Triangle Area In North Carolina

The Triangle area of North Carolina is a region located in the central part of the state. It comprises the cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, which are three of the largest cities in North Carolina. Originally getting its name from the locations of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and North Carolina State University. It has grown substantially over the years and is now home to Research Triangle Park commonly called RTP, Raleigh Durham International Airport, hundreds of businesses in all fields of industry, finance, pharmaceuticals and many more. 

The surrounding towns are now considered part of the Triangle as the population increased and residential growth moved out to the suburbs. It is now easier to view the Triangle as more of an ever expanding circle centered at the hub of the three original towns and RTP. In reality the neighboring population centers of Greensboro/Winston- Salem to the west and Fayetteville to the south are gradually becoming more and more connected as large scale industry moves in, in part because of the highway and rail connections.  Click here to see a list of homes that just came on the market in the research triangle region.

Research Triangle Park

Research Triangle Park is home to over 300 companies, 60,000 employees and covers almost 7000 acres. Companies from all aspects of business, manufacturing, finance, technology and pharmaceuticals combine to make the park a leading force in innovation that attracts employees from all over the world. Since the early days of IBM to Cisco to Apple’s recent announcement it is building a campus and investing over $1 billion with plans to hire 3000 employees the park has evolved and expanded. The latest addition is Hub RTP which combines living space with work space a first for the park.

Emphasis is being placed on work life balance with a pool, fitness center, dog park and retail/ restaurants. Some of the companies with facilities in the park also have a presence in the larger community in the surrounding counties. All of this investment and growth has seen some major highway projects to move both workers and logistics around the area. I 540, the outer loop, inside the beltline are all phrases residents have become used to hearing especially south of Raleigh. Recent announcements about major manufacturing plants coming to the area include the VinFast Electric Vehicle site in Chatham County. Nearby in Siler City WolfSpeed announced plans to invest $5 billion and hire 1800 workers for its silicon carbide semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Chatham County. A little further away near Liberty, NC Toyota has begun construction on a high-tech battery manufacturing plant with plans for 1750 job openings.

Towns in The Triangle of North Carolina

The largest towns in the Triangle are Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill. The surrounding towns are part of an ever growing list that make up the area, the following towns in the Triangle have been part of the growth for some time, some more than others. The proximity to the major cities have influenced their growth. For example the towns closest to Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Morrisville and Fuquay Varina have all grown significantly.  The towns closest to Raleigh Wake Forest, Knightdale, Garner and now getting their turn Wendell and Zebulon are also in growth mode. As you move into Johnston County the towns growing the fastest are Clayton, Smithfield, and Selma while further out Benson, Four Oaks, Kenly are starting to get in on the action as well.  Pittsboro, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Sanford, Wilson and Angier are all now part of the greater Triangle region as well as growing in their own right as industry and employers move to their surrounding areas. The Triangle MLS has now joined with the Longleaf Pine MLS which includes Fayetteville and the counties of Cumberland, Lee, Hoke, Roberson, and Harnett. 

As the population of the Triangle has grown these towns have all seen growth over the years, a combination of companies who move into RDU and surrounding sites hiring workers and students who attend the universities and decide to stay after college graduation. Eventually the parents of said college graduates start to realize that in order to see their grandkids on a regular basis and be close to family they start to consider moving to the region. It is not uncommon to have many members of the same and extended family all move to the area after one member has laid the groundwork. The many benefits of living in the Triangle Area of North Carolina draws people from all over the country for all sorts of reasons.

Each town has its own unique features and attractions that has helped it grow and while some have grown faster than others, the small town feel draws many home buyers for the quality of life they offer. Most Triangle area real estate agents have helped clients move to the Triangle looking for a place to live because of relocation with work, a change of scenery, quality of life and following the lead of another family member. Whatever the reason is, you may be considering a move to the Triangle. We would love to help you with your home search. 

Counties in The Triangle of North Carolina

The counties that make up the Triangle are...Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston, Harnett, Franklin, and Chatham County.  According to the 2020 Census Wake County is the most populous with over 1 million residents followed by Durham, Johnston, Orange respectively. Why does it matter what county you live in, you might ask. There are a number of reasons the county you choose to live in is important. The public school system is frequently one of the reasons why people choose to live in a certain county, and while this is very important, it is equally important to research all school districts and particularly schools to determine where the really good schools are. Taxes vary throughout the different counties and municipalities with different rates come different services. Infrastructure and access to health care, retail outlets, entertainment and restaurants can vary considerably with each county.   

