Moving to Garner, NC? 11 Things You Need to Know First
11 Things to Know Before Moving To Garner, NC | Watch This First!
Are you considering relocating to the Raleigh area and you've heard of the town Garner and you're wondering if it would be a good place for you and your family to live? Garner is a beautiful town located in Wake County just south of downtown Raleigh and it continues to attract people and families between its affordability, low cost of living, and small town charm.
Garner is a culturally diverse community. Making it a welcoming place for people from all backgrounds. Back in 2020, Amazon opened one of its largest distribution centers here in town. This has brought numerous job opportunities to the area, making Garner a prime location to consider. Established in the 18th century, Garner has a rich history.
Originally called Garner Station, it became a prosperous farming community. The Garner Historic District features homes and buildings from the late 19th century, preserving the town's historical character. When it comes to cost of living, Garner's cost of living is significantly lower than the national average, coming in at 10 percent less.
making it an attractive place to live. Housing costs are 24 percent lower while utilities are slightly higher at 2%. Transportation costs are 5 percent lower and groceries are 8 percent lower than the national average. The medium home price as of second quarter 2024 is approximately 400, 000. I know when we relocated here from California, our housing costs were 43 percent lower than our previous city of Long Beach, California.
Like much of the Triangle area, Garner's population has seen some tremendous growth. In fact, we've It's nearly doubled from 2000 to currently in 2024 with just over 34, 000 residents who call Garner home. New subdivisions are popping up everywhere as we continue to see rapid growth development with new home construction homes increasing by nearly 3 percent over the past year.
Garner is conveniently located just minutes from downtown Raleigh And it's close to its neighboring town of Clayton. And if you need to commute into the Research Triangle Park, also known as the RTP, you're in luck as Garner is ideally situated only a half hour drive. One thing I will say that surprised me about Garner is the fact that there's just not a whole lot of business developments here.
Now there is wide out crossing mall with shops that have your typical box chain stores. and some restaurants and fast food places. However, it's prime location to Raleigh. You think that there would be so much more here. If you compare that to nearby cities like Nightdale, Windell, or even Clayton, there is so much business development going on in those towns, but not here in Gardner.
Maybe it's due to the town's position being as a Southern suburb of Raleigh. And a quick drivability to nearby shops, restaurants, and amenities that Raleigh has to offer. I don't know, but time will tell. And at least the new construction developments continue to boom here. I will say that there are some good restaurants here, like Ragazzi Italian Restaurant for pizza and pasta, or La Casina for Mexican food, and if you like Mediterranean food, Check out Alexander's.
Two local favorites for coffee and a bite to eat or a sweet treat, we love Bloom Coffee Roasters in Old Downtown Garner or Lorraine's Coffee House and Music, which my daughter gets a kick out of since she and her grandma have the same name. As previously mentioned in this video, Garner's job market is thriving, bolstered by establishment of large Amazon distribution center in 2020, which cost around 200 million to build.
It's an outstanding 2. 6 million square feet in size, and they employ as many as 3000 people. Garner is part of the Wake County public school system, the largest in North Carolina and the 15th largest in the U S. For those searching for higher education opportunities, Garner is located near top rated colleges and universities, including Wake Tech Community College, Meredith College, NC State University, and William Peace University.
There's also the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. If you have school aged children or are pursuing higher education, Garner has excellent options nearby. Garner has some beautiful natural landscapes and green spaces. And if you love the outdoors as much as I do, then you'll love Lake Benson Park.
Here you can enjoy walking the trails, pack a picnic, or even fish, kayak, or canoe. During the year, Garner also shows its community spirit by by hosting annual events like the Lake Benson Park Easter Extravaganza and the Garner Christmas Parade. It's always nice to bring the family to the community get togethers for some fun.
Then there's White Deer Park Nature Center that has nature based educational activities and some beautiful hiking trails. If you want to explore an even bigger park, you can head over to Umstead State Park, which is close by, and has miles of paths winding through the majestic forests of Umstead. along creeks and you may even run across a carved tree.
Garner has a vibrant cultural scene with the Garner Performing Arts Center hosting a variety of events. The Garner Arts Council also presents art shows and workshops promoting local artists and if you want a little carding fun Head on over to Rush Hour Karting, which has an indoor go kart track, along with a sports bar and an arcade.
There's even axe throwing and rock climbing, summer camps for the kids, and more. There's also Polar Ice Garner, which is a premier ice skating facility that offers figure skating and hockey classes. and is open to the public skating sessions. I also like Party Shack, which although it does have a Raleigh address, I feel like it's still Garner ish.
This is a fun indoor venue featuring three 18 hole indoor mini golf courses, arcade games, virtual golf, and multi sport simulators, as well as food and drinks. When it comes to tax rates, North Carolina's income tax rates range from 5. 25 percent to 7. 25%, depending on income. Most purchases are subject to a 4.
75 percent sales tax, which can be increased by additional local taxes. When it comes to public transportation, holistically, across the Triangle area, it lacks in this department in comparison to other cities across the country. But, good news, Garner is connected to other parts of Wake County via Go Raleigh Transit buses.
offering a convenient option for commuters. Another advantage to Garner is the easy access to interstates I 40 and U. S. 70. Overall, it's easy to get around the triangle. However, during peak hours, it can get congested. Good news though, I 540 outer belt line is being completed in the next couple of years, which will better connect Garner to its neighboring towns and relieve some of this congestion as well.
Especially with all the new construction developments being built. And again, as mentioned earlier, if you need to drive into the RTP for work or hop on a plane at the RDU airport, it's only around a 30 minute drive from Garner. When it comes to weather, many people love that Garner offers. Four seasons with mild winters and little to no snow.
While the summers are hot, it doesn't last long and spring and fall are absolutely beautiful. You can enjoy outdoor activities year round with an average summer highs in the 80s and low 90s with mild winters with temperatures occasionally dropping into the 30s and 40s. and rainfall averages around 47 inches per year.
Garner, North Carolina offers an affordable community oriented lifestyle with easy access to Raleigh's amenities and job market. With its mild climate, rich history, and vibrant cultural scene, Garner is an ideal place for individuals and families seeking a balanced lifestyle. If you found this information helpful, please click the like button below so others like you can find this information as well.
And if you're considering relocating to the Raleigh area or anywhere surrounding Raleigh and looking to purchase a home, we would love to help. All you have to do is reach out to us. My number is right here on the screen. Whether you want to give me a call, shoot me a text, or send me an email, we would love to chat.
Till next time, we'll see y'all later.
Brandy Nemergut, Realtor ~ eXp Realty Raleigh, NC
919-583-6895
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