Living in Apex, NC
Wake County
Apex layers rapid new-construction subdivision growth around the edges of a genuinely historic small-town core -- a walkable downtown along the old Chatham Railroad line that gave the town its name (reportedly the line's highest point) and its long-standing official slogan, "Peak of Good Living." That combination of preserved historic downtown plus fast-growing outer neighborhoods is Apex's real distinguishing identity within the Triangle, not just "another Wake County suburb."
Explore Apex in depth
- Moving to Apex: Pros, Cons & What to Know
- Cost of Living in Apex
- Housing Market in Apex
- Buying a Home in Apex
- Renting in Apex
- Taxes in Apex
- Homeowners Insurance & Natural Hazard Costs in Apex
- Climate & Weather in Apex
- Jobs & Economy in Apex
- Schools in Apex
- Crime & Safety in Apex
- Healthcare in Apex
- Traffic & Transportation in Apex
- Best Areas to Live in Apex
- Pros and Cons of Living in Apex
- Retiring in Apex
- Who Should / Shouldn’t Move to Apex
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Learn moreHousing
Redfin cited a $622K median sale price over the three months ending June 2026, down 2.1% YoY, with median price per square foot at $244 (also down 2.4% YoY). 413 homes sold in June 2026 versus 387 the prior June -- volume is up even as the median price ticked down slightly, consistent with new-construction supply entering the market.
Taxes
Not independently sourced at the Wake County level this session. North Carolina's top state income tax rate is 3.99%. See the North Carolina hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Apex-specific.
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Get local guidanceThe tradeoffs
Pros
A genuine, walkable historic downtown rather than a subdivision-only town; strong Wake County schools; steady new-construction supply keeping sale volume up even as prices soften slightly.
Cons
Median price ($622K) still runs well above the Raleigh city median even after a modest year-over-year dip; the historic-downtown character is concentrated in a small core surrounded by much newer, more generic subdivision growth.
Who this fits
Best for: Families wanting strong schools plus a genuine historic-downtown feel, in a town still growing fast enough to offer plentiful new-construction inventory.
Maybe not for you if: Buyers wanting the lowest price point in this batch, or a fully built-out and settled community rather than one still absorbing rapid new growth, should look at Wake Forest or Morrisville instead.
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