Up And Coming Suburb Of Raleigh NC? | Youngsville NC - Moving to Raleigh, NC
Discovering Youngsville: A Growing Gem in Franklin County
Youngsville is a charming rural town located in the beautiful countryside in the southwest part of Franklin County, approximately 21 miles north of Raleigh. While Youngsville only has a population of approximately 2,400 residents, Franklin County sits with just under 80,000 residents. The town is rich in history and culture and rapidly growing due to its proximity to several major employment hubs.
A fascinating bit of history: this town was incorporated in 1875 and was originally called Pacific. John "Jack" Young was a local visionary who donated land needed for a train depot, and nearly 12 years later, he was honored through the town's renaming to Youngsville. Like many towns in the South, Youngsville depended on farming of cotton and tobacco. Ultimately, Youngsville became one of the largest tobacco markets in the region.
Today, many people are drawn to the community due to the large amount of land available where you can find beautiful homes at an affordable price, natural open spaces, scenic parks, and a short distance away from nearby amenities like downtown Wake Forest and nearby big cities with many major employers of the Triangle.
Youngsville Rankings and Affordability
A top advantage for many is Youngsville's affordability. According to Niche.com, Youngsville gets an overall rating of a B+ with just about every category from public schools to housing to jobs, cost of living, outdoor activities, and crime scoring an average of a B rating. I'd say that's reflective of a combination of distance to Raleigh and all the amenities along with the current smaller population. However, Youngsville is starting to become more noticed and on people's radar, especially when it comes to the cost of living.
Youngsville is 12% lower in comparison to the national average. The median home price in Youngsville as of July 2024 is approximately $410,000, with a median price per square foot of about $228. When you consider you can be in downtown Wake Forest in less than 10 minutes or Raleigh in less than 40 minutes, it's the best of both worlds between affordability and quality of life.
A surprising fact I found when researching Youngsville town development and growth plan is they estimate by 2050 that there will be around 20,000 residents here. When you consider there are currently less than 2,500 residents, that's definitely significant growth. But similar growth has happened in surrounding suburbs, and considering how far your housing dollar will stretch here, along with the ability to get larger lot sizes compared to other suburbs, it's really no surprise that we'll see explosive growth continue.
The town has been actively involved with the community as it continues to grow and figures out what that looks like while maintaining Youngsville's character and charm, while still developing and actively listening and asking for the community's involvement.
New Construction Opportunities
One thing you'll notice here is the amount of new construction opportunities. There's an impressive master-planned community with just over 1,000 homes, including townhomes, that are currently in the works. You'll also find other new communities like Old Liberty that features a golf course and various amenities including clubhouse, swimming pool, and walking trails. Prices range from mid-$400,000 to mid-$500,000 with square footage around 1,600 to 4,500.
Then there's Mill Lake by Bliss Homes that offers custom homes with a serene lake setting. Price range is low $700,000 to $800,000 with square footage from about 2,300 to 4,000. Oak Park by West Homes offers homes from the mid to high $300,000s. Bartlett Manor by Caviness and Cates starts from the low $400,000s to just under $500,000, with square footage ranging from about 2,000 to 2,700.
Baker Farm by DR Horton offers nearly an acre lot with 3 to 4 bedroom homes featuring 2 to 3 baths, with square footage from around 1,700 to 2,800. Price points range from high $300,000s to mid-$400,000s. With around 150 homes once complete, this community is within a 10-minute drive of grocery, restaurants, shopping, and it's only 15 minutes away from Joyner Park in Wake Forest. These prices are based on when I'm recording this, which is the end of the third quarter of 2024. There are so many more opportunities depending on your price point and the lifestyle you're looking to live.
Things to Do in and Around Youngsville
When it comes to things to do, you're just a short 15 to 20-minute drive to Wake Forest where you can find everything from Wegmans to Publix, Target, and a lot of different dining and shopping options. In less than 30 minutes, you can also explore neighboring towns like Knightdale, Wendell, and Rolesville, so you definitely have plenty of opportunities without even heading into Raleigh.
Youngsville also hosts several festivals including Summerfest, Youngsville Fall Festival and Car Show, and the Barbecue Cookoff (and you all know I'm all about the barbecue). The town of Youngsville also hosts multiple yearly community events from Easter egg hunt to baseball, golf tournament, National Night Out, Trick or Treat on the Trails, and the Christmas parade. You'll definitely feel a sense of community pride here in Youngsville.
