Living in Raleigh

The Triangle of North Carolina

In the heart of North Carolina is the region we call “the Triangle.” Why is it called the Triangle?

The answer is the presence of three prestigious academic institutions. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, and Duke University is located in Durham. If an imaginary line were drawn from each of these locations to the next, it would form a triangle.

The Lay of the Land

Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, and is located in Wake County. In Wake County there are several cities, townships and unincorporated communities.

There is, of course, Raleigh itself, which is mostly in Wake County, though a small part is in Durham County. There is also Durham, which is mostly in Durham County, with a small part in Wake County. Another community to know is Cary, which is located largely in Wake County, but with a small section in Chatham County.

Additional communities include Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville (mostly in Wake County with a small part in Durham County), Rolesville, Wake Forest (mostly in Wake County with a small part in Franklin County), Wendell, and Zebulon (mostly in Wake County with a small part in Nash County).

Adjacent counties are: Granville County (to the north), Franklin County (to the northeast), Nash County (to the east), Johnston County (to the southeast), Harnett County (to the southwest), Chatham County (to the west), and Durham County (to the northwest).

What is the Cost of Living in Raleigh?

We turn to Sperling’s Best Places for data on cost of living in Raleigh. Sperling’s has an index that places the USA average cost of living at 100. Values above 100 are higher than average costs, and values below 100 are lower than average costs.

On that scale, the site gives Raleigh an overall score of 102.3. That is extremely affordable considering that you are living in the state’s capital city. For most metropolitan areas, you will have to pay steep costs to enjoy what the city has to offer. But that is not so in Raleigh.

Costs that are lower than the national average in Raleigh include utilities, transportation, health and miscellaneous expenses. Grocery costs are close to average.

What Does Housing Cost in Raleigh?

Housing is the only area with a significant increase over the US average. The median home cost in the USA is $291,700. In Raleigh, it is $346,600. Again, that is quite affordable for a vibrant city like this.

Employment Opportunities in Raleigh

According to WalletHub in 2021, Raleigh is among the best cities for starting a career. That same year, Milken Institute rated the city’s economy as the 5th highest performing nationwide.

The USA median household income in 2019 was $68,703. The Census reports that between 2015 and 2019, the median household income for Raleigh was $67,266. So, that is really close to the national average.

Some of the top employers in Raleigh include the State of North Carolina, WakeMed, North Carolina State University, Wake County Public School System, UNC Rex Healthcare, the City of Raleigh, and Wake County.

Raleigh Education

As you might have guessed based on the list of top employers above, education is a big deal in Raleigh and the Triangle.

If you have younger children, they will likely attend the aforementioned Wake County Public School System. A number of magnet schools, alternative high schools, and early college high schools are available as well. There are also a variety of charter schools and private schools. So, there are considerable options.

For higher education, students in this area may attend North Carolina State University, Wake Technical Community College, Meredith College, William Peace University, St. Augustine’s University, Skema Business School, Strayer University, ECPI College of Technology, Duke University, the University of North Carolina, and others.

Crime in Raleigh

On a scale ranking low crime at 1 and high crime at 100, Sperling’s sets the US average violent crime rate at 22.7. Violent crime in Raleigh is lower than average on that scale at 20.3.

Getting Around Raleigh

It is easy to get around Raleigh and the Triangle using the system of interstates and US Routes that traverse the area.

If you want to use public transportation, you can take the bus operated by GoRaleigh or the GoTriangle commuter bus.

The city is also a welcoming place for cyclists and pedestrians.

There is more good news in the form of low commute times. Sperling’s says that the US average one-way commute time is 26.4 minutes. But the average time to commute one direction in Raleigh is only 23.4 minutes.

According to Sperling’s, 78.5% of people in Raleigh drive to work alone, and 8.9% carpool. 7.1% work from home, and 2% use public transportation. It is likely work at home figures have increased since the pandemic.

How is the Weather in Raleigh?

Living in Raleigh, you can expect summertime highs of around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter lows dropping to around 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are about 46 average annual inches of rain and about 4 inches of annual snow. So, four distinct seasons await you.

The site has a comfort index where the most comfortable locations score a 10. The US average is 7. Raleigh’s score is 7.5, so it is a more comfortable climate than the US average.

Leisure and Entertainment in Raleigh

Even though Raleigh is not a major tourism hotspot, it easily could be. There is so much to see and do, no matter what you are interested in.

If you are into museums, just a few to check out include the African American Cultural Complex, the Contemporary , and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Love sports? Some local teams to follow include the Carolina Hurricanes, North Carolina FC, North Carolina Courage, and Carolina Mudcats.

If the outdoors are more your thing, there are more than 8,100 acres of park land in Raleigh alone, and even more beyond.

You also can enjoy delicious local eateries, boutique shops, and nightlife.