What are the best neigborhoods in Raleigh?

Where is the good life? For families? Singles?

My wife and I are planning on moving to Raleigh/Durham within 6 months. We'd like to find a nice neighborhood with decent schools and a home or buildable lot between 1 and 3 acres. Any Suggestions? Any areas to avoid for traffic/crime/etc?
Much appreciated.

I did the same thing you are doing before I moved here. What I have learned personally in the 8 years I have been here from WV is this:
1. Do not live in South Raleigh or SE Raleigh. This is a primarily black high crime area.
2. You will not find 1 acre of land anywhere. I thouhgt of buying a modular home and would have had to go way, way out of town for property and it still wasn't cheap.
3. There are subdivisions everywhere here. Not too many just plain houses on streets. Check the home owners dues. Some can be terrible.
4. Drive the area you are looking at on Sat. nite and on Sunday during the day. Check out the neighbors and neighborhood.
5. Outer lying areas like Knightdale, Garner, Clayton, Wendell, Zebulon are not that far from everything but is more rural, more property, smaller little towns. There are less blacks and Mexicans here and since towns are smaller, there is a little less crime.

Hi Scott,

I would recommend Cary/Apex/N.Raleigh areas for you based on your requirements of good schools and good family life. There are a lot of activities private and provided by the town's cultural depts that both adults and children can participate in. Traffic is not much of an issue here if you compare it to what you see in cities like Boston,N.Y, Washington D.C. etc.

For you to be able to buy a buildable lot, you would be looking at Chatham county, i.e. parts of Chapel Hill (excellent schools), Pittsboro or way out of the city limits in N. Raleigh.

I am a licensed Realtor in the Raleigh/Durham/Triangle area and would love to be able to help you. Please call me at 919-623-2211 at your convenience to discuss your future move.

Ruchi Bhatia

Hi Scott-
Not sure where you are in the process. I would highly reccomend your investiagitng Wake Forest which is about 12-15 miles northeast of Raleigh and sometimes considered NE Raleigh.
It is a growing, smaller town (25,000) as comapred to Cary (95,000). Wake Forest offers land to build, or just purchase a terrific home on an acre or more. Great schools, great people, and a great life... convenient to everything. For more info go to wwww.raleighhomesandproperty.com or call me 919-452-9524 and I would be happy to help you? Rick/Fonville Morisey Realty

Vicky in Raleigh, North Carolina said: I did the same thing you are doing before I moved here. What I have learned personally in the 8 years I have been here from WV is this:
1. Do not live in South Raleigh or SE Raleigh. This is a primarily black high crime area.
2. You will not find 1 acre of land anywhere. I thouhgt of buying a modular home and would have had to go way, way out of town for property and it still wasn't cheap.
3. There are subdivisions everywhere here. Not too many just plain houses on streets. Check the home owners dues. Some can be terrible.
4. Drive the area you are looking at on Sat. nite and on Sunday during the day. Check out the neighbors and neighborhood.
5. Outer lying areas like Knightdale, Garner, Clayton, Wendell, Zebulon are not that far from everything but is more rural, more property, smaller little towns. There are less blacks and Mexicans here and since towns are smaller, there is a little less crime.

That’s a very racist and xenophobic way of describing the city of Raleigh. If you go to Atlanta, you would see a lot of black neighborhood that are similar to Beverly hill neighborhood economically hence had a very low crime rate. The same is true for most of the higher-income neighborhoods everywhere in America. My point is it is not their “race” or their skin color that made the place crime ridden but their social status. They are poor so they steal, kill and do anything to survive. So if I were you I would say, don’t go the south side Raleigh because it is a low income neighborhood. I am a black man and work in on of the biotech companies and live in cary. A lot of black live there as well as and Whites but I rarely hear gun shots.

asres in Winston Salem, North Carolina said: That’s a very racist and xenophobic way of describing the city of Raleigh. If you go to Atlanta, you would see a lot of black neighborhood that are similar to Beverly hill neighborhood economically hence had a very low crime rate. The same is true for most of the higher-income neighborhoods everywhere in America. My point is it is not their “race” or their skin color that made the place crime ridden but their social status. They are poor so they steal, kill and do anything to survive. So if I were you I would say, don’t go the south side Raleigh because it is a low income neighborhood. I am a black man and work in on of the biotech companies and live in cary. A lot of black live there as well as and Whites but I rarely hear gun shots.

