Living in Wake Forest NC: Contents

Wake Forest’s Personality

Wake Forest, North Carolina, is the perfect town for someone who wants access to big city amenities but still wants to feel more removed from city life.  With Wake Forest’s rolling hills, rocky outcroppings, historic downtown, and some heavily forested areas, you can sometimes feel like you are on vacation from or more removed from the city. 

While some may say Wake Forest provides a slower, quieter pace of life, it has attracted serious interest in businesses and developers, bringing about a boom in residential development, shopping, and dining options in the past decade.

Wake Forest NC’s Location in the Triangle

Nestled northeast of Raleigh and east of Durham, Wake Forest might initially look a bit removed if you plug it into Google Maps.  However, it is approximately a 25 to 35-minute drive northeast of downtown Raleigh and 25-35 minutes to Downtown Durham.  

Please note that the time estimates above vary widely depending on your commuting time.  Unfortunately, Capital Boulevard, the main highway leading Wake Forest into Downtown Raleigh, can become very congested at peak travel times. (It’s really kind of a pain, to be honest!) There are plans to convert Capital Boulevard into a controlled-access highway, and that project is scheduled to begin sometime in 2025.

The southern portion of Wake Forest is much closer to major shopping centers like Triangle Town Center or North Hills in Raleigh.  Wake Forest provides easy access to all your big-city amenities while maintaining a peaceful suburban environment. 

For day trips or weekend getaways, it’s approximately a 3 – 3 ½ hour drive to most of the North Carolina beaches (such as one of our favorite towns of Beaufort, NC) and a 3 – 4 hour drive to the mountains.

Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) is 30-50 minutes from most Wake Forest locations.  Commutes to the Research Triangle Park (RTP) can also range from 30-45 minutes (once again, depending on commute times and your location within Wake Forest).

Living in Wake Forest NC – Cost of Living

Despite its somewhat more remote location, Wake Forest is not one of the lower-cost living towns in the Triangle. We discuss why that is in our video here, where we compare living in Cary to Wake Forest. 

Wake Forest, North Carolina, gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 105.8 out of 100, which means the total cost is 5.8 percent higher than the U.S. average.  Housing prices are competitive, with the median price of Wake Forest at $570,500 vs. Raleigh, NC, at $425,500 and Cary, NC, at $557,000. 

As mentioned in our video above, Wake Forest is very active with new construction homes despite its more removed location. It has particularly had multiple luxury communities develop in the past decade. 

Wake Forest’s growth isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon, either.   It is currently one of the top ten fastest-growing municipalities in the state of North Carolina according to its 2040 Community Plan.

Working in Wake Forest, NC- Jobs

Wake Forest boasts a thriving job market with diverse opportunities in various industries. Wake Forest’s median household income is $104,006.   See below for some of the towns’ major employers, according to the Town’s 2022 Financial Report.

• Wake County Public School System – approximately 1334 employees
• Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary- 470 employees
• CenturyLink – 450 employees
• Walmart – 412 employees
• Wegman’s – 410 employees
• Town of Wake Forest – 399 employees

Beyond the employment opportunities available within Wake Forest, being in the Triangle allows access to other major employers in Downtown Raleigh, such as Red Hat and WakeMed, and all of the opportunities in RTP and universities.

Wake Forest has also recently invested in encouraging entrepreneurship and small-business incubators such as The Wireless Research Center and The Loading Dock Wake Forest, which is a new, two-story coworking and business incubator space.  Additional Live-Work-Play spaces are planned to house innovative research and tech companies.

The Culture and Community

Wake Forest has its own unique culture and vibe thanks to its roots as a university town.  However, with the spillover from the growth in Wake County, Wake Forest continues to experience massive growth.  In 2000, the population of Wake Forest was approximately 14,228.  Now, the population is estimated at 54,274.  If you are looking for a small-town feel indefinitely, you might want to rethink Wake Forest, whose population is estimated to grow to 118,912 by 2040.

Wake Forest has an abundance of recreational and cultural opportunities. There is always something to do between events held in Downtown Wake Forest, at various parks, and their small businesses!

Located within the downtown area, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is where you can find live performances, such as Celtic Angels Christmas, and art classes, such as Beginner’s Photography or Musical Theater Workshop.  In the springtime, the center hosts the Wake Forest Film Festival.  Wake Forest also has a variety of local writers and artists with opportunities to be supported by the ARTS Wake Forest organization.

Wake Forest is also an excellent town for nature lovers.  Outdoor recreation opportunities abound with access to Falls Lake and the Neuse River Greenway Trail, Mitchell Mill State Natural Area, and Raleigh nature preserves like the Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve or the Horseshoe Nature Preserve.

Exploring Wake Forest NC Parks

Wake Forest offers 561 acres of parks and open space for nature enthusiasts.

Wake Forest has over 15.5 miles of greenways, with additional trails being built annually. The Wake Forest Reservoir is an excellent place for kayakers to explore.

