Let’s jump right in and we will begin the best neighborhoods in Cary NC that are close to RTP, and finish the the golf course communities. 

Amberly

First up, Amberly, which is located just outside I-540 in West Cary off Green Level Church Rd.  

Amberly is truly a master planned community, with its’ own shopping center built within the community and the best of amenities.  It has multiple pools with the coolest kids area I’ve seen around here, playgrounds spread throughout, a soccer field, a wellness park, and a pond with walking trails.

It’s also in a prime location as there are multiple shopping centers just outside the neighborhood.  And for those who love to stay active, it has quick access to the American Tobacco Trail as well as the world famous Diavolo Disc Golf Course at New Hope.

The neighborhood is HUGE and continues to expand.  Homes typically range from $500-800k with square footages between 2000-3500 SF.  These homes are on small 1/5 of an acre or less lots so expect them to be closer together.  There are also some townhomes in the $300-400ks.

Larger homes can be found near the back of the neighborhood, ranging from $700k to $1.1M with 3000-5000 SF on average, and larger lot sizes.

With it being in such a prime location, commute times are very reasonable.  It’s about 15 minutes to RTP, 20 minutes to the airport, and less than 30 minutes to downtown Raleigh.

Schools vary depending on the part of the neighborhood you’re in, but are all great.  North Chatham or Hortons Creek are the Elementary Schools, Moncure and Mills Park are the Middle Schools, and Northwood High and Panther Creek are the High Schools.  Capping can be a problem here, but they are building new schools to help alleviate the problem.

Next up, Amerbly’s neighbor, Cary Park.

Cary Park

Located just south of Amberly off Green Level Church Rd as well, Cary Park is a beautiful neighborhood.  There are plenty of trees around, and there is a lake with walking trails that creates some gorgeous sunsets.  

Cary Park also has multiple pools, a playground and soccer field, and just like Amberly, the American Tobacco and Trail and Diavolo Disc Golf is close-by.  If you enjoy golfing, the Old Chatham Golf course is just minutes away.

Homes in Cary Park are a little older, as many are between 15-20 years old, and some may require some updates depending on what you like.  

Most homes are between $750k-$1.25M ranging from 3000SF to over 5000SF in size.  Lot sizes are pretty generous for the area at around 1/3 an acre on average.  There are some areas of the neighborhood with homes in the $400k-$700k range with 1500 to 3000SF that are on much smaller lots as well.

Commute times are same as Amberly’s as it’s in a prime location in the area.

Schools are all Mills Park Elementary and Middle, and Panther Creek High.  These are some of the best schools around, but that does increase chance of capping in these areas so do keep an eye on that.

Next on the list of best neighborhoods in Cary NC, Copperleaf, is perfect those looking for high end living.

Copperleaf

Copperleaf is located just south of Cary Park in West Cary, off of Morrisville Parkway.  It has a pool with a waterslide right as you enter the neighborhood, and has direct access to the American Tobacco Trail.  

Built in 2010, the homes are pretty new and absolutely beautiful, with lot sizes close to an acre.  The developers left some trees, but the neighborhood does have younger vegetation, and will only continue to grow in over time.

The home prices range from $1-2M with square footages between 4000 to over 6000SF, and come with high end finishes to match the price.

Like Amberly and Cary Park, commute times are very convenient to most places in the triangle.  

Schools are also excellent, as they are White Oak Elementary, Mills Park Middle, and Panther Creek High School.

Prestonwood

Moving into our golf communities in the list of best neighborhoods in Cary NC, first up is the massive community of Prestonwood, which began in 1991 and includes over 1600 homes and covers nearly 2000 acres of land. 

It’s most famous for it’s golf club, which has 54 holes of golf that are all in the top 100 in North Carolina, and provides the unique option to play bermuda and bent grass greens.

The country club also has over 15 tennis quarts, an expansive fitness and aquatics center, and has plenty of social activities for both kids and adults.  

With the neighborhood being so large, it is next to quite a bit of hot spots in Cary, like Bond Park and Park West Shopping Center, but overall it’s on the Western side of Cary inside of I-540.  It takes less than 25 minutes to get to downtown Raleigh, less than 20 minutes to both the airport and RTP.

Home prices and styles vary greatly across the many sections of Prestonwood.  The vast majority of homes are between $750k to $1.25M with 2500 to 4000SF.  These homes are generally older and will require updates.

There are some townhomes mixed in, some that even have golf course views, in the $500k-$1M range, and there are also quite a few large estate homes that can up to 10,000SF and range from $2-3M in price.

Lot sizes are generally 1/3 to 1/2 an acre, but the larger homes on larger tracts, and the neighborhood definitely has a mature feel given its’ age.

The schools are great as well, as most areas will go to Green Hope Elementary, Davis Drive Middle, and Green Hope High School.  The elementary schools is even walkable to some portions of the neighborhood.

MacGregor Downs

Next up is the golf course community of MacGregor Downs, which is located on the South Western side of Cary next to the interchange of US-1 and Hwy 64.  

The country club was established in 1967 and has a Scottish Heritage, while the Golf course itself is rated as one of the best courses in the southeast due to its’ tree lined fairways, immaculate greens, and the infamous 18th hole.  

The club also comes complete with a pool, tennis courts, and a beautiful lake that allows kayaking and canoeing.  

Many of the homes were built between 1970 and 1999, so it has a very established and mature feel with many trees, but there are some homes that have been built over the past 15-20 years as well.  

Away from the golf course, home prices are typically in the $600k to $1M range with 2500 to 3500SF.  Homes adjacent to the golf course run much higher, average $1-2M and between 3000 to 5000SF, and there are some homes above $2M as well.  The homes have varying architecture and give the neighborhood quite a bit of character.

Commutes are pretty reasonable at around 20 minutes to downtown Raleigh, the airport and RTP; however, it is in an area that can get pretty crowded during rush hour, so you want to account for another 15 minutes or more if traveling during peak hours.

Schools are Briarcliff Elementary, East Cary Middle, and Apex High School.

Lochmere

The last of the best neighborhoods in Cary NC, Lochmere, is located on the southern portion of Cary, South of US-1, and is quite unique as it’s built around three lakes, and many of the homes have a lakehouse style.  

In fact, homes around the largest lake actually have docks with motorized boats, as they are allowed in this one lake.  

The community also has an 18 hole golf club attached, has multiple pools, tennis courts, playgrounds and even its’ own disc golf course.  Walking trails can also be found around the various lakes.

The majority of homes are between $600k and $1M and range between 2000 to 4000SF.  Some of the more expensive homes line Lochmere Lake and are between $1-2M.  

Lot sizes typically range between 1/3 to 1/2 an acre, and the neighborhood is built within the trees, as it is very wooded, shaded and private.  

The commute is approximately 20 minutes to downtown Raleigh, the airport and RTP, but like MacGregor Downs, traveling during rush hour can at least double those times.  

Schools are Swift Creek Elementary, Dillard Drive Middle, and Athens Drive High School.

There are SO many other GREAT neighborhoods in Cary that I didn’t break down in this list of the best neighborhoods in Cary NC.

If you want to learn more about the area, please see our other blogs on the pros and cons of Cary, and everything you need to know about Cary.

Please reach out via our contact information below if you need help finding your next home, as our team here at the W Real Estate Group would love to help!

Please reach out via our contact information below:

Phone:  919-504-5265

Email:  Alison@thewgroupraleigh.com

Website:  www.thewgroupraleigh.com