Raleigh
Raleigh's score reflects its status as a high-growth economic hub with excellent healthcare and educational resources. While it excels in job opportunities and quality of life, the score is balanced by the challenges of a car-dependent infrastructure and a housing market that has become increasingly expensive for new residents.
Is Raleigh a Good Place to Live?
Raleigh is a strong choice, earning a MoveWiser Score of 80/100 based on cost of living, safety, schools, healthcare, housing, and jobs.
Is Raleigh right for you?
MoveWiser can compare your budget, lifestyle, climate preferences, and priorities with Raleigh and other cities — and show you how well each one fits you personally.
See How Well Raleigh Fits MeQuality of Life in Raleigh: Why It Scored 80/100
Raleigh earns its high score primarily due to its position as a powerhouse in the Research Triangle, which provides a stable and high-paying job market for tech and research professionals. The city's strong healthcare infrastructure and access to top-tier universities further bolster its appeal to families and young professionals. Conversely, the score is tempered by significant infrastructure limitations. The city's low walkability and reliance on the GoRaleigh bus system—which is not extensive—create a high barrier to entry for those without personal vehicles. Additionally, the rapid appreciation of home prices in desirable neighborhoods like North Hills has made housing less accessible than it was in previous years.
Safety in Raleigh
Raleigh earns a moderate safety rating on MoveWiser's 1-10 scale, with a safety score of 7/10.
Climate
Raleigh features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, characterized by hot, humid summers and mild, relatively short winters. Residents enjoy moderate temperatures throughout the year, though spring and autumn are particularly pleasant for outdoor activities.
Cost of Living in Raleigh
Population
502,551
Median Home Price
$435,500
Median Rent
$1,465/mo
Average Salary
$70,740
Groceries / month
$500/mo
Moving to Raleigh
As part of the Research Triangle Park, Raleigh is a premier destination for tech talent, offering a high concentration of industry giants and startups. It provides a balanced lifestyle with access to both mountains and beaches, catering well to young professionals.
Pros and Cons of Living in Raleigh
Pros
- • Strong job growth in tech and research
- • Access to top-tier universities
- • Abundant green spaces and parks
- • Mild year-round climate
- • High quality of life
Cons
- • Heavy reliance on personal vehicles
- • Limited public transit infrastructure
- • Rising housing costs
- • Increasing traffic congestion
Who Raleigh Is Best For
Where Raleigh performs well
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Raleigh a good place to live?
Raleigh is widely considered an excellent place to live, consistently ranking high for quality of life due to its blend of urban amenities and suburban comfort. It offers a thriving job market within the Research Triangle Park and a family-friendly atmosphere with numerous parks like Shelley Lake.
Is Raleigh affordable?
While Raleigh is more affordable than many major coastal tech hubs, housing costs have risen significantly in recent years. The median home price is approximately $435,500, and while it offers good value, residents should budget for higher costs in popular areas like North Hills or Five Points.
What is Raleigh best known for as a place to live?
Raleigh is best known as a cornerstone of the Research Triangle, a premier hub for technology, life sciences, and education. It is also celebrated for its 'City of Oaks' nickname, reflecting its commitment to preserving green space and providing a high quality of life for its residents.
What are the biggest advantages of living in Raleigh?
The primary advantages include a robust, diverse job market driven by major employers and universities, and a high concentration of educational institutions. Additionally, the city provides a balanced lifestyle with easy access to both the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic coast.
What are the potential disadvantages of living in Raleigh?
The most notable disadvantage is the lack of comprehensive public transportation, which necessitates car ownership for most daily tasks. Additionally, the rapid population growth has led to increased traffic congestion and a competitive housing market that can be challenging for first-time buyers.
What type of person or household is Raleigh a good fit for?
Raleigh is an ideal fit for young professionals seeking career growth in tech or healthcare, as well as families looking for quality school districts and safe neighborhoods. Students also thrive here due to the proximity of major universities like NC State, Duke, and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Related rankings
Cities Similar to Raleigh
Data & Methodology
For each city we gather recent data on cost of living, safety, schools, healthcare, housing, jobs, transit, and walkability, then normalize each into a 1–10 category rating (10 = best) using consistent benchmarks across every city. The MoveWiser Score (0–100) is a weighted blend of those category ratings — a city scores well when several categories are strong and is held back by its weakest factors. The exact weighting isn't published, but the category ratings shown above make it clear what drives each score.
Data sources (linked where available):
- U.S. News Real Estate
- Redfin — home prices
- Zillow — home prices & rent
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — salaries & employment
- Lovette Properties
How MoveWiser finds your match
MoveWiser compares your preferences across affordability, safety, weather, jobs, schools, healthcare, and lifestyle to recommend places that genuinely fit you — not just one city. Take the survey to get personalized matches ranked by what matters most to you.
Find cities that fit you — not just one
Get personalized city recommendations with match percentages based on your exact budget, lifestyle, climate, and priorities — Raleigh included.
Get My Personalized MatchesCookies & ads
We use cookies and similar technologies to personalize ads, measure ad performance, and improve your experience. Third-party vendors (including Google) may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits. See our Privacy Policy for details.