Study: Best Cities to Raise a Family in North Carolina

Set up your family members in North Carolina, and you're setting them up for opportunity in education and jobs. Not only that, but they'll have access to beautiful beaches and expansive mountains. If they're able to get into one of the stellar universities here, like Duke and UNC, they may never want to leave.

Some cities are more conducive to raising a family than others. We came up with a top 10 list, based on factors that are important to families.

Study Methodology

For this study, we looked at the following five factors:

1. Education
   
2. Commute Time
   
3. Household Type
   
4. Residency
   
5. Housing Costs

When you’re raising a family, you want to ideally settle where education is considered a priority. A key indicator of a community’s educational worth is the percentage of residents with a high school degree or higher.

Moreover, you want to live where you can get to work and not waste time in your car, feeling road rage. It’s much better to have that time with your family. For that reason, we considered average commute times for each city.

We also looked at the percentage of families with children under 18, so your kids will have someone to play with and you’ll be able to find parent friends who know exactly what you’re going through. Another sign of a family-friendly area is how long its residents have lived there. We recorded the percentage of people living in the same residence for one year or longer. That way, you can get to know your neighbors better as they’re not likely to be moving out year after year.

And finally, we looked at housing costs. You’ve got to save up for college tuition – you can’t be putting all your income into housing! We took into account the percentage of income that goes toward mortgages or rents.

Top 10 Cities in North Carolina to Raise a Family

10. Mooresville

• Residents with high school degree: 90.5%
  
• Average commute time: 22.6 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 38.8%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 81.2%
  
• Income for housing: 24.5%

If you like Nascar, then Mooresville is the place for you and your family. Located close to Charlotte, the city is nicknamed “Race City USA” because of the number of teams located there. Mooresville has the shortest commute time in our top 10, and also ranked well for families with kids.

Did you know? Downtown Mooresville hosts a farmer’s market every Saturday morning. Get the kids up early and have some freshly made breakfast treats at the market, then let them pick out their own produce to try later in the week.

9. Indian Trail

• Residents with high school degree: 91.6%
  
• Average commute time: 29.8 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 49.8%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 87.1%
  
• Income for housing: 23.6%

Not only are there plenty of families with kids in Indian Trail, they are also likely to stick around, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics. This isn’t surprising, as Indian Trail is a town in Union County, which is one of the nation’s fastest growing counties. Check out Crossing Paths Park, which offers over 1,000 acres of housing trails, playgrounds, a lake stocked with fish, and more.

Did you know? The town hosts a number of family-friendly events, including a local NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition for the sportiest of children.

8. Wake Forest

• Residents with high school degree: 95.1%
  
• Average commute time: 29.2 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 44.8%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 84%
  
• Income for housing: 22.8%

Education is viewed as important in Wake Forest, where over 95% of residents hold at least a high school diploma. When you get there, familiarize yourself with both the town and Wake Forest University by visiting the Wake Forest Historical Museum. The area also has over 10 parks and recreation centers.

Did you know? Wake Forest is a true Southern town. E. Carroll Joyner Park, a public park, even has its own pecan grove for your family to explore and scavenge for some tasty snacks.

7. High Point

• Residents with high school degree: 85.1%
  
• Average commute time: 20.7 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 33.8%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 84%
  
• Income for housing: 24.2%

High Point considers itself the “Furniture Capital of the World” for its furniture industry as well as its hosting duties for the internationally renowned High Point Market twice a year. Those in the industry go to this market to see the latest furniture products. If you’re just starting to settle down and start a family, you’ll easily be able to find pieces to stock your new home, and you won’t have to spend too much of your income to stay there. Another plus: High Point has the shortest commute time out of our entire top 10.

Did you know? Your kids can learn more about American history by joining the High Point Museum’s Early American Life Program, where they can earn badges for participating in historical programs.

6. Garner

• Residents with high school degree: 91.8%
  
• Average commute time: 25.6 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 33.6%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 86.6%
  
• Income for housing: 22%

Ranking well for both the percentage of families in the same house as last year and income spent on housing, Garner is located just outside of Raleigh. While you may have a longer commute getting to the Research Triangle, you could find a way to shrink your travels if you can find a job at the headquarters of Butterball, the company behind many holiday turkeys.

Did you know? Downtown Garner offers a variety of family-friendly outdoor events, including the new Trick or Treat Food Truck Rodeo in October.

5. Matthews

• Residents with high school degree: 94.3%
  
• Average commute time: 25.6 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 32.5%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 86.8%
  
• Income for housing: 22.2%

Nearly 87% of Matthews’ residents live in the same place as the previous year, making it a solid choice if you’re looking to settle down in an established strong community. Located outside of Charlotte, it hosts several major corporate headquarters, including Family Dollar Stores and grocery chain Harris Teeter.

Did you know? Kids can enjoy inexpensive town-run classes in Matthews, including art, ballet and even break dancing.

4. Huntersville

• Residents with high school degree: 94.6%
  
• Average commute time: 25.8 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 40.6%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 85.3%
  
• Income for housing: 20.5%

Huntersville ranks solidly across most categories, making it a well-rounded choice for families with kids. It is home to two lakes, including the sizeable Lake Norman, as well as three Nascar teams. And it hosts the annual Carolina Renaissance Festival each fall, for anyone who wants to step back in time to 16th century Europe.

Did you know? You can explore the Torrence Creek Greenway with your kids after school, where you’ll find meadows, giant rock formations and boardwalks that take you through the wetlands.

3. Holly Springs

• Residents with high school degree: 96.1%
  
• Average commute time: 28.7 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 52%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 87.3%
  
• Income for housing: 20.4%

Holly Springs has the highest ranking in the top 10 for the percentage of families with kids, so why not add yourself to that number? Not only is the town convenient to Research Triangle Park for work, it also has several recreation facilities, including Bass Lake.

Did you know? Holly Springs is home to the Salamanders, a new Coastal Plain League baseball team for college players in the summer. Take the family to see an American classic of old-fashioned ball played with wood bats.

2. Apex

• Residents with high school degree: 96.1%
  
• Average commute time: 23.2 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 51.4%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 83.9%
  
• Income for housing: 19.7%

Just west of Raleigh, Apex ties with Holly Springs with the highest number of high school degrees, which is not surprising given its proximity to the Research Triangle. Families who love the outdoors will appreciate that the town is located on two major bike routes, including U.S. Bicycle Route 1 and North Carolina Bicycle Route 5.

Did you know? You can expose your kids to plenty of arts and culture in Apex. Start by taking them to the Jazz and Music Festival held each September.

1. Cary

• Residents with high school degree: 95.1%
  
• Average commute time: 22.2 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 39.4%
  
• Families living in the same house as last year: 85.1%
  
• Income for housing: 17.7%

We finally round out our list with the town of Cary, and it’s no surprise why: with only an average 22-minute commute and only about 17% of residents’ income spent on housing, you should have plenty of time and money to enjoy yourself. Cary’s biggest employer is the SAS Institute, one of the world’s largest software companies. Your family will also enjoy the plethora of annual festivals held in town, including the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival and the Cary Diwali Celebration.

Did you know? The historic Cary Theater shows both classic and independent films, and, at only $5 a ticket, is a budget-friendly family date spot.

North Carolina is home to a wide variety of interests. From Nascar to the Research Triangle, you’ll find some of the highest performers, best minds and yummiest barbecue. These cities will open up your family members to many opportunities and fun things to do as they grow up.