Raleigh

Best Raleigh suburbs for young professionals

Ranked on employment and income at 25%, amenities at 25%, commute at 20%, median rent at 15% (lower is better) and cost of living at 15%. Schools are not counted.

Updated Sep 2026·14 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
Cary, NC Town Hall
Cary$580k median · 22.5 min commute
Employment BAmenities ACommute A−
74
Score
overall 74 B
2
Morrisville, North Carolina.
Morrisville$519k median · 21.8 min commute
Employment B+Amenities B+Commute A−
72
Score
overall 71 B−
3
The Raleigh skyline as viewed from Dorothea Dix Park.
Raleigh$416k median · 23.0 min commute
Employment CAmenities A−Commute B+
71
Score
overall 68 B−
4
This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 7700
Durham$393k median · 22.3 min commute
Employment CAmenities BCommute A−
70
Score
overall 62 C
5
Photo of downtown Apex in 2025
Apex$576k median · 25.2 min commute
Employment BAmenities C+Commute B−
65
Score
overall 70 B−
6
Row of buildings down White Street in Downtown Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA.
Wake Forest$475k median · 30.9 min commute
Employment B−Amenities BCommute D+
64
Score
overall 66 C+
7
Historic downtown Knightdale
Knightdale$380k median · 24.0 min commute
Employment B−Amenities C−Commute C+
63
Score
overall 65 C+
8
Fuquay-Varina Town Hall located at 401 Judd Parkway, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.
Fuquay-Varina$452k median · 33.1 min commute
Employment C+Amenities BCommute D−
61
Score
overall 64 C+
9
The Christmas parade travels through downtown Holly Springs, NC
Holly Springs$536k median · 28.8 min commute
Employment BAmenities B−Commute C−
61
Score
overall 66 C+
10
Garner, NC Water Tower and Historic distric. Oct 2013
Garner$355k median · 26.2 min commute
Employment DAmenities B−Commute C
59
Score
overall 61 C
This list's weighting
Employment 25%Amenities 25%Commute 20%Median rent (lower is better) 15%Cost of living 15%
Other Raleigh lists
Best Raleigh suburbs for familiesMost affordable Raleigh suburbsBest Raleigh suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown RaleighMost walkable Raleigh suburbsHow we score Raleigh suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Cary (Zajohnso · CC BY-SA 3.0); Morrisville (Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0); Raleigh (Abhiram Juvvadi · CC BY-SA 4.0); Durham (Maria Miracoli · CC BY-SA 4.0); Apex (Pithon314 · CC0); Wake Forest (Rysnap1024 · CC BY-SA 4.0); Knightdale (Indy beetle · CC0); Fuquay-Varina (Fvman · Public domain); Holly Springs (me · Public domain); Garner (Mikeiamunion21 · CC BY-SA 3.0).