In addition to trails, you can also find some wonderful community parks with playgrounds and athletic fields.  

E. Caroll Joyner Park

One of the newest additions to Wake Forest is the E. Caroll Joyner Park.  At 117 acres, it is the Town’s newest and largest park.  This one is absolutely stunning!  It has an outdoor amphitheater, a pecan grove, public art, walking trails, a gorgeous stone wall that wraps around the front of the park, restored historic farm buildings, and a community center with an excellent playground space.  This is seriously one of the best parks in all of Wake County.

If you want to exercise your dogs, there is the two-acre, fenced-in Flaherty Dog Park, located right next to the park’s baseball fields. 

Holding Park

If swimming is your passion, the Holding Park Aquatic Center might be just what you’re looking for!  This pool has six lap lanes, two water slides, a children’s pool, and a water play area.  Holding Park is also home to Wake Forest’s Community House, which is available to rent for parties privately, and the town’s fabulous newest inclusive playground addition, scheduled to be complete in December 2023.

If your kids want to cool off in the summer, they can play at the Taylor Street Park Sprayground, an outdoor splash pad.

Community Centers

Wake Forest has a robust recreation program with two community center spaces. The community center at E. Caroll Joyner Park is a 32,000-square-foot facility with indoor pickleball courts that can be converted to indoor basketball courts.  There are multiple rooms for classes and a dance studio, and it also houses an indoor walking track.  This rec center houses a variety of community events, art classes, and fitness classes.  The Flaherty Community Center also has more space for additional classes and another gymnasium.

Beyond park spaces operated by the town of Wake Forest, there are also a variety of privately owned recreational offerings, such as the Heritage Golf Club and the Heritage Swim and Tennis Club.  Alternatively, if you prefer to play closer to Falls Lake, there is also the Hasentree Golf Course and Clubhouse.

Wake Forest’s Festivals and Events

Wake Forest hosts various festivals and events throughout the year that bring the community together. A few examples are:

• During the Holidays: The Lighting of Wake Forest, Calls from Santa, Artisan’s Christmas Marketplace
• Gobblers Run 5K held on Thanksgiving Day
• Friday Night on White is an outdoor concert series that hosts local bands
• Movies in the Park
• Fourth of July Celebration
• Mardi Gras Festival
• Six Sundays in Spring Concert Series

By the way, Wake Forest’s downtown is truly magical during the holiday season!  If small-town Hallmark Christmas movies are your thing, you must check out Wake Forest’s enchanting downtown. The streets and public art twinkle with lights, and children post letters to Santa in a special mailbox.

Living in Wake Forest, NC – Weather

Living in Wake Forest, NC, allows you to experience all four seasons, offering something for everyone.

Summers can be hot and very humid, with a high of around 89 degrees in July, while winters are typically very mild, with an average high of 50 degrees in January and a low of 29 degrees. 

Typically, your spring and autumn seasons are mild, with a high of 73 degrees in April and 70 degrees in October!  Spring and Fall in Wake Forest can be lovely, with blossoms beginning in early March and leaves changing colors around mid-to-late October.

While certainly not as high of a risk as living on the coast, flooding incidents have occurred in Wake Forest near bodies of water and creeks.  Homes in Wake Forest can be susceptible to wind, hail, and flooding damage caused by hurricanes and other severe thunderstorms.  

Schools and Higher Education Options in Wake Forest

Wake Forest is located in Wake County; therefore, all public schools in Wake Forest are part of the Wake County Public School System. 

Wake County has some very unique schooling options compared to other parts of the country. 

The Wake County school system can be challenging to navigate, so we created this guide to help you learn more about your options.

Wake Forest Elementary School (K-5) recently was awarded Magnet school status and created an iSTEM program, which “brings together science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in ways that make learning fun and authentic.”

In addition to your traditional public schools, Wake Forest is home to some highly-rated charter schools like Endeavor Charter School and Franklin Academy.  Private schools such as Thales Academy and St. Catherine of Siena School are also available. 

Wake Tech’s Scott Northern Wake Campus is 10-20 minutes away in northeast Raleigh for higher education. For research universities, downtown Wake Forest is 19 miles from NC State University, 28 miles from Duke University, and 38 miles from UNC-Chapel Hill. 

It’s important to note that while Wake Forest University initially originated in the town of Wake Forest, NC, it is no longer there!  Wake Forest University relocated to Winston-Salem, NC in 1956.  The old Wake Forest University campus is now home to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Living in Wake Forest, NC – Crime Stats

Safety is a top priority in Wake Forest, NC, and the town boasts a lower crime rate than national averages. 

Wake Forest, NC’s violent crime index is 9.9 compared to the national average of 22.7 on a 100-point scale (63% less). Property crime in Wake Forest, NC, is rated as 32.0 compared to the national average of 35.4 (10% less).  

When reviewing Wake Forest’s annual budget, public safety accounts for over 40% of the total budget.  The Town continues investing to ensure its citizens live in a healthy and safe community.

