First off, what makes a suburb underrated?  I am defining it as an area where its prices and offerings do not yet reflect its popularity and demand.  These are often great places to invest too!

Clayton

Starting with the suburbs, Clayton is vastly underrated as a whole.  With an average home value of just under $400k and a price per square foot of $192/SF, what you get for your money in Clayton is pretty amazing in comparison to other suburbs.  

Now Clayton is further from Raleigh than many suburbs, and can have some bad traffic during rush hour, but if you can manage your way around those obstacles, Clayton is great.

Clayton has multiple new parks and entertainment areas, has amazing greenways along the Neuse River, and the new Waterfront District is going to be its own version of North Hills.

But perhaps the best part about Clayton is it’s in the Johnston County School system and has some of the best schools in the Triangle.  For these prices, you’re not going to get schools of this quality anywhere else in the area.

Fuquay-Varina

Next up is Fuquay-Varina, which has been rapidly expanding as well.  Raleigh and its most popular suburbs are running out of space for new construction, so Fuquay is one area around Raleigh where there still are a large number of quality, new construction communities.  

And with an overall average home price of $489k and price per square foot of $208/SF, Fuquay is still one of the more affordable places around Raleigh. 

For many, it is still considered to be on the outskirts of development, but the new section of I-540 just north of Fuquay will no doubt bring more development and make Fuquay feel more connected.  

Also, if you love craft beer, Fuquay and its breweries are the place for you!

Moving on, Knightdale is another underrated suburb as its prices are still low for the area, it’s in a very convenient location, and development has really started to pickup.

Knightdale

Knightdale average home prices are around $423K with a price per square foot of $196/SF.  So you can get a pretty good deal for the area right now.

They’ve really started to build quite a few new construction communities as well as the beautiful Knightdale Station Park.  And they have opened some popular restaurants too.

It’s also a very short drive into downtown Raleigh and with quick access to I-540, it has quick access to other parts of the Triangle as well.

I would encourage you to do your research on the public schools, and there are quite a few new charter and private options that have opened in the past few years.

Rolesville

Rolesville is another suburb currently flying under the radar.  While Rolesville doesn’t have a ton to do on its’ own, it is right next to Wake Forest to take advantage of all it has to offer.  And its’ Cobblestone Village will be a great entertainment space when completed.

The average home prices are around $518K with a price per square foot at $199/SF, so it’s still pretty reasonable given its’ proximity to Wake Forest.

Wake Forest

Speaking of Wake Forest, this is definitely right on the edge, but Wake Forests’ lower prices keep it on the list of underrated areas.

While its overall average home price of $610K does not scream low prices, this is an example where numbers can be deceiving.  It has many luxury communities that drive up the average, but overall, it has many neighborhoods with homes between $350K – $500K, and its’ price per square foot of $218/SF is still much lower than Raleigh and its’ more popular suburbs.  

And for those low prices, Wake Forest is a great place to live, especially for families with its’ various parks, events, and great schools.

Youngsville

Youngsville is another town right next to Wake Forest that is close enough to take advantage of Wake Forest’s offerings while maintaining low housing prices.

Its average home value of $465K is pretty low for the area and you still get good value at $202/SF.  

While it can definitely be a long drive to downtown Raleigh, it’s a great option for those who want a small town with options to get back into major development quickly.  

And a quick plug, if you are in need of real estate assistance in the area, we’ve had so many reach out from these videos and would absolutely love to help you too!

Pittsboro

Moving on to the last of the small towns and suburbs, Pittsboro is another that has definitely flown under the radar.

It’s about to be put on the map though between its’ Chatham Park master planned communities as well as the new Disney’s Asteria neighborhood that will begin construction soon, but it is really a great place to also enjoy a more small town feel but still have access to larger development with a short drive.

You’re also right next to Jordan Lake and the Haw River, so there’s no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy.

It is on the more expensive side with an average home value of $710K and price per square foot of $259/SF, but like Wake Forest, there are many high end communities that drive the average price up. But there are still plenty of neighborhoods well below that average that are great options.

Durham

Moving into larger, more populated areas, despite its popularity in many of the national rankings, Durham has a reputation around the area due to its’ crime rates that it hasn’t been able to escape now that its’ crime is more so under control and just confined to a couple select areas.

Downtown Durham has undergone quite the transformation and is a great place for foodies as well as those who enjoy cocktail lounges, and its’ outdoor offerings are pretty amazing with Duke Gardens, Duke Forest, and the various Eno River parks.

And it actually attracts more technology jobs than Raleigh does, and is in one of the most convenient locations to the famed Research Triangle Park.  

It’s home prices are still pretty affordable at an average of $471K with a price per square foot of $247/SF, so you’ll find a much larger collection of lower priced homes than many other areas.  

Make sure to do your research on the schools though for those with young kids.

Southwest Raleigh

Moving on to the last area, and I believe this to be one of the hidden gems of Raleigh, is the area Southwest of Raleigh.  This area is made up of areas that technically have Raleigh addresses, but also some in southeast Cary and eastern Apex.

These areas are in great locations overall as it’s convenient to so many things, even though traffic can be a challenge at times.  And you have quick access to some of the best Raleigh, Cary and Apex parks to choose from.

But beyond those factors, the reason I’m saying it’s flying under the radar is because it is about to explode in popularity now that it is encompassed by I-540.  The exact same thing happened to North Raleigh when I-540 was first built up there, and home values along with development rapidly increased.  

So for those looking to buy, that area will continue to see higher than average appreciation over the next 10 years.  

I hope this list gives you some insight into which areas to look at if you don’t want to be in the hustle and bustle of places like Raleigh, Cary, and Apex.

Check out our more detailed blogs for more information on each of these locations.  

If you need help finding your next home in Raleigh, Durham, or anywhere else in the triangle, our team 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