Located in North Carolina, Apex is a town booming with job opportunities and an exciting lifestyle that will suit newcomers from all over. The Atlantic beaches and the Blue Ridge Mountains are both within a half day’s drive, and the town has earned its official motto, the Peak of Good Living.
As a former shopping and trading centre, Apex has a bustling downtown area with great shops and restaurants. The town is family-friendly. You will find high-quality schools, safe neighbourhoods, low property taxes, and plenty of green space.
Cost of living in Apex
Housing is the main reason the cost of living in Apex is above the national average. Apex turns up near the top of ‘best places to live’ rankings year after year. Newcomers keep arriving, and competition for homes keeps prices high.
The housing market in Apex is competitive, and well-priced homes still sell quickly, although the frantic bidding of recent years has eased. Prices are comfortably above the national average. Patience pays here: buyers who put in the hours on property sites and build a rapport with local estate agents can still turn up good value.
Not everything costs more in Apex. Transport and utilities tend to cost less than the national average. Healthcare and groceries costs are roughly in line with the rest of the country.
Most newcomers find the quality of life worth the premium, especially families. Apex regularly tops state and national rankings for livability and safety; it was named North Carolina’s number one boomtown and one of the country’s most desirable places to live.
Getting around in Apex
When getting around in Apex, new arrivals will notice how well-placed the town is. The recent I-540 extension has trimmed the trip to Research Triangle Park and Raleigh-Durham International Airport to roughly 20 to 25 minutes.
The flip side is traffic: roads like Highway 55 and US-64 clog up on weekday mornings and evenings as commuters head to and from Raleigh and the Research Triangle, and this is the single most common gripe you will hear from residents.
Most residents drive, but the town runs GoApex Route 1, a fare-free bus that loops through Apex, and the historic downtown’s pavements make it easy to get around on foot. GoCary Route 9 links Apex with neighbouring Cary. GoTriangle Route 305 connects the town to Raleigh and Holly Springs, and the agency’s network reaches further into the Research Triangle, toward employment hubs like Research Triangle Park.
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Healthcare in Apex
Access to top hospitals is one of the real perks of healthcare in Apex. Three major systems are within easy reach: Duke Health, WakeMed Health and Hospitals, and UNC Health. Between them, they run well-equipped hospitals and clinics staffed by highly regarded physicians, so specialist care is rarely far away.
Closer to home, the WakeMed Apex Healthplex is the town’s anchor for medical care. It runs a 24-hour emergency department backed by WakeMed Children’s, and its outpatient services include primary care, cardiology, orthopaedics, and a range of paediatric specialities.
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Schools in Apex
Education is high on most newcomers’ priority lists, and the schools in Apex are part of the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS), one of the largest districts in the country. Most local public schools post strong results, and several tuition-free public charter schools give parents another option. Extracurricular clubs, sports, arts programmes, and field trips round out the school day.
Thales Academy and Peace Montessori School are among the better-known private schools in Apex. On the public charter side, Peak Charter Academy teaches children from kindergarten through Grade 8 and is considered among the state’s strongest charter schools.
Higher education is close at hand. The Research Triangle that surrounds Apex is home to a cluster of well-regarded universities, among them Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The WCPSS also offers alternative and special educational programmes in neighbouring community schools to support children with diverse needs.
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Weather in Apex
The weather in Apex is humid subtropical, characterised by hot, sticky summers and gentle winters. Summer highs commonly reach a muggy 89°F (32°C). Humidity is high for much of the year, and Apex experiences generous rainfall: Apex gets around 47 inches (1,193mm) a year. Winter lows are around 32°F (0°C), and daytime temperatures climb well above that.
Spring and autumn are pleasant but can be unpredictable, and the town sees occasional bouts of severe weather during the shoulder seasons. Snow is light and infrequent; the town averages roughly four inches (10cm) each winter, and a dusting is more likely than a blanket.
Working in Apex
A strong job market is a major draw for anyone working in Apex. The town anchors the western edge of the Research Triangle, a hub for scientific and technical research, and offers plentiful opportunities in education, healthcare, social assistance, and finance. Unemployment is well below the national rate, and households here earn well above the national average.
Apex’s central position and easy highway access appeal to employers, and the strong schools and quality of life help them attract staff. There is some public transport, but most people drive to work.
Accommodation in Apex
Proximity to work and school will be an essential consideration for those looking for accommodation in Apex. Apex is one of the fastest-growing towns in North Carolina, and new housing developments break ground constantly. All that construction keeps some supply on the market, but prices stay high because buyers keep competing. The town has kept its village feel. Modern conveniences have arrived, but it still retains its small-town character.
New arrivals have a wide range of housing options. Lakeside and estate homes mark the upper end of the market, and townhouses and condominiums work for smaller budgets. Quieter rural properties lie to the west and south of town. Bella Casa and Abbington are among the most popular neighbourhoods.
Families favour Abbington and Bella Casa for their custom-built homes and good schools. Both neighbourhoods are close to Beaver Creek and Jordan Lake, so the outdoors is near and the commute is short. Carriage Downs is another popular pocket of the town. Big-box chains such as Target and Lowe’s are close by, and so are casual dining and family entertainment.
Woodridge is another affordable and centrally located neighbourhood that offers a wide range of lifestyle amenities. For new arrivals with room in their budgets, Brookshire Manor, Greyhawk Landing, and Salem Village offer more luxury homes with coveted amenities such as tennis courts and community pools.
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Lifestyle in Apex
For most newcomers, the lifestyle in Apex comes down to two things: a walkable historic downtown and the outdoors all around it. History buffs can call in at the Apex Union Depot on Salem Street, a restored railroad station, or take the short drive to the North Carolina Railway Museum near New Hill, where vintage locomotives still run. Downtown’s antique shops and Victorian-era buildings make it a pleasant place to wander on a weekend.
The food scene punches above the town’s size, and a few local kitchens have picked up regional awards. Salem Street downtown and the Beaver Creek area are the main places to eat out, and the kitchens there cover Southern, Mexican, Italian, and East Asian cooking.
Apex is not a major league sports town in its own right, but the region is well represented. The Carolina Hurricanes play NHL hockey at Lenovo Center in nearby Raleigh, and the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, draw big crowds a short drive away.
Pleasant Park, a 92-acre (37 ha) town facility, is a magnet for families. It has courts for racquet sports and basketball, multipurpose fields for soccer and lacrosse, a splash pad, and a playground big enough to lose an afternoon in.
Nightlife in Apex is fairly low key, although Raleigh’s larger selection of bars and clubs is only a short drive away.
Apex is generous with green space, and its lakes and parks make camping, boating, hiking, fishing, and swimming easy to slot into a weekend. The town maintains more than 11 miles (18km) of public greenway. Beaver Creek Greenway is a favourite for walking. Apex Nature Park has picnic spots and a dog park. Its outdoor amphitheatre fills up for summer concerts.