Apex is in a prime location, which has contributed greatly to its’ popularity, as it’s in Wake County and about 20 minutes west of downtown Raleigh.  

It’s also immediately south of the very popular suburb of Cary, north of the fast growing Holly Springs, and it’s a relatively quick drive into the Research Triangle Park.

The main roadways used for traveling are US-1 and US-64 that can take you into the heart of Raleigh, and the newly built I-540 that quickly connects you to Durham, RTP and North Raleigh.

Traffic can be challenging on US-1 and US-64 during rush hour, so if you’re needing to commute into downtown Raleigh, I would suggest commuting outside of peak hours.  

If using I-540 to travel north, traffic isn’t quite as bad but do be prepared to pay for tolls.

As a suburb of Raleigh, Apex doesn’t have much big business within the town itself but as mentioned, its’ well positioned for those working in either Raleigh or RTP.  

And, with an average annual household income of around $130k, it’s clear many residents are taking advantage of the area’s expanding job market.

Lifestyle

Entertainment wise, Apex has an amazing and historic downtown.  There are some popular bars, restaurants, and retail that have been in the area for quite some time, and Apex has many celebrations and events held along Salem Street and at its’ nearby community center.

There are many smaller shopping centers spread throughout the town, but its’ Beaver Creek Commons shopping center has just about anything you could need, and you’re a quick drive to tons of shopping in Cary such as Waverly Place and Cary Crossroads. 

Sports wise, you’re a short drive away from Cary’s NCFC and Carolina Courage professional soccer stadium, about a 20 minute drive to see the beloved Carolina Hurricanes, and around 25 minutes to see the minor league Durham Bulls.

For food, Apex has some very popular restaurants and bars spread throughout.  Salem Street Pub and the NY style pizza at Anna’s Pizzeria are popular downtown, and Doherty’s Irish Pub and Skipper’s Fish Fry are offer great food and drinks as well.

It also has both Southern Peak and Vicious Fishes Breweries, as well as the TapStation, which is a really cool space modeled after an old gas station.  So, between those bars and the various spaces Downtown, there are quite a few places to hang out after dark.

Another one of Apex’s pros is its’ park system, as there are many great parks around and you’re also close to many of Cary and Holly Springs’ great parks as well.

I love the Hunter Street Park downtown, which has a variety of sport fields but is highlighted by a skate park that is a popular space for kids.  

The Apex Community Park is possibly my favorite park in all of the triangle, as it has beautiful trails along the lake, multiple baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, a playground, and even a fitness course!

The Kelly Road Park is known as the castle playground, the Apex Nature Park has an amphitheater that also hosts outdoor summer events, and the new Pleasant Park has an amazing playground.

And Apex is also close to both Jordan and Harris Lakes for boating and general fresh water recreation.  

Apex’s weather is consistent with the Raleigh area as it experiences all four seasons with generally mild winters with average highs in the 50s, summers in the 80s to 90s with high humidity, and beautiful spring and fall weather.

Neighborhoods in Apex NC

Like most of Raleigh’s suburbs, Apex would be described as suburban living, and has a great mix of both established neighborhoods and new construction. 

Apex is beginning to run out of room for new construction and developments within town limits, so you’ll see many of the new construction communities popping up just west of town.

Bella Casa, Sweetwater, and Friendship Station are some excellent communities on the west side of Apex that have recently built and new construction homes with a wide range of prices, sizes, and styles.  

Expect average home values to be between $500k and $1M with typically between 2000 to 4000 square feet, but there are more estate style homes available as well.

There are some more established neighborhoods inside of I-540 for those who prefer mature trees and older style homes.  Scotts Mill and Haddon Hall are two of those neighborhoods with most home values between $500k to $700k with around 1500 to 3000 SF on average.  

And the Villages of Apex community is a rare, recently built neighborhood just north of downtown Apex.  

For Schools, Apex is part of the Wake County Public School system, and has some excellent public schools in the area that many families move to Apex for.  There are also quite a few charter and private school options nearby.

But make sure you do your own research on the schools to find the right fit for your family.

Cost of Living Apex NC

Apex overall is right up there with Cary in terms of having a higher cost of living when compared to the overall Raleigh area, and this is mostly due to its’ home prices as its’ average price per square foot has been right around $220.  

The tax rate is on the lower end for the area at $1.03 per $100 of property value, and overall all other goods and services remain in line with the rest of the Raleigh area and are generally pretty affordable.

That’s everything you need to know about living in Apex NC.  If you need more information on the area, please check out our blogs on the best neighborhoods in Apex and the pros and cons of Apex.

Please reach out if you have any real estate needs, as our team here at the W Real Estate Group would love to help you!

Please reach out via our contact information below:

Phone:  919-504-5265

Email:  Alison@thewgroupraleigh.com

Website:  www.thewgroupraleigh.com