9 Top Neighborhoods in Wake Forest, North Carolina

The charming town of Wake Forest lies just 30-minutes north of Raleigh and offers a wonderful, relaxed lifestyle, plenty of green spaces, and a family-friendly atmosphere. It lies on the border between Wake County and Franklin, though most of the town is located in Wake County.

Although Wake Forest ranks as North Carolina’s 21st largest city with a population of just over 50,000, downtown is quaint and walkable and full of small-town appeal, which adds to its popularity.

More and more people are moving to Wake Forest due to its convenient location next to Interstate 1, which makes it an ideal place to live for professionals wanting a quieter base but also be able to easily commute to Raleigh – especially in the North Raleigh area. The Wake Forest area has well-planned neighborhoods, some of the top schools in Wake County, and a safe, community vibe.

If you’re interested in moving to Wake Forest, but not sure which neighborhood to consider, this guide shares our insights on the best neighborhoods in Wake Forest to consider calling home – whether you are a family, a couple, retirees, or you live alone.

Best Neighborhoods in Wake Forest

Below you will find detailed information about each of our favorite Wake Forest neighborhoods to better understand each of their locations.

Heritage

Heritage is one of Wake Forest’s most sought-after neighborhoods sitting on an award-winning golf course with over 3,000 homes. It’s located about a 10-minute drive south of downtown Wake Forest. 

• Downtown Raleigh is about a 35-minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport is about a 35-minute drive
• Research Triangle Park is about a 40-minute drive

Modern amenities at Heritage include a one-of-a-kind clubhouse restaurant open to the public and a private swim and tennis club with two swimming pool complexes. 

Heritage has home prices ranging from $300K (for townhomes) up to $1.3 million+ for single family homes. At Heritage you’ll find mature tree lined streets, beautiful landscaping, nearby shopping plazas and quality schools.

Of course, the main reason to move to Heritage is for the golf course community. Heritage Golf course has a full driving range, a private teaching, practice bunker and an 8,000 sq.ft. putting green. Not to mention an 18-hole golf course.

Schools currently zoned to the Heritage neighborhood include:

• Heritage Elementary School
• Heritage Middle School
• Heritage High School

Stonewater

Located in South Wake Forest, south of the Heritage neighborhood, Stonewater is a newish but smaller community with about 250 homes, and is about a 15-minute drive south of downtown Wake Forest and close to Rolesville.

• Downtown Raleigh is about a 30 minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport is also about a 30 minute drive
• Research Triangle Park is about a 35 minute drive

Resort-style amenities at Stonewater include a community pool and playground. And here you’ll enjoy wide streets and sidewalks, generous property sizes, a beautiful community, and nearby award-winning golf courses.

Stonewater has home sizes ranging from 3500 – 3800 sq ft. And home prices ranging from $900K to $1.3 million. Schools currently zoned to the Stonewater neighborhood include:

• Rolesville Elementary School
• Wake Forest Middle School
• Heritage High School

St. Ives

St. Ives is an established neighborhood and lovely community with gorgeous homes, and is about an 8 minute drive west of downtown Wake Forest.

• Downtown Raleigh is about a 35 minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport is also about a 30 minute drive
• Research Triangle Park is also about a 30 minute drive

Amenities at St Ives include a private clubhouse, pool, tennis courts and community center. This quaint community features brand new construction sprinkled in with more existing homesites. The properties are impeccably maintained, and some lots are up to 1 acre in size. 

Here you are far enough away from the city life, but still close to shopping, dining, and everything that Wake Forest and downtown Raleigh has to offer with easy access via Capital Blvd US-1. St Ives has home sizes averaging 3200 sq ft. And home prices from $600K upwards.

Schools currently zoned to the St Ives neighborhood include:

• Forest Pines Drive Elementary
• Wake Forest Middle
• Wake Forest High School

Grand Highland

Grand Highland Estates is Wake Forest’s newest high-end luxury community, located about a 12 minute drive Northwest of downtown Wake Forest.

This gorgeous development is tucked away in the countryside, surrounded by acres of open green space and forest, and has a lovely mature community feel and small-town charm. It’s largely made up of new construction homes with larger lot sizes, with vast lawns, porches, and pools in the backyard.