One of the nice things if you don't live in a community with any amenities is the CAER Family YMCA that's about a 15-minute drive, where you can enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, workout facilities, group classes, indoor track, racquetball, Kid Zone, yoga, and more.
Then we have a local favorite no matter what town or suburb you live in within the Raleigh Triangle area, and that's none other than Hill Ridge Farms. Throughout the year, there's always something to do here, from the Sunflower Festival to the Festival of Lights in the summer, or the hayride tours in the fall. A fan favorite during Halloween time is the "Screaming Good Times" at the Haunted Forest at Panic Point, where you stroll through the dark trail or find your way through "Killers of the Corn." As a side note, you will not find me there. I can't even watch a scary movie, let alone walk through one of those!
Parks and Outdoor Activities
If you are all about the outdoors, you will love the outdoor space and parks here in Youngsville. Irene Mitchell Park is located in the heart of downtown, and Luddy Park is just minutes from Main Street. There are playgrounds for the kids to enjoy, paved walking trails, and baseball fields, along with children and youth sport programs offered through the town.
For some true outdoor adventures, Youngsville is only around a 15-minute drive from Forest Ridge Park and Falls Lake State Recreation Area, where you can swim, kayak, bike, or hike.
Downtown Youngsville: Shopping and Dining
Downtown Youngsville has a unique flair. There are so many quaint places to shop like Marri & Company Gifts, where you can find everything from home decor, handmade items from local artists, or even take a class.
When it comes to food and beverages, one of my favorites is swinging by The Yacht Club Beverage House. They have a vast beer garden, they're family-friendly, dog-friendly, and plenty of seats to relax in their circa 1900 house. You can grab a sandwich next door at Charron's Deli or a slice of pizza across the way at Home Slice, then enjoy a scoop of ice cream from Scoops on Main.
Scoops on Main has an ice cream contest, and if you're feeling lucky or hungry for a sugary sweet challenge, you can try and eat your way to win with two scoops of ice cream, four cookies, four brownies, four toppings, whipped cream, and of course, a cherry on top. Times of finishing have been fast and furious at 4 minutes in the kids division, 13 minutes in youth division, and 16 minutes in adult division. Now, I love ice cream, but there's no way I would even attempt to eat that much in one sitting. The only thing I'd win is getting sick!
If you want a good cup of joe, check out Pack House Coffee. It's a family-owned business with unique signature drinks. One of my favorites is the Honeybee Latte. Fiesta Mexicana has six locations (last time I counted), including right here in Youngsville, and the fajitas are my favorite.
If you want to visit a local farmers market for some fresh fruit and veggies or local artisan goods, Youngsville is just minutes away from Wake Forest, and you can head over to the Wake Forest Farmers Market. They're open April through September from 8:00 to noon, and winter hours October through March from 10:00 a.m. to noon. During the holiday, they have the Holiday Artisan Market, and there's a special visit from Santa.
Schools and Education
When it comes to schools, Youngsville is in Franklin County Public Schools, which has 16 schools servicing around 8,000 students in the district. While the schools are smaller than the ones you find in Wake County, they still have nearly a 90% graduation rate and a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The public schools average a B rating according to Niche.com. There's also the option of charter and magnet schools and affordable private options close by, like Thales Academy in Rolesville, which is around 15 minutes away.
Employment Opportunities
When it comes to jobs, Youngsville is still relatively close to the larger cities like Raleigh and Durham, with top employers like Duke University and Health System, IBM, Cisco, SAS, the State of North Carolina, and Wake County Public School District. If you want to know more about the local job market options, make sure to watch the video I made where I talk more about the top 10 employers in our area.
With average commute times just under 45 minutes (and this can bump up to around an hour during peak traffic times depending on where you need to drive), when you look at potential homes, I like to use the app Waze to see how the commute times fluctuate to see if it's a viable option.
Staying local in Franklin County, there are top employers here like Franklin County Schools employing over 1,000 employees, the County of Franklin, and Novozymes, a global biotechnology company with around 600 employees locally.
Is Youngsville Right for You?
From its affordable cost of living to small-town charm, close proximity to bigger cities, and strong sense of community spirit, Youngsville could be the next place you consider calling home.
If you're considering relocating to the Youngsville area or anywhere within Raleigh or the surrounding area and looking to purchase a home, I would love to help. All you have to do is reach out to me.
Brandy Nemergut
Real Estate Professional
Phone: 919-583-6895
Email: [email protected]
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