Moving To The Triangle of North Carolina

People move to the Triangle area of North Carolina for a variety of reasons, some come for the research universities like Duke or the engineering school at North Carolina State University or they come for a job in the Research Triangle area. Many others move to the Triangle region for the quality of life, the lower cost of living, proximity to excellent health care or to be closer to family members. The economic growth fueled by the educated workforce who have called the Triangle home for many decades stretches from Downtown Raleigh, the center of the region, to all of the adjacent counties.

If you are thinking of moving to the area, one of the first things you'll want to know is where are you going to live and how do you decide! Housing costs are usually the deciding factor when looking for the best places to settle down. While there used to be a lot of crossover between the towns and cities, it has changed somewhat as the original towns nearer to the center of the area have become built up and land is more scarce, the prices of homes have risen and in some cases considerably. It is possible to pay substantially more for the same model home by the same builder depending on where the home is being built. There are now many more million dollar homes and neighborhoods in the Triangle than ever before and so far at least plenty of buyers for them.

Raleigh-Durham-Cary and Chapel Hill would be at the higher priced end of the scale while Zebulon, Clayton, Wendell and Smithfield have more affordable options. In nearly all cases the further out from the downtown area the lower home prices will be. New home prices have increased recently as land becomes more expensive as farmers sell their tobacco and cotton fields to developers. This has opened up opportunities for much smaller towns to be part of the growth especially if they are located near an interstate or an employment hub of which there are an ever increasing number.

Natural Attractions Of The Triangle Area

Once people move here they soon find out just how many ways there are to make the most of the natural beauty of the region, plus the weather offers many months to enjoy the outside. Biking, walking, boating, fishing are just a few of the many activities available to residents, all within a short distance...and don't forget golf! Jordan Lake and Falls Lake, both about thirty minutes from Raleigh, provide numerous opportunities for fun for everyone from the experienced boater and angler to anyone looking for a good place to walk or to pitch a tent for the weekend.

Besides the big ones there are numerous lakes and ponds, rivers and streams throughout the Triangle counties. Biking and walking trails are everywhere and you can ride from Wake County into Johnston County and from Durham County into Orange County. In fact there is a trail called the Mountains to Sea Trail which starts in the western part of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains and winds its way across the entire state ending up at Jockey's Ridge along the coast, using the local trails along the way. So depending on where you end up here you are either two or three hours from the beach and 3.5 hours or 4.5 hours from the mountains.

The beaches of North Carolina are world famous and in fact many people get their first taste of the state when they come here on vacation to the Outer Banks say. North Carolina's mountains, which include Mount Mitchell the highest peak east of the Mississippi are wonderful any time of year but especially in Summer if you want to escape the heat. In winter, the slopes are open for skiing and snowboarding.

Restaurants, Nightlife & Entertainment 

The entertainment scene in the Triangle may not be what you are used to if you are moving from a busy metropolitan city or an area with a lot of people and history under its belt. It is probably one of the most common complaints you hear, that there is a lack of restaurants, clubs, etc. But you will find throughout the area a number of first class places to eat and the list is growing almost daily. There have been a number of chefs and restaurants featured in national publications and some prestigious awards have been won, and not just around Raleigh and Durham. 

It is true that you may have to drive to many of these spots but there are a number of developments that have attracted a mix of well known chefs and retail chains combined with movie theaters and outdoor concerts such as North Hills in Raleigh and Fenton in Cary. There are many places of interest when it comes to the arts, museums, and history that can rival many other parts of the country and often with less crowds!

In conclusion, moving to a new area can be a daunting and exciting experience all at once. However, with the right guidance and resources, the transition can be made easier and smoother. Whether you are looking to move to Raleigh- Durham or one of the many towns that make up the area we are committed to providing our clients with the best possible real estate experience, whether you are buying, selling, or just moving to a new area. Our team of knowledgeable and experienced agents is ready to assist you in finding the perfect home for your unique needs and lifestyle. Don't hesitate to reach out to us for all of your real estate needs. We look forward to helping you make your move to the Triangle a success.