Triangle town ranks among the top 10 ‘most desirable’ in US. See the full list
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- U.S. News studied population and search data to determine the most desirable cities.
- The Raleigh suburb of Apex ranks No. 10 in the country.
- Job opportunities, lower costs and other factors may be drawing people to North Carolina.
A North Carolina suburb once ranked as the state’s top “boomtown” — and the accolades keep coming.
Apex, just southwest of Raleigh, now holds the No. 10 spot on a nationwide list of most desirable places to live, according to results last updated in late January.
“The Southern region of the U.S. has by far the most sought-after relocation destinations in our research,” wrote U.S. News & World Report, which published the rankings. “Mild temperatures, coastal living and year-round outdoor activities are likely driving this interest, though lower costs of living, with more affordable housing, may also factor into this.”
To create the list, U.S. News said it studied the ratio of people moving into and out of cities across the country. It also considered the places that people looked up online, focusing on searches that indicated an interest in moving.
What makes Apex special?
Apex, home to roughly 85,000 people, was the only place in North Carolina to rank in the top 10. The town was praised for offering residents a prime location near jobs in the healthcare, education and technology sectors.
“It provides a smaller-town feel while being close enough to Raleigh for big-city activities,” U.S. News wrote. “Plus, its proximity to the Research Triangle — an area connecting Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — offers plenty of employment opportunities.”
Apex isn’t a stranger to receiving wide acclaim. In 2024, the suburb ranked as the state’s No. 1 “boomtown” due to growth in its population, incomes and housing. More recently, it also was named the safest town in the state and one of the nation’s best small cities, The News & Observer previously reported.
Which other NC cities are desirable?
This time around, Apex wasn’t the only destination in North Carolina that people found appealing. Here are the other cities that ranked among the top 50 in the United States:
- Leland at No. 12
- Wilmington at No. 24
- New Bern at No. 25
- Winston-Salem at No. 27
- Asheville at No. 31
- Huntersville at No. 45
- Greensboro at No. 47
- Cary at No. 49
And here are some other North Carolina highlights in the national rankings:
- Brunswick County at No. 1 for most desirable counties
- North Carolina at No. 4 for most desirable states
Why people may be drawn to NC
Southern cities dominated the list of places people have considered calling home. U.S. News said people may be dreaming about North Carolina because of the state’s quality of life and other amenities.
“States like North Carolina offer diverse natural beauty — from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coast — but with a lower cost of living than many other states,” Kathryn Core, a U.S. News editor, told The N&O via email.
Nationwide, U.S. News said the No. 1 most attractive city was Conway, South Carolina. That top-ranked destination is near the popular vacation spot of Myrtle Beach.
Portions of this story were previously published in The News & Observer.
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Triangle town ranks among the top 10 ‘most desirable’ in US. See the full list."