This gated community is safe and family-friendly, and just a short drive from Wake Forest downtown, and is serviced by the Wake County Public School System.

• Downtown Raleigh is about a 45 minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport is also about a 30 minute drive
• Research Triangle Park is also about a 35 minute drive

The Grand Highland Estates development features the areas top builders including AR Homes, Braswell, Raleigh Custom Homes, Speight Builders and more.

Here you will find larger homes on large lots. Home prices starting in the $1.8m-$2.3m+ range and upwards. Schools currently zoned to the Grand Highland Estates neighborhood include:

• North Forest Pines Elementary
• Wakefield Middle
• Wakefield High

Tyler Run

Tyler Run is an older and more affordable neighborhood, and just a 4-minute drive southwest of downtown Wake Forest, or walking distance if you feel up to it.

• Downtown Raleigh is about a 35 minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport is about a 30 minute drive
• Research Triangle Park is also about a 35 minute drive

Tyler Run offers midsize and reasonably priced homes and a well-established community. Home sizes range from 1200 – 2800 sq ft. With home prices under $500k.

Schools currently zoned to the Tyler Run neighborhood include:

• Wake Forest Magnet Elementary
• Wake Forest Middle
• Wake Forest High

Hasentree

Hasentree sits just outside the Wake Forest limits to the far west. It’s a remote and quiet development designed by Tom Fazio, nestled next to a signature Gold Certified Audubon Sanctuary 18-hole golf course.

The community has a club house with both indoor and outdoor dining, which is ideal since the nearest restaurant is a 10-minute drive away, and it also has a gym, playground for young kids, multiple resort style pools and tennis courts.

It also has a lovely lake with walking paths around it, and they also have annual events and festivals, such as meeting Santa at Christmas and Fall festivals in the Autumn.

It may be remote but it has beautiful scenery (it’s located in the middle of the Wake Forest Greenway system) and a community vibe that cater’s to the whole family. It’s within close proximity of:

• Downtown Raleigh is a 35-minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport is a 25-minute drive
• Research Triangle Park is a 30 minute drive

Most of the homes were built in the 2000s and cost around $1m to $2m, but come with large lot sizes of from 3000 – 5000 square feet. Some of the top-rated schools currently zoned to the Hasentree neighborhood include:

• North Forest Pines Elementary
• Wakefield Middle
• Wakefield High School

Bishops Grant

Bishops Grant is a quaint neighborhood with tree-lined avenues, large family homes, and various parks such as E. Carroll Joyner Park. The community is welcoming and family-friendly, with most residents having school-aged children and pets.

There is also a shopping center nearby, and you are within walking distance of downtown Wake Forest and a short drive from Heritage Golf Course.

Homes go for on average $500K-$800K, depending on the size and number of rooms. Compared to other neighborhoods in Wake Forest, it’s quite inexpensive. It’s within close proximity of:

• Downtown Raleigh in a 30 minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport in a 30 minute drive
• Research Triangle Park in a 30 minute drive
• North Carolina State University is a 35 minute drive

Schools currently zoned to the Bishops Grant neighborhood include:

• Richland Creek Elementary
• Wake Forest Middle
• Wake Forest High School

Traditions

Traditions is a lively neighborhood with a resort-like gated community. The neighborhood has several amenities, including a clubhouse with a large pool and fitness center, amphitheater, playground, a sand volleyball court and trails that leads to the Wake Forest Reservoir.

Traditions is one of the cheaper neighborhoods in Wake Forest, and it’s possible to find 4-bed family homes for under $400K, though most homes average between $500K-$700K.

Traditions is within walking distance of downtown Wake Forest. It’s within close proximity of:

• Downtown Raleigh in a 30 minute drive
• Raleigh Durham Airport in a 30 minute drive
• Research Triangle Park in a 30 minute drive
• North Carolina State University is a 35 minute drive

Some of the best schools nearby are:

• Richland Creek Elementary
• Wake Forest Middle
• Wake Forest High School
• The Envision Math and Science Charter is also located within the neighborhood.  

Holding Village

Holding Village is not the most attractive name, but this new master plan community will no doubt be one of the most attractive areas in Wake Forest.

