Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina, the seat of Wake County, and it is the second-most populous city in the state. The metro area is called the Research Triangle Park, named for its location to three major research universities: North Carolina State University (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill).

On its list of Best Places to Live, the U.S. News ranks Raleigh and the surrounding area #2 out of 150 metro areas. To be at the top of this list, a city has to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market, and have a high quality of life. Raleigh has all of that in abundance!

Growth

Raleigh has seen an incredible expansion in population and development over the past decade. The boom has been attributed to diverse young professionals moving into the area due to employment opportunities as well as retirees looking for an area that has convenient services, lots of activities, and great healthcare options.

Even though Raleigh is experiencing tremendous growth at the moment, it’s still possible to get a feeling of a small-town community with a bustling metropolis. So, you have all the amenities of shopping, restaurants, and the arts available right here while enjoying a peaceful environment in your neighborhood. If you want high energy, you can find that too. Closer to the downtown Raleigh area, there are sections that incorporate nightlife and entertainment with residential living.

Education

Raleigh has many K-12 educational opportunities from which to choose, from the Wake County Public School System with over 160,000 students to private and charter schools. The Wake Technical Community College (“Wake Tech”) system is the largest community college in the state, serving more than 70,000 adults annually. It has six campuses, three training centers, multiple community sites, and a comprehensive array of online learning options.

Demographics

The median age is 33.6 years with 40.3 % of the population married. Thirty-two percent of the population hold a Bachelor’s degree and 18.51% have a graduate degree. The mean income per household is $94,359 and $142,816 for married families.

Arts & Culture

Raleigh is a center for cultural attractions in North Carolina. It has several state-of-the-art performance venues, museums, and art galleries that feature local and professional artists and performers. Here are just a few.

Performance Venues

Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Red Hat Amphitheater
PNC Arena
North Carolina Symphony
North Carolina Opera
North Carolina Theatre
Carolina Ballet
Raleigh Symphony Orchestra

Museums

North Carolina Museum of Art
North Carolina Museum of History
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Marbles Kids Museum
Contemporary Art Museum (CAM Raleigh)

Raleigh, NC Homes for Sale