First up, Pro #4 of living in Clayton NC, is Clayton is one of Raleigh’s closest suburbs to the beach!

Pro #4 – Proximity to Beach

For those who love the beach but still want to be close to Raleigh, Clayton is an excellent option. 

It’s just under two hours to Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, and about an hour and forty minutes to New Bern. 

And with the land prices overall cheaper in Clayton, more on that in a bit, you can find a home with plenty of space to store a boat. 

So, Clayton’s location provides a great balance for beach lovers who want to work or play in Raleigh.

Moving on to Pro #3, Clayton NC is surrounded by some excellent schools.

Pro #3 – Quality School System

While most Raleigh suburbs are in the Wake County Public School System, most of Clayton is actually in the neighboring Johnston County Public School System.

Johnston County has always been know to provide a good education.  But, as the population grew, Johnston County’s school system expanded even more through new schools and facilities, which has further boosted its’ reputation. 

Many people target Clayton because of the Johnston County Public Schools in the area, which is part of the reason Clayton has exploded so much in popularity. 

Regardless of where you choose to call home, make sure you do your own research on the schools in the area.

Next up, with increased population comes an increase in developments.  Pro #2 of living in Clayton NC is that it has its’ fair share of new developments and parks.

Pro #2 – New Developments & Parks

Clayton NC does have a more historic feeling downtown and some excellent, older parks and communities centers.

But with the population and big business growth that Clayton has experienced, naturally new developments and enterntainment spaces come along with it.

You are beginning to see pockets of new commercial developments around some of the newer residential neighborhoods that have popped up.

And while it’s not overly widespread yet, it’s certainly going to come. 

Flowers Plantation is planning a massive project, called the Waterfront District at Flowers Plantation, which will have tons of condos, apartments, restaurants and retail space.

This development will pave the way for future developments in the area, and provide great spaces for residents to enjoy.

New or renovated parks are another benefit of an increase in population, as Clayton’s Municipal Park has a brand new playground, splash pad, basketball courts and a huge open space that’s perfect for events.

And Clayton’s River Walk on the Neuse is a beautiful greenway that follows the Neuse River, which connects to the popular Neuse River Trail in Raleigh.  The town has recently completed the Sam’s Branch greenway that connects to the River Walk, as well as built a new access point.

Moving on, let’s talk about the top pro of living in Clayton NC, which is its’ affordability.

Pro #1 – Affordability

Your money goes further in Clayton, which has contributed greatly to its’ population surge.  

The cost of living in Clayton NC is just below the national average, and is quite a bit cheaper than Raleigh and its’ more popular suburbs.  

This is mostly due to housing, as it’s average home price of $340k is much less than Raleigh’s major suburbs and you get more out of your money as its’ average price per square foot has been around $190.  

There’s also quite a few higher end neighborhoods in Clayton, which do have prices over $1M, but the square footage and lot size that you get for the same amount of money is much more in Clayton than in other places around Raleigh.  

But, as we’ve previously discussed, Clayton’s popularity is rising fast, and with the great schools and planned development, prices will begin to rise.

So, if you’re interested, it’s a great time to buy or invest in Clayton as prices will only go up from here.  

Clayton has a lot going for it, but you may be wondering with all of these Pros, why it isn’t the most popular suburb of Raleigh.  So, let’s take a look at some of its’ cons.

Starting with Con #4 of living in Clayton NC, it has a more rural feel.

Con #4 – Rural Feel

As I’ve mentioned with some other Raleigh suburbs that fall into this category, this may be a pro for some people, but Clayton will give you a more rural feel than many other areas.

Outside of its’ main roadways and shopping centers, Clayton is pretty spread out and has quite a bit of open land.  

There are plenty of farm fields, and you’ll see more country style, one off homes that are not a part of neighborhoods.

And while it has expansion for commercial spaces planned, it will likely feel pretty rural and spread out for quite some time.

Next up is Con #3, it has few entertainment options.

Con #3 – Few Entertainment Options

Clayton is not known to have endless entertainment options as like we just discussed, it’s more of a rural town.  

It has a cute downtown with some popular restaurants, bars and breweries, and has some restaurants and shopping centers popping up.  And as mentioned in the pros, the new Waterfront district at Flowers Plantation is going to be a great space.

But beyond that, the closest major shopping center is White Oak in Garner, and you’ll have to travel in to Raleigh for other major entertainment options.

And this leads us into the next Con of living in Clayton NC, which is all about location.