Affordable Triangle Suburbs – With real estate prices increasing and more people working from home, many buyers are moving out into the suburbs. Here is a list of ten Triangle NC towns to consider where I can help you find the home to fit your needs. All these towns are within an hour or less drive to RDU airport and Research Triangle Park (RTP).
Affordable Triangle Suburbs

Wake Forest (24 miles from RDU)
- Located mostly in Wake County, but also in Franklin and Granville
- North of Raleigh
- US 1 and NC 98
- Population 45,500*
- Wake County and Granville County Public Schools
- 5 elementary schools
- 3 middle schools
- 1 early college school
- 2 high schools
- Triangle Transit Authority operates regional routes and connects to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill
Creedmoor (25 miles from RDU)
- Granville County
- North of Raleigh and Northeast of Durham
- NC 50, US 15 and I-85
- Population 4,500*
- Granville County Public Schools
- 2 elementary schools
- 1 middle school
- 1 early college
- 2 high schools
Knightdale (26 miles from RDU)
- Wake County
- East of Raleigh
- US 64, I-540 and I-87
- Population 18,000*
- Wake County Public Schools
- 6 elementary schools
- 3 middle schools
- 2 high schools
- Triangle Transit Authority operates the Knightdale-Raleigh Express which connects to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill
Hillsborough (27 miles from RDU)
- Orange County
- Northwest of Durham and North of Chapel Hill
- NC 70 and near I-85/I-40 split
- Population 7,000*
- Orange County Public School System
- 7 elementary schools
- 3 middle schools
- 2 high schools
- Orange County Transportation has regional service and connects to Chapel Hill Transit
Fuquay-Varina (27 miles from RDU)
- Southern Wake County
- South of Holly Springs and Southwest of Garner
- NC 42, NC 55 and US 401 run through town
- Population 30,000*
- Wake County Public Schools
- 5 elementary schools
- 1 middle school
- 1 high school
- Triangle Transit Authority operates regional routes and connects to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill
Clayton (30 miles from RDU)
- Johnston County
- Southeast of Raleigh and south of Knightdale
- Hwy 70/Bus 70 connect with I-40 and I-95
- Population 25,000*
- Johnston County Public Schools
- 7 elementary schools
- 2 middle schools
- 1 high school
Pittsboro (30 miles from RDU)
- Chatham County
- South of Chapel Hill
- US 501 and US 64
- Population 4,000*
- Chatham County School District
- 1 elementary school
- 2 middle schools
- 2 high schools
Wendell (31 miles from RDU)
- Wake County
- East of Knightdale
- I-87, US 64, US 264
- Population 7,000*
- Wake County Public Schools
- 3 elementary schools
- 1 middle school
- 1 high school
- Triangle Transit Authority operates regional routes and connects to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill
Zebulon (35 miles from RDU)
- Easternmost Town in Wake County
- East of Knightdale
- US 264/US 64 and NC 96
- Population 5,500*
- Wake County Public Schools
- 2 elementary schools
- 1 middle school
- High school students attend in nearby Wendell
- GlaxoSmithKline operates a facility in town and employs over 1,500 people
- Triangle Transit Authority operates regional routes and connects to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill
Mebane (35 miles from RDU)
- Mostly in Alamance County and partly in Orange County
- East of Hillsborough and northwest of Chapel Hill
- US 70 and I-40
- Population 15,000*
- Alamance-Burlington School System and Orange County School System
- 4 elementary schools
- 4 middle schools
- 3 high schools
If it is time to make a change in your current location and want to discuss the differences between these towns more call/text me at 919-818-5001!
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*Approximate population in 2019