Living in Apex, NC
Apex takes its name from a literal fact: incorporated in 1873, the town sat at the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad line between Richmond, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida. That railroad history is still the heart of downtown today — the [Apex Union Depot], built in 1914, anchors a well-preserved historic district of roughly 60 buildings dating from 1870–1940, now home to antique shops, boutiques, and restaurants along Salem Street.
The town's motto, "The Peak of Good Living," isn't just a slogan — it's genuinely part of local identity, celebrated each year at PeakFest, downtown Apex's largest annual event, now in its fifth decade. The [Halle Cultural Arts Center] housed in a 1912 former town hall, hosts concerts, art shows, and classes year-round. With around 72,000 residents, Apex has grown substantially in recent years while working to preserve its small-town downtown character.
A Major New Development: NC Children's
Apex was recently selected as the site for **NC Children's**, a new freestanding, independent children's hospital — the only one of its kind in the Carolinas — through a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health. The 500-bed hospital campus will anchor [Veridea], a 1,100-acre mixed-use development that will also include thousands of new homes, retail and office space, and a Wake Tech Community College campus. The project is expected to bring roughly 8,000 jobs to the area, with construction underway in phases through the coming years. This is a significant long-term growth driver for Apex specifically — worth knowing about whether you're buying, selling, or considering where to build a business.
Homes & Neighborhoods
Apex offers a mix of established, family-oriented neighborhoods and a wave of new construction tied to its rapid growth. **Haddon Hall**, one of the town's most established communities, sits on a semi-rural setting close to downtown, with larger lots than most newer developments and a well-used community pool. Newer construction is concentrated in master-planned communities throughout the town, with **Veridea** set to become one of the largest new residential and mixed-use developments in the area over the next several years.
Location & Convenience
Commute: Apex sits along NC-55, with access to [Research Triangle Park]to the north, [RDU International Airport] to the northeast, and Raleigh/Cary to the east.
Medical care:Apex currently has primary and specialty care clinics (UNC and Duke Health among them) but no full-service hospital within town limits yet — the nearest is [UNC Health Rex Holly Springs Hospital] a full-service hospital in neighboring Holly Springs. That will change substantially once NC Children's opens.
Schools: Apex is served by the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). For current school assignments by address, visit the [WCPSS school locator]
Property taxes: Rates vary by exact location and change annually — [Wake County's official tax estimator] is the most reliable source for a current estimate.
Getting settled: For utilities, permits, and town services, the [Town of Apex's official site] is the best starting point.
Why People Move to Apex
Apex's national recognition isn't new, but it's remained consistent. U.S. News & World Report ranked Apex **#10 on its list of America's Most Desirable Cities to Move to** in January 2026. WalletHub ranked it **#3 out of over 1,300 small cities in America** in September 2025. Niche.com ranked Apex **#4 best place to live in North Carolina** for 2026. Money Magazine has ranked Apex the #1 best place to live in America twice in years past (2015 and 2007), and it remains one of the most consistently recognized small cities in the country.
Apex Market Trend
Apex has followed a pattern similar to Cary — home values have pulled back modestly from a very hot prior year, even as homes continue to sell quickly and inventory remains relatively tight. The slowdown reflects normalization from an especially competitive market rather than weakening demand.
*For current listing data and pricing, use the search above — figures shown reflect live MLS data.*
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — while prices have eased slightly from recent highs, homes in Apex are still selling quickly, and the town continues to draw national recognition as one of the best small cities in the country to live in.
Apex is known as "The Peak of Good Living," its well-preserved early-1900s railroad-town downtown along Salem Street, and PeakFest, one of the largest annual festivals in Wake County. It's also becoming known for Veridea and the upcoming NC Children's hospital campus, a major new development bringing significant growth to the area.
Not yet — the nearest full-service hospital is UNC Health Rex Holly Springs Hospital in neighboring Holly Springs. That will change once the NC Children's hospital campus opens as part of the Veridea development.
Apex is priced similarly to Cary and above the Wake County median, with a comparable mix of established and new-construction neighborhoods. Its identity leans more on small-town, historic-downtown character than Cary's larger master-planned communities.