Wake Forest feels like a safe, small town and a great place to raise a family.

Enjoying Wake Forest NC – Sports & Recreation

Wake Forest offers various options for sports enthusiasts, from local sports leagues to state-of-the-art recreational facilities. Whether you’re a fan of soccer or basketball or simply enjoy staying active, there’s something for everyone living in Wake Forest NC.

• Heritage High Park has two multipurpose soccer fields, two fields for baseball and softball, six lighted tennis courts, and restroom facilities. 
• An 18-hole disc golf course with holes throughout the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary campus.
• Flaherty Park, a 100-acre park with three lighted baseball and softball fields, also sports an outdoor fitness court, ponds for fishing, lighted pickle ball courts, and lighted tennis courts .
• The Smith Creek Soccer Center has three full-sized soccer fields.
• As previously mentioned. E. Caroll Joyner Park and Recreation Center has various sporting options for Wake Forest residents.

Lastly, the Wake Forest recreation offerings are so robust!  This center has programming for every age imaginable and many family-friendly activities like the annual Father-Daughter dance, Boo-Bash, Gobblequest, Easter egg hunt, Mother and Son Dance, ballroom dancing, adult chair yoga, and pickleball leagues (to name a few). Here are the Rec Connect catalogs for further information and a much more detailed list of what’s available.

There are other commercial or privately owned recreational facilities and athletic fields, such as the The Factory.  You can find ice/hockey rinks, Epic Axe, laser tag, and many more fun activities!

Parts of Wake Forest

Wake Forest is comprised of distinct neighborhoods, each with its unique character. Residents have various housing options, from the historic downtown district’s charming architecture to the newer, more modern developments.  

It’s important to point out that the community of Wake Forest is continuing to grow and change due to its rapid population growth.  New communities with new construction homes continue to be built in Wake Forest, but some older but more established master-planned neighborhoods offer mature trees and classic architecture.  

Living in Wake Forest NC provides lots of great housing options! Some of our favorite neighborhoods are the following:

• Wake Forest’s Downtown Historic District- This area is walkable to all the downtown businesses and activities.  There are many beautiful historic homes here with original architecture.  Quite a few have been restored, and it seems that almost all of the homes in this area are occupied and well-kept (unlike some other small towns in the Triangle, where their residential downtowns are going through a revitalization process).
• Heritage is an established, master-planned golf course community.
• Stonewater is a master-planned community closer to North Raleigh in south Wake Forest.
• Traditions– a master-planned community with a 55+ Del Webb section of the community
• Holding Village is a master-planned community with smaller lots but tons of charm! 
• Hasentree is a newer, master-planned golf course community located on the western side of Wake Forest, closer to Falls Lake.  
• Bishop’s Grant – Located in northern Wake Forest, closer to Youngsville.  Master-planned community with excellent amenities.

Are you thinking about living in Wake Forest, NC? You can search here to find currently listed homes.

Food & Shopping in Wake Forest

When living in Wake Forest, NC, you’ll have access to plenty of shopping. Wake Forest has multiple big-name chain fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, particularly along US 1 (Capital Blvd), such as Bojangles, Chipotle, Panera, etc.  Along this stretch of road, you can find shopping, such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, Kohl’s, and Target. Grocery stores include Publix, Harris Teeter, Wegman’s, Food Lion, and Lowe’s Foods.  

However, if you enjoy boutique stores, you will have quite a few to browse in Downtown Wake Forest. Wake Forest also has some excellent eateries and breweries, such as:

• White Street Brewing Company
• Norse Brewing Company
• Over the Falls
• Black and White Coffee Roasters
• Sugar Magnolia Cafe
• Shuckers Oyster Bar and Grill
• Bodega Tapas

Wake Forest has options whether you are looking for a casual or a date-night spot!

Local History

Some of the earliest known buildings in Wake Forest date to 1800.  Over the next few decades, a tract of land was purchased, eventually becoming Wake Forest College in 1838.  The area continued to grow due to the college’s location, and eventually, a railroad depot was built in the town, along with the Royall Cotton Mill in 1899.

1909, the town was officially chartered as the Town of Wake Forest.  However, with the college’s move to Winston-Salem in 1956 and the cotton mill’s closure in 1976, the town went through a period of economic hardship.  However, beginning in the 1990s, the population began to grow again and has continued to grow ever since.

Cons of Living in Wake Forest NC

While living in Wake Forest NC offers many benefits, it’s essential to consider some potential drawbacks. These may include traffic congestion during peak hours and limited public transportation options.  Unfortunately, congestion is inevitable, with Capital Boulevard being Wake Forest’s main highway into and out of the town.  So, if having easy, quick access to downtown Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill is a priority, particularly at peak travel times, Wake Forest might not be the best fit.

Additionally, some residents may find the nightlife scene quieter than in larger cities.  While it may not always be like this due to plans for expansive growth, Wake Forest still holds that quiet, small-town vibe where you might be struggling to find a place to eat out past 9 pm.