"Small Town USA" living near Raleigh - Durham?

[Papa Deuce]

Before we contact a real estate agent, I'm trying to find a town or towns within 25 miles or so of RTP, that ahve a real small town USA feeling, if such a place exists.... You know, a walkable "main street", mom and pop shops..... AND still has a really good school system.

 

[saucymb]

There are lots of small places around Raleigh that are still "small-town" feeling...Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, Apex, parts of Garner, Wake Forest, Louisburg... When we go back to the RTP area hopefully in the next two years, we plan to go to Fuquay Varina. It has lots of charm, character, good shopping for a small town (Home Depot, Staples, etc.), good restaurants (chains) for a small town, and it's only about 20 minutes from Cary, 25-30 from RTP depending on traffic. I don't know much about the schools. They are part of the Wake County school system. Fuquay is in South Wake County.

I've visited Wake Forest once or twice, and it seems very pleasant. The downtown area is nice, undergoing a revitilization from what I understand. It's almost in Franklin County, which is another area you could look into if you were not happy with Wake County for whatever reason. I don't know much about their small towns.

 

[crazelion]

Basketball is a way life there. Go Duke blue Devils

 

[tar heel]

I hate Dook! GO HEELS!

You might want to look at Hillsborough. Same school district as Chapel Hill but still a smaller town.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Basketball is a way life there. Go Duke blue Devils

Not for me, thanks. I HATE BB. Just give me football and baseball.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Not sure how much out into the 'country' you want, but I just love Fuquay Varina. It's far enough out to not feel like the city but close enough that you can get into town pretty quickly. It's grown quite a bit in the past 6 years but still has that small town feel.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Not sure how much out into the 'country' you want, but I just love Fuquay Varina. It's far enough out to not feel like the city but close enough that you can get into town pretty quickly. It's grown quite a bit in the past 6 years but still has that small town feel.

If we can get there in about a half hour that would be fine!

 

[Disney_1derland]

If we can get there in about a half hour that would be fine!

About a half hour out, maybe a bit more with traffic, but it's such a nice drive. I used to live in Fayetteville and we had to go through Fuquay Varina to get to Raleigh. I just fell in love with it. FV info

 

[tar heel]

How can anyone hate basketball? At least you like barbecue!

Since you're willing to live fairly far out, check out Chatham County, too. That would be Siler City (where Aunt Bea spent her final years) and Pittsboro.
Orange County (Chapel Hill and Carrboro, which are not the small town you're looking for, and Hillsborough, which might be) would be my #1 choice for schools, though.