I disagree with you...It's not about being racist or hate against blacks/mexicans. The fact is that most of the crimes are committed in many cities are by blacks and mexicans. So, you can't blame people for wanting to stay away from bad areas with high population of blacks. I don't have any problems with blacks nor mexicans but I DO have problems with CRIMES! Whenever I see NC news, most of the crimes are committed by blacks. Yes, there are also so many nice blacks but some terrible gangs/thugs/murderers who are blacks. I'm sorrry but I'm not shameful to say that I want to live in white dominant neighborhoods cause I want to live in peace! So, don't blame those people who wants to live in safer neighborhood with less blacks instead blame on those black thugs who shoot and kill innocent people. Got it?

Thank you Jenny. This was not meant to be racist, only a "safe" suggestion to a family moving from the north to a large city. I come from a very small town in the north where you don't hear about murders and rape all throughout the city. I have black friends that would prefer to not live in SE Raleigh because of the high crimes. ex: man found shot to death in the middle of the road just last nite! Whether it is a poor part of town, an uneducated part or just a high crime area, plain and simple, it's not a very safe part of town. I spend alot of time in SE Raleigh, and I've seen it. The retired teacher that was shot to death outside of her home in broad daylight--that is behind my boyfriends home. So, yes, I do know what I am speaking about. Not just racist remarks. I have black neighbors and latino neighbors, but I live in a safer neighborhood. so by saying "This is a primarily black high crime area" this is not a racist remark, but a fact.

PLAN ON MOVING TO NC IN THE NEXT 2 YRS. I AM AN LPN.DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE JOBS FOR NURSES? AND WHICH AREA IS BEST FOR MY FAMILY? I'D LIKE TO LIVE IN A NICE SUBDIVISION BUT DON'T WANT TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF MY MEANS. AND WOULSD STILL LIKE A NICE AREA FOR KIDS

TO ADD TO MY LAST COMMENT. HOW MUCH DO THE HOUSES RUN? LOOKING FOR A 3 BDR.

Tiffany, I started a feud on here by trying to tell someone where the safer areas of town are, as I did checking also before I moved here a few years ago. I live outside of the city limits but still in the county. I don't know what an LPN makes in PA, but it wasn't much in WV. About double here. I have a 3 BDR house in a decent neighborhood with only $25.00 a month homeowners fees for a pool, tennis court and a clubhouse, and plenty of kids. I pd about $100K for mine. In WV that is outrageous! But here, that is minimal. Check out the Knightdale area and surrounding and Wake Forest (it's a growing small town outside of Raleigh). Both are within 30 minutes of driving to 3 major hospitals and many urgent cares and Dr. offices in Raleigh, and Durham. Go to careerbuilder.com and find jobs here. The News and Observor is the local paper you can check out.

My partner and I are also looking to relocate to NC Chapel Hill area. The one thing we are also fighting with is what areas are safe. I don't think its a matter of white, black, latino, etc., its a matter of low crime. If someone said they were relocating to my area I could give at least 2 or 3 neighborhoods to stay away from. I think that is what we are looking for and others. Unfortunately since we are not from the area we have to rely on nice honest people like the people who live in the area and come to this site. Any help we could get would be much appreciated.

vicky in Raleigh, North Carolina said: Thank you Jenny. This was not meant to be racist, only a "safe" suggestion to a family moving from the north to a large city. I come from a very small town in the north where you don't hear about murders and rape all throughout the city. I have black friends that would prefer to not live in SE Raleigh because of the high crimes. ex: man found shot to death in the middle of the road just last nite! Whether it is a poor part of town, an uneducated part or just a high crime area, plain and simple, it's not a very safe part of town. I spend alot of time in SE Raleigh, and I've seen it. The retired teacher that was shot to death outside of her home in broad daylight--that is behind my boyfriends home. So, yes, I do know what I am speaking about. Not just racist remarks. I have black neighbors and latino neighbors, but I live in a safer neighborhood. so by saying "This is a primarily black high crime area" this is not a racist remark, but a fact.

Vickie, People commit crimes, not just blacks or mexicans. You make it sound like only theses two type of people commit crimes. I hear you and you may be sincere about not being a racist but your remarks are opposite. You and your attitude are not safe. Report your area.

TIFFANY MONEE in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania said: TO ADD TO MY LAST COMMENT. HOW MUCH DO THE HOUSES RUN? LOOKING FOR A 3 BDR.

Check out 123realty.com and it will give you some idea.

Eniherine in Durham, North Carolina said: Vickie, People commit crimes, not just blacks or mexicans. You make it sound like only theses two type of people commit crimes. I hear you and you may be sincere about not being a racist but your remarks are opposite. You and your attitude are not safe. Report your area.

