Best Neighborhoods in Raleigh For Young Professionals
Transitioning into life as a young professional comes with myriad challenges, not the least of which is finding the right neighborhood to live in.
Raleigh, N.C., is fast becoming an attractive destination for young people to put down roots. The city is home to an ever-growing population of young professionals in search of exciting things to do and see. The question is, where is the best neighborhood in Raleigh for young professionals?
Other than being known for its affordable rent, Raleigh is also a job hunter's paradise. Dubbed the “Triangle," Raleigh, along with Chapel Hill and Durham, surrounds Research Triangle Park — a business complex containing more than 140 organizations employing about 38,000 people. The RTP is home to such legacy organizations as IBM, Cisco Systems and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as fast-growing upstarts like Red Hat. But if you're only talking about Raleigh for work, then you're only focusing on half the story.
It's easy to get tunnel vision when you're first starting out your career. You're young, and you want to make a good impression by paying your dues and really making that extra effort. It's easy to neglect details like what part of the city you should live in and how a certain neighborhood can complement your work-life balance.
Best places to live in Raleigh, N.C.
You can take your job seriously and still have some serious fun when you're off the clock. Our list of the best neighborhoods in Raleigh for young professionals focuses on the parts of town most suited for your needs.
Brier Creek
Source: Colonial Grand at Brier Falls
How Walkable Is It: Moderately
Neighborhood Highlight: Brier Creek Country Club
If you're a golfer, look no further than Brier Creek. This upscale 'burb lies halfway between Raleigh and Durham, near Apex. With a year-round population approaching 20,000 people, the population and business growth in the area has increased steadily for the last 30 years.
Aside from featuring an official Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, Brier Creek has the added benefit of being centrally located to so much in the Raleigh area. With easy access to the interstates and the airport, getting around the Triangle for work is a breeze. And the best part? With Raleigh-Durham International Airport just 10 minutes away, hopping on a flight for a weekend away couldn't be easier.
And if convenience is your thing, you'll want to go ahead and add Brier Creek Parkway to your GPS right now. Brick oven pizza, Irish pubs, tapas, tacos, burgers, beer gardens and more are not only just a short drive away, they're all are on the same street. That means no matter where you decide to start your night bar-hopping, you're never far away from a good meal in this best neighborhood in Raleigh for young professionals.
Five Points
How Walkable Is It: Very
Neighborhood Highlight: NOFO
Located northwest of downtown, Five Points is an urban neighborhood packed with homegrown movie theaters, health-conscious restaurants and a locally famous coffee shop, so there's always something to do.
As one of the best places to live for young professionals, Five Points is imminently walkable (with a WalkScore of 76). That means hidden gems like Larry's Coffee won't stay hidden from you for long. More than just coffee, Larry's is the sort of energy-efficient business more neighborhoods need.
Other Five Points mainstays include the Rialto, a second-run movie theater that hosts classic movie nights and caters to the beer and wine crowd. You won't go hungry in Five Points, either. The neighborhood is where you'll find Snoopy's Hot Dogs, Bloomsbury Bistro and Lily's Pizza.
Here, you'll also find the delightfully weird North Fourth, or NOFO. Imagine an art gallery and boutique gift shop with a café specializing in southern cuisine. There's also a gourmet supermarket. And the whole thing is inside an old Piggly Wiggly. It's awesome.
This small and quirky neighborhood is fast becoming a destination for everything from happy hours to weekend exploring. With independent breweries, escape rooms and locally sourced gardens, Five Points provides an ideal mix of entertainment and culture.
North Hills
Source: Park Central
How Walkable Is It: Very
Neighborhood Highlight: The Shopping
North Hills is Raleigh's new “downtown." In the 1960s, this neighborhood was made up of modest ranch homes and a mall. Today, sprawling North Hills is growing and expanding every year.
In the last few years, a mix of offices, restaurants, shops and hotels were developed, as well as hundreds of new homes. It's one of Raleigh's fastest-growing neighborhoods for both renters and prospective homebuyers.
North Hills is one of the wealthier suburbs of Raleigh. The average income for the neighborhood comes in at just more than $107,000 compared to the average income of around $64,000 in Raleigh. Most of the people here work in management in the business or financial sectors.
