Without traffic, it’s about 20 minutes into downtown Raleigh, 30 minutes to the RDU airport, and 35 minutes to the Research Triangle Park, but traffic along I-40 can get pretty backed up during rush hour, so you’ll want to add an extra 20 minutes or more if commuting during those times.  

Clayton NC does have some major manufacturing facilities in Caterpillar, Griffols, and Novo Nordisk, but many people do end up commuting into Raleigh and its’ surrounding areas for work.  

Clayton NC itself does not have any major colleges or university, but does have the popular Johnston County Community College just south of town.

For kids, the public schools are in the Johnston County Public School System, which has become one of the best school systems around and is one of the main drivers for Clayton’s surge in population.  Many of the schools are newly built or renovated as well.

Clayton NC is one of Raleigh’s suburbs with a quaint, historical downtown.  It has some very popular, local restaurants, breweries and bars, and holds many events in its’ downtown area.

Flowers Plantation is another up and coming entertainment space, as it already has quite a few stores and restaurants as well as one of the nicest YMCA’s you’ll ever see.  

And it has a major development underway called the Waterfront District, which will be massive development with condos, apartments, retail, restaurants, open space, and more, which will be a hub for entertainment in the area.    

But if you’re living in Clayton NC and ooking for major sources of entertainment, you’ll need to travel into Raleigh and its’ surrounding areas for things like concerts and sporting events.  

For outdoor recreation, Clayton NC has some really great parks, many of which are newly built or renovated.

The Clayton Municipal Park has a state of the art playground for kids, sports fields, and a massive open field with a stage that plays host to many events, and the East Clayton Community Park is a newly renovated park with a really cool playground. 

Clemmons Educational State Forest has some absolutely beautiful hiking, and the Clayton River Walk on the Neuse greenway connects to the 26+ mile Neuse River Greenway Trail that runs all the way to North Raleigh.

So, it’s a perfect place for those wanting to go on a long bike ride or just take a relaxing stroll next to the river.  

Now for those looking to go boating, the closest lakes are at least 45 minute to hour drives, so many people in Clayton use their boats for the ocean vs. the lake.  

The weather in Clayton NC is consistent with the area overall with highs in the 80s to 90s during the summer, 30s to 50s in the winter, and since it’s south of Raleigh, you’re less likely to get snow than other areas of the triangle.

Even though Clayton NC is rapidly developing, it has a more rural feel than Raleigh and many of its’ suburbs.  You’ll find that Clayton is fairly spread out, much of it is centered around Hwy 70.

But despite it being spread out, it does some very large, master planned communities in Flowers Plantation, the largest neighborhood in the Triangle, and Riverwood, which has its’ own set of restaurants and stores in the community as well.

Since these are such large communities, the home types, ages, and values are all across the board, as you can find homes in the $300ks to homes over $1M.  

Clayton NC also has some higher end communities as well, such as Portofino, which has on-site equestrian facilities and some of the nicest homes in the area, with most valued between $1-2M.

One thing you will find is that Clayton NC still has some very affordable housing for the area, as it’s average price per square foot is one of the lowest in the area at around $190.

And while there are still plenty of trees in Clayton, you will find more neighborhoods built in and around farmland with no natural vegetation, and since Clayton is closer to the coast, the land is flatter here than Raleigh and more western suburbs. 

Clayton’s housing costs are not the only aspect of Clayton that is affordable, as the overall cost of living in Clayton NC is 5% below the national average and is another main driver of its’ popularity.  

It’s property tax rate is one of the highest in the area though at $1.33 per $100 of property value, mostly due to the lack of density in the population, and North Carolina does have a 4.99% state income tax.

But despite the taxes, Clayton NC is one of the most affordable areas of Raleigh.  And, while I can’t imagine its’ low costs lasting much longer, Clayton currently is a great place to invest and get more for your money if you’re willing to sacrifice a little on location in relation to the triangle as a whole.  

I hope this blog gave you some quick insight into Clayton, North Carolina, and for more detailed information, please see our other blogs on the pros and cons of Clayton NC and the best neighborhoods in Clayton NC!

If you need any real estate assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out as our team 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