This is getting rediculous, what if I said an area was primarily white? Would that make me racist? I may be white, I may be black. No one knows here. I was explaining to a person, who may be black, that SE Raleigh is a primarily black area but that there is a high crime rate. Now there are a lot of Mexicans there also, maybe she is Mexican. It still is not a safe area! You can have crime in any neighborhood, but check statistics, where is the highest crime in Wake County? There were car break ins in N. Raleigh, even a cops car, someone got killed in a car wreck on Buffaloe Rd. the other evening. Where would you suggest or not suggest someone to move to in Durham? Or where would you suggest someone move to in the Raleigh area? It doesn't matter where, just a safe place?

Well Vicky I think you should have made this a private comment seeing as though it is obvious you have some racial issues, you could have offened some innocent person looking for GOOD advise!!!!!!!!

Vicky in Raleigh, North Carolina said: I did the same thing you are doing before I moved here. What I have learned personally in the 8 years I have been here from WV is this:
1. Do not live in South Raleigh or SE Raleigh. This is a primarily black high crime area.
2. You will not find 1 acre of land anywhere. I thouhgt of buying a modular home and would have had to go way, way out of town for property and it still wasn't cheap.
3. There are subdivisions everywhere here. Not too many just plain houses on streets. Check the home owners dues. Some can be terrible.
4. Drive the area you are looking at on Sat. nite and on Sunday during the day. Check out the neighbors and neighborhood.
5. Outer lying areas like Knightdale, Garner, Clayton, Wendell, Zebulon are not that far from everything but is more rural, more property, smaller little towns. There are less blacks and Mexicans here and since towns are smaller, there is a little less crime.

Well, I guess everyone has their own opinion. This information is what I was told when I inquired about living in the Raleigh area. Glad I didn't call them racist as people do here. I will no longer be checking this forum so sorry, people moving to the area, you'll just have to take your chances and trust whomever!!!

Wow! This is an interesting debate going on! Just in case you check back, Vicky I have a comment. I am looking to relocate with my husband and children and I am VERY concerned about safety. That said, in my search, I looked up where NOT TO MOVE in North Carolina if you hate black people. Well, this blog came up. I do not know if you are racist or not and it is your right to maintain whatever worldview you choose to uphold. However, the reality is that crime occurs in areas with whites, blacks, hispanics, asians, etc. Some crimes are just given more media exposure than others because of the demographics involved. Crime knows no boundary to race and hate. It would be nice if American's could elevate their minds and get beyond their one-dimensional thinking.

i also agree most of your crime are around black areas I know I dont want to live in a high crime areas.stay around north raleigh area

Vicky in Raleigh, North Carolina said: I did the same thing you are doing before I moved here. What I have learned personally in the 8 years I have been here from WV is this:
1. Do not live in South Raleigh or SE Raleigh. This is a primarily black high crime area.
2. You will not find 1 acre of land anywhere. I thouhgt of buying a modular home and would have had to go way, way out of town for property and it still wasn't cheap.
3. There are subdivisions everywhere here. Not too many just plain houses on streets. Check the home owners dues. Some can be terrible.
4. Drive the area you are looking at on Sat. nite and on Sunday during the day. Check out the neighbors and neighborhood.
5. Outer lying areas like Knightdale, Garner, Clayton, Wendell, Zebulon are not that far from everything but is more rural, more property, smaller little towns. There are less blacks and Mexicans here and since towns are smaller, there is a little less crime.

I looking to relocate but I don't want to live in a racism community.

I know that racism and ignorant individuals are everywhere (and many times racists people do not know that they are truly racist) because its something that has been taught in their family or put in their heads (by friends or simply being a product of their environment) and its really disgusting and if people in Raleigh are like this, this is probably NOT the place for me. And to defend this stupidity only proves that there are even more idiots in this area.

In Atlanta, the high crime areas are the low income areas and guess what, its a MIXED race community. Of course, you will see more blacks on television (when there are issues of crimes) because we all know thats what the media wants us to see. Its really sad. I live in an area where there are alot of partying college students (GA Tech, GA State, etc) and most of the drunk and WILD students I see are white. They behave grossly(who mainly come from middle class America) but would I submit a post to individuals wanting to attend those schools saying that all white girls are nasty? NO!! WHY?? Because that would be an ignorant comment to make (hint hint). And if you come to Atlanta, check out the Cascade Rd area, the Camp Creek Parkway (there are many more), where these are prodiminately BLACK neighborhoods where some of the communities have homes that START at $300,000 and the communities are quiet.

