Smaller Towns

All of the followinbg towns are in the Triangle area, and all can be considered “up and coming.” They have experienced steady growth in the last 10 years, but are still pretty rural and they're definitely where you want to look if you want land, mature trees and a small-town atmosphere. 

Just because they are outside the main Triangle cities doesn't mean they're inaccessible -- just about all of them are located right off a main road and within 45 minutes of RTP airport.

You will want to check out the school assignments and the commute times on a community-by-community basis, though.

EMAIL ME for specific listings in each town.

CLAYTON (population: 16,000; southeast of Raleigh, just over the line into Johnston County; Clayton grew more than 28% since 2005. Clayton City Profile

FUQUAY VARINA (population:  18,000; located southwest of Raleigh and due south of Cary; even though it's only 8 square miles, it experienced 45% population growth since 2005. Fuquay Varina City Profile

GARNER (population: 27,500; located just south of downtown Raleigh), Garner City Profile

HILLSBOROUGH (population 6,000; located northwest of Durham), Hillsborough City Profile

HOLLY SPRINGS (population:  21,700; located southwest of Cary and Raleigh; has had 41% population growth since 2006. Holly Springs City Profile

KNIGHTDALE (population:  10,000; a growing "suburb" a couple of miles northeast of Raleigh), Knightdale City Profile

WAKE FOREST (poulation:  28,000; located 10 miles northeast of Raleigh; had 29% population growth since 2005. Wake Forest City Profile

MEBANE (population: 10,800; northwest of Durham and Hillsborough), Mebane City Profile

PITTSBORO (population  2700, it's the county seat of Chatham county, located southwest of Durham and Raleigh). Pittsboro City Profile

ROLESVILLE (population:  3,000, it's just a few miles southeast of Wake Forest and 12 miles northeast of Raleigh; Rolesville grew more than 135% since 2005. Rolesville City Profile

WENDELL (east of Raleigh, still in Wake County), Wendell City Profile

ZEBULON (east of Raleigh, still in Wake County), Zebulon City Profile