The higher-income population coupled with breakneck growth is why North Hills is considered Raleigh's “shopping haven." North Hills boasts more than 130 businesses, ranging from craft breweries to designer clothing shops. If you're a young professional looking for an area that has a little bit of everything, North Hills is a contender for the best place to live in N.C., giving Raleigh a real run for its money.
Falls River
How Walkable Is It: Moderately
Neighborhood Highlight: Neuse River Greenway
If you need your exercise, Falls River is the place for you. With nature preserves, walking trails, and parks all within the span of a few blocks, Falls River is the place to be if you like cardio.
The neighborhood itself is less than 20 years old, so in addition to newer construction homes, the area is also on the rise year over year. And like most of Wake County, the public schools here are among the best in the country.
There are dozens of recreational areas, including soccer fields you can reserve for a pickup game with your friends on a Saturday. And when the match is over, head to one of the dozens of bars and restaurants in the neighborhood and enjoy that well-earned recovery beer.
As much as you'll love getting your 10,000 steps a day here, you'll still need a car to get around. While the trails, parks and running paths are perfect for when you want to be out and about, a car (or some mode of transportation) will still be a necessity. Those who rely on public transportation or their own two feet to get around may want to consider getting a car.
Downtown
How Walkable Is It: The Best
Neighborhood Highlight: Fayetteville Street
If North Hills isn't your scene, Raleigh has an actual Downtown in the city's business district, and with a walk score of 91, it's one of the most walkable areas in the RTP. It's also the neighborhood that's most representative of what metropolitan life is like in Raleigh, providing an Instagram-worthy skyline and plenty of restaurants and bars.
Comprising Glenwood South, Capital District, Warehouse District, Moore Square and Fayetteville Street, downtown Raleigh is an arts and entertainment hub. Be sure to check out Fayetteville Street, in particular. This hot spot features the state capitol on one end of the street and banks, offices, cafes, museums, restaurants and bars on the other.
With plenty of young professionals looking to blow off steam, Downtown bristles with energy on weekend nights and City Plaza comes alive with events and festivals.
And when the excitement and adrenaline wear off, locals can head to the Raleigh Farmers Market right in the middle of everything and enjoy fresh local produce and baked goods.
N.C. State
How Walkable Is It: Moderately
Neighborhood Highlight: N.C. State University
If you haven't guessed, the N.C. State neighborhood is centered on North Carolina State University. N.C. State freshmen are required to live on campus, and the surrounding neighborhood is filled with students and young professionals alike.
One of the neighborhood's highlights is the Cameron Village shopping center, where many up and comers will buy their first outfit for work and meet coworkers for drinks after-hours.
Looking to do some networking? Check out Hillsborough Street, which is the central hub for social activity. Students from NC State and Meredith College typically gather here to enjoy the bevy of coffee shops, restaurants and bars.
The street also hosts events, including Art It Up!, which showcases the thriving arts community in North Carolina, making it one of the best neighborhoods to live in Raleigh, N.C.
Morrisville
How Walkable Is It: Not Very
Neighborhood Highlight: East Meets West
Ranked the best suburb for millennials, Morrisville is among Raleigh's best neighborhoods full stop — for young up-and-comers and families alike. Yes, it's technically a suburb, but don't let that sway you. With 14 percent of Morrisville's population between 25 and 34, the neighborhood is full of like-minded millennials in the early stages of their careers.
So, what does a mostly millennial Morrisville look like? There's no shortage of green space. This picturesque hamlet features plenty of parks, like the Morrisville Community Park, Crabtree Creek Nature Park and Indian Creek Greenway. Go for a stroll with your pup or grab your bike and enjoy the scenery. And you need to get inside and enjoy some air conditioning, Morrisville's Cipher Escape and Triangle Rock Club offer robust indoor activities for all ages.
If you're looking for a party, look no further than Morrisville's annual summer highlight, East Meets West, a celebration of the neighborhood's diversity, featuring local food, arts and music. If you have a car, you're going to need it here. Because as walkable as the trails and parks are, you'll still need at least two wheels to get around this part of town.
Enjoy the best neighborhoods in Raleigh for young professionals
Raleigh is the perfect city if you're an up and comer ready to make a name for yourself or if you're a young couple looking for a place to lay down roots. Pro and college sports, a thriving arts scene, heck, even the airport is easy to navigate. Put the best neighborhoods in Raleigh for young professionals on your shortlist.