This estate is centred around 35 acres of open green space, which will have just six neighborhood pocket parks and a stocked fishing lake (15 acres).

It’s also connected to the Dunn Creek Greenway and the Smith Creek Greenway, giving you easy access to miles of walking trails and bike trails – perfect for dog owners and families with kids.

The homes here are primarily single family homes and townhouses, but they are big, and all new construction (2022-2023). They range from 2,000-3,850 square feet and some lots can be up to 0.35 acres each. Homes range from $350K – $1.1 million.

As well as having large homes, this neighborhood has a pool and pavilion, clubhouse, playground, and picnic tables by the lake. Holding Village is within walking distance of downtown Wake Forest and is located next to the desirable Heritage neighborhood.

Some of the best schools nearby are:

• Wake Forest Elementary School
• Wake Forest Middle School
• Wake Forest High School
• Wake Forest Magnet Schools

What makes Wake Forest a desireable place to live?

Location, location, location!

The town of Wake Forest is a desirable place to live because it’s conveniently located to the main cities and business hubs of the Triangle. It’s just 18-miles north of downtown Raleigh, with direct access via US 1. It takes about 25 minutes to drive from Wake Forest to Raleigh’s suburbs, and 30 minutes to reach the city center.

Nearby is Durham (home of Duke University), which is approximately a 40-minute drive to the west via NC-98, and Chapel Hill (home of University of North Carolina – UNC) is about a 55-minute drive further west via I-540 and I-40.

Raleigh Durham International Airport is approximately a 45-minute drive via US-1 and I-540, and for those thinking about commuting to Research Triangle Park, it’s about a 50-minute drive. 

While traffic can be a little challenging during peak times, Wake Forest occupies a prime spot in North Raleigh and close to the popular North Hills area, and you’re not too far from the best the Triangle region has to offer via I-540 and US-1.

This is a prime location and centrally located between the North Carolina Mountains in the west and the best beaches in North Carolina in the east (just 2-hours away). Here you can get the best of both worlds.

The beautiful Wake Forest community offers good access to the Raleigh area’s first-class universities, the Research Triangle Park, college sports, museums, parks, and top-rated golf courses.

You are never too far from North Carolina’s most popular vacation destinations. 

Community atmosphere

This unique community is centered around a thriving and historical downtown Wake Forest where you stroll to clothing boutiques, cafes, restaurants, breweries, art galleries and specialty shops. 

Being a small town known for its rich history and small town charm, tree-lined streets, and a real sense of community, most people find it a pleasant and welcoming place to call home. 

The area offers well-planned neighborhoods within 10-minutes of downtown Wake Forest, including a variety of housing options from historic homes to newer developments. 

Sunny days most of the year

And with about 220 sunny days a year, if you’re looking to escape the bleakness of other states, you could discover a brighter future here. The climate offers four-seasons for those looking to escape long winters, and you are centrally located between the mountains and the beach.

Low cost of living

The cost of living in Wake Forest NC is generally lower than other bigger metropolitan areas.

Is Wake Forest affluent?

Generally speaking, Wake Forest is considered to be an affluent community with a mix of residents including both middle-class and those more affluent. Any town’s affluence is reflected in various aspects such as the quality of schools, the housing options and the overall standard of living, of which Wake Forest ranks well.

But like any town or city, affluence can vary from one neighborhood to another. Some areas will have higher average incomes and average property values than others. 

Does Wake Forest have a downtown?

Absolutely, downtown Wake Forest is one of the most charming and historic downtowns in the Triangle area, if not North Carolina. It’s very walkable with ample shops and the best places to eat and drink. 

Final Thoughts

Wake Forest has so many great neighborhoods and is generally more affordable than Raleigh and many of its’ suburbs, but it’s still in a GREAT location in the triangle for both entertainment and commuting. And because it’s small and has a low crime rate, and more affordable, you have a high quality of life here.

I hope this list of the best neighborhoods in Wake Forest NC was helpful. Here are more things to know before moving to Wake County, NC.

Before deciding to live in Wake Forest, I’d recommend visiting the area in person and meeting with a trusted and experienced local real estate agent who can consider your individual needs and preferences.

Watch our video of Wake Forest neighborhoods