But, thanks for your comments. I definitely know where NOT to go if I move to NC.

I would like to know were in raleigh is a small quiet safe town to live in?

sandy coll in Bayonne, New Jersey said: I would like to know were in raleigh is a small quiet safe town to live in?

Raleigh IS a town!
Cary and Apex are great and growing! I-40 and US Hwy 1 exit if you are on the beltline around raleigh! its just right there close!

vicky in Raleigh, North Carolina said: Thank you Jenny. This was not meant to be racist, only a "safe" suggestion to a family moving from the north to a large city. I come from a very small town in the north where you don't hear about murders and rape all throughout the city. I have black friends that would prefer to not live in SE Raleigh because of the high crimes. ex: man found shot to death in the middle of the road just last nite! Whether it is a poor part of town, an uneducated part or just a high crime area, plain and simple, it's not a very safe part of town. I spend alot of time in SE Raleigh, and I've seen it. The retired teacher that was shot to death outside of her home in broad daylight--that is behind my boyfriends home. So, yes, I do know what I am speaking about. Not just racist remarks. I have black neighbors and latino neighbors, but I live in a safer neighborhood. so by saying "This is a primarily black high crime area" this is not a racist remark, but a fact.

Vicki,

The fact that you put a "color" on crime is considered a racist statement. Crime has no color or gender. Anyone can committ a crime. If you were going to speak on the bad areas all that was needed to say is that those areas are known to have a high crime rates. Regardless of what race committed the crime. No one wants to live in a crime infested city whether the crimes are committed by whites or blacks. I am looking to move to NC soon as a single female with a bachelors degree on my way to my Masters this June and I do not want to end up in a city full of crime nor be surrounded by ignorant people making ignorant statements that is the root of ignorant racism. The amount of money I make now / will be making there will put me on another level....and guess what? im black!

Just for the record, it isn't Mexican unless the person is from Mexico. A lot of hispanics who come to America are from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and other places south of Mexico. Please refer to those people as hispanics. And, like it or not, when you refer to high-crime areas as black or mexican, you are being racist. I agree with the person that said to just refer to the areas as low-income.

Ok...so no one wants to live in an area where there is abundant crime. I think that goes without saying. What I am looking for is what is truly considered to be SE Raleigh, and what is outside of that part of the city. I have been doing a lot of research online about Raleigh (my family is looking to relocate this summer) and there are a lot of what on the surface appear to be gorgeous neighborhoods in SE Raleigh. Are those too "out" because of their proxmity to SE of the sity? Is there a difference? Is there crime in these neighboorhoods as well? Thanks for the info!

I'm glad and mad i checked this site. My family hails from NC and i lived there for almost 2 years and liked it alot. I lived in North Raleigh and my place was ransacked and car stolen. Well what do ya know a racist p.o took the report and even though he disliked black men wanted me to know he would find the thugs that did it.( to be on my good side but of course) many problems with ppl with race just can't believe a black woman could go to work,go home and GOD Forbid live like a human being! And i loved the comments by my "white" neighbors just in shock of seeing stereotypes being broken as they went home and whatever they did at home forced a raid. Well turns out what do you know? my place was robbed and car stolen by two different people who were not of the black race. I realize people can't look in the mirror and see their ignorance limited brain power obviously by saying just whatever on here so you have my sympathy but for the people who want a safe environment don't hold grudges off your limited life if you have never seen a minority doing what normal taxpayers do try crawling from under the rock or stop assuming like the "I have plenty of black & latino friends" cop that hauled only minorities in to find who stole my car.
Crime yes but i'd rather live next to a purse snatcher than someone collecting human heads and storing them!! I have a bigger problem with that but I won't say... I won't say it i would be stooping below vicky & jenny my posture is perfect.

My husband just got a teaching job in Stem North Carolina. We want to live in the Durham area -- we have one child -- 8 years old -- looking for a good school for her. We also need to find a place to rent. Any good advice?

Wow! Did I get an ear full. I too am moving to NC this summer with my children to the RTP area. My suggestion to anyone moving to NC is to do your research, and to try to check out the areas at different times to get a feel for the activities of the community. Together we can do so much, for separated we accomplish little.

I am also moving to north carolina I have been there before to visit It is very nice and the people are very friendly try areas like cary and apex they were voted the best areas to live in raleigh.and the safest also call the chamber of commerce for a relocation guide.good luck