

Best for: Historically significant homes

Median home price: $765,430

Real estate in the Glenwood neighborhood is on the pricey side, with a median sales price of over $700,000. In the Glenwood Ave./Pasquotank Dr. neighborhood, homes are older and were typically built between 1940 and 1970, though there are several residences that were built before 1940.

 

Real estate in the Oberlin and Glenwood Ave. area is mainly owner-occupied. Homes in this area vary widely in terms of the year they were built.

With easy access to downtown, this neighborhood is one of the best for raising a family in Raleigh. The Oberlin neighborhood offers access to some of the best Raleigh offers, such as the North Carolina Opera. Oberlin also had an important role in the civil rights movement, and was the site of several sit-ins in the 1960s.

 

When exploring your next move, check out all the Glenwood homes for sale in Raleigh.

17. North Carolina State University

Best for: Students

Median home price: $619,289

 

The North Carolina State University area is great for college students and real estate investors. The vacancy rates are meager in this neighborhood due to the prime location for students and employees of NCSU.

 

Because the area caters to students, there’s tons to do, plus several parks that cater to every need.

 

Check out all the homes for sale near NC State, whether you’re a student or a younger Raleigh newcomer looking for a neighborhood you’ll never get bored of.

FAQ

What is the nicest area in Raleigh?

Hayes Barton is one of the most popular areas to live in Raleigh, located just a couple miles north of Downtown.

What is the most affluent suburb in Raleigh?

Brier Creek is an outer Raleigh neighborhood between Durham and Raleigh. It’s a popular place to live, which makes it more expensive, with a median home price of just over $900,000. For a more central location, Hayes Barton is near Downtown Raleigh and has a median home price of $1.3 million.

What’s the most affordable neighborhood in Raleigh?

Of the Raleigh neighborhoods we’ve covered, Wakefield is the most affordable, with a median home price of $317,363.

How much money do I need to make to live in Raleigh?

Raleigh's median income is $40,520, and the cost of living is generally below the national average.

Discover Your Favorite Raleigh Neighborhood

Our local Realtors are excellent resources when it comes to navigating and finding the best neighborhoods in Raleigh. If you'd like some firsthand help, get in touch so we can assist you based on your goals. If you're not ready to talk to a Realtor just yet, join us in our Facebook group to learn more about the area from true locals before buying a home in Raleigh.

 

If you're looking for the best neighborhoods in other places around North Carolina, we have an article for each area that may appeal to you:

 

Best Neighborhoods in Cary, NC

Best Neighborhoods in Apex, NC

Best Neighborhoods in Holly Springs, NC

Best Neighborhoods in Durham, NC

Best Neighborhoods in Chapel Hill, NC

Best Neighborhoods in Garner, NC

Best Neighborhoods in Clayton, NC

Have a neighborhood you’d like to see added? Let us know in the comments below or check out the best neighborhoods in Charlotte, NC!