Living in Raleigh, NC
Mid-size city in North Carolina
Raleigh is a mid-size city in North Carolina, home to about 471,000 people, with 1.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Universities and a research park, leafy suburbs and mild seasons. Great for families, and mostly car-based.
Is Raleigh a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 8 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 5 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Dog-friendly: 56 dog parks within 9 mi
- Highly educated: 53% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3 research universities are within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Raleigh ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Raleigh: common questions
What is the cost of living in Raleigh?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $369k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,200 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Raleigh?
North Carolina collects about $1,615 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.76% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Raleigh safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.7× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Raleigh?
Raleigh has cool winters: winter days average around 54°F and summer days around 89°F, with roughly 5″ of snow a year.
Does Raleigh get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.25 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Raleigh?
The nearest major airport is RDU, about 9 mi away.
How Raleigh scores
Each bar compares Raleigh with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Raleigh right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.