Moving to Raleigh-Durham? I’ll walk you through neighborhoods, timing, and next steps.
Book My Relocation Strategy CallWhat Is Apex, NC Actually Like to Live In?
Apex is a fast-growing southwest Wake County town with a real historic downtown, three public high schools, and a 20-minute median drive to RTP from our tracked neighborhoods. You get some of the Triangle’s best custom-home neighborhoods and a town people genuinely like living in. You give up quiet roads and a quick trip to downtown Raleigh.
The name tells its story. Apex sits at the high point of the old Chatham Railroad line, the “apex of the grade”, which is where its motto, “The Peak of Good Living,” comes from. The town counted 58,780 people in the 2020 census and an estimated 80,419 by 2025, close to 37% growth in five years.
Is Apex a good place to live? Yes, if you work in RTP, Cary, or anywhere along US 1 and I-540, and you want strong schools and a downtown with character. It is a weaker fit if you commute to downtown Raleigh every day or want a town that has stopped growing. For homes and neighborhoods, see our Apex real estate and community guide.
Where Is Apex, and How Long Are the Commutes?
Apex sits southwest of Raleigh and south of RTP, mostly in Wake County with a portion in Chatham County. Cary borders it to the north and east, and Holly Springs is just to the south.
These are off-peak drive times we routed from 49 Apex communities. Rush hour runs longer, so test your real commute at the hour you would drive it.
| Destination | Median off-peak drive | Range by neighborhood |
|---|---|---|
| WakeMed Cary | 16 min | 8-25 min |
| Research Triangle Park | 20 min | 15-32 min |
| RDU Airport | 25 min | 20-35 min |
| UNC Health Rex | 28 min | 21-33 min |
| Downtown Durham | 29 min | 25-42 min |
| Downtown Raleigh | 32 min | 26-39 min |
Apex is big enough now that the side of town matters. A home near US 64 and one off the far end of the Peakway can differ by 15 minutes on the same drive. Compare each community on the Apex neighborhoods page.
What Are Property Taxes in Apex, NC?
For the 2026 tax year, a home in the Wake County part of Apex pays Wake County’s rate of 53.71 cents per $100 plus the town’s rate of 37.35 cents per $100, after the council approved a 1.75-cent increase in the FY 2026-27 budget. Combined, that is $0.9106 per $100 of assessed value.
| Assessed value | Annual county and town tax (Wake side) |
|---|---|
| $500,000 | $4,553 |
| $750,000 | $6,830 |
| $1,000,000 | $9,106 |
Homes in the Chatham County part of Apex pay Chatham’s rate instead of Wake’s, and homes outside town limits pay the county rate plus a fire district. Confirm the county and the exact bill with the tax office before you budget.
Moving to Raleigh-Durham? I’ll walk you through neighborhoods, timing, and next steps.
Book My Relocation Strategy CallWho Lives and Works in Apex?
Apex is a commuter town for professionals. Among working residents, professional, scientific, and technical services is the largest industry by a wide margin, followed by health care and manufacturing. About 36% of workers worked from home in 2024.
Residents own their homes. Data USA puts homeownership at 76.5%, with a median household income of $144,135 and a median age of 36.4. Most commuters head north to RTP, Cary, and the I-40 corridor, which is why the RTP drive matters more here than the Raleigh one.
What Kind of Housing Will You Find in Apex?
Apex has everything from historic homes near Salem Street to production-builder subdivisions and some of the Triangle’s strongest custom-home neighborhoods. Our site tracks 49 Apex communities. Here are custom and semi-custom neighborhoods we show often:
- Bella Casa: homes from builders including L & L of Raleigh and Loyd Builders.
- Sweetwater: custom homes from builders including Exeter Building Company, Loyd Builders, and Upright Builders.
- Woods of Chatham: custom homes on larger wooded lots, from builders including Bluestone Builders and Bost Custom Homes.
- Village of Wynchester: homes from Loyd Builders and Braswell Construction Company.
- Greyhawk Landing: homes from Upton & Company and Scott Daves Construction.
- Olde Thompson Creek: an established neighborhood with a community pool.
We left market prices out of this guide because they go stale quickly. Current higher-end homes are on our Apex luxury listings page, and if you want to build, start with the Apex builders we track.
How Do Schools Work in Apex?
Apex is in the Wake County Public School System and has three high schools: Apex High, Apex Friendship High, which opened in 2015, and Felton Grove High, which opened in August 2025 with about 800 ninth and tenth graders and is adding grades over the next two years.
A new high school means assignment lines move, and Apex’s growth keeps them moving. Wake County assigns students by address, not by town name, so confirm the current assignment for the exact address with WCPSS before you make an offer.
Moving to Raleigh-Durham? I’ll walk you through neighborhoods, timing, and next steps.
Book My Relocation Strategy CallWhat Is Coming to Apex?
The big project is Veridea, a planned mixed-use development of about 1,100 acres in south Apex. As of April 2026, utility work was under way, with the first homes targeted for 2028 and full build-out around 2032.
That is good news for shopping and jobs on the south side, and it means years of construction traffic around it. If you are buying near the Veridea site, drive the roads at rush hour and ask what is planned on the land behind the house.
What Is There to Do in Apex?
Apex’s center of gravity is its downtown.
- Historic downtown Apex: the downtown historic district, on the National Register of Historic Places since 1994, with shops and restaurants along Salem Street.
- PeakFest: the town’s spring street festival, held the first Saturday in May with more than 200 vendors.
- Pleasant Park: a 92-acre town park with turf fields, tennis courts, a splash pad, and an “enchanted forest” playground.
- Cary next door: Cary’s parks, shopping, and restaurants are a few minutes north.
Who Is Apex For, and Who Should Skip It?
Apex fits people who want a strong-school suburb with a real downtown and a short RTP commute. It is a poor fit for daily downtown Raleigh commuters and anyone hoping for a quiet, settled town.
| Apex fits you if | Look elsewhere if |
|---|---|
| You work in RTP, Cary, or along I-540 | You commute to downtown Raleigh every day |
| You want a custom or semi-custom home in an established neighborhood | You want a town that has stopped growing |
| You want a walkable historic downtown nearby | You want acreage and a rural feel |
| You work from home part of the week | You want to avoid years of construction traffic |
Moving to Raleigh-Durham? I’ll walk you through neighborhoods, timing, and next steps.
Book My Relocation Strategy CallCommon Questions About Moving to Apex, NC
What county is Apex, NC in?
Is Apex, NC a good place to live?
How far is Apex from RTP and Raleigh?
What is the property tax rate in Apex, NC?
How many high schools does Apex have?
What is Veridea in Apex?
How Our Team Helps You Decide Whether Apex Fits
Choosing Apex comes down to your commute, your school assignment, and whether you want a new build, a custom home, or an established neighborhood. Those answers change by street, so the town name alone won’t settle it.
The Tim M. Clarke Team, with The Jim Allen Group at Coldwell Banker HPW, works across Apex and the rest of the Triangle. On a custom or new build, we represent you, not the builder: we read the contract, the allowances, and the warranty before you sign. Tell us where you work and what you need from a home, and we will narrow Apex down to the neighborhoods worth your time, or tell you if Cary or Holly Springs fits you better.
Moving to Raleigh-Durham? I’ll walk you through neighborhoods, timing, and next steps.
Book My Relocation Strategy Call
