Moving to the TriangleA Local's Guide to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill
Contrary to popular belief, the Triangle is NOT a small town.
Caul Group Residential, brokered by eXp Realty
The Triangle at a glance
Three cities, a dozen suburbs
Three distinct anchor cities, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and a dozen quietly thriving suburbs in between.
Every neighborhood has a personality
Downtown Durham feels city; Wake Forest feels country; Cary feels meticulously, almost suspiciously planned.
RDU sits dead center
The airport is in the middle of it all.
The Triangle is the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill region of North Carolina, home to about 2.48 million people across 10 counties and nearly 5,000 square miles of land (U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 estimate and 2024 Gazetteer). This page compares nine places to live by drive time, with a link to a full guide for each area.
The nine places are ITB Raleigh, North Hills, Downtown Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest and Holly Springs.
Nine places to start your search, with drive times
Drive times are typical and change with traffic. Test your drive at rush hour.
Find your place in the Triangle before you move.
Where we eat, shop and play, plus nine areas to explore with drive times. Free from Caul Group Residential.
- Nine areas to explore, from ITB Raleigh and North Hills to Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex and Holly Springs, each with its drive time.
- Private and charter schools across Wake, Durham and Chapel Hill, plus when to start applying.
- Where locals really eat, shop and get coffee, plus grocers and farmers markets.
- Parks, greenways, lakes and golf, a full year of local events, and easy day trips to the beach and the mountains.
From Caul Group, the #1 resale team in the Triangle. 5.0 stars on Zillow from 1,200+ reviews (Oct 2026).
A Local’s Guide to the Triangle
Welcome to the TriangleA note from our founder · the region at a glance
The NeighborhoodsNine areas to explore, with drive times
Schools, Private & CharterWake, Durham & Chapel Hill
Culinary & Coffee CultureRestaurants, bars and the coffee shops we love
Shopping & Specialty GroceryBoutiques, grocers and farmers markets
Parks, Outdoors & Country ClubsGreenways, lakes, golf and clubs
Arts, Culture & Local EventsMuseums, faith, the annual calendar, hotels & day trips
Wellness, Beauty & FitnessSalons, spas, studios and gyms
Moving to the Triangle FAQs
What cities are in the Triangle?
Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are the three anchor cities, with about a dozen suburbs in between, such as Cary, Apex, Wake Forest and Holly Springs.
How many people live in the Triangle?
The Raleigh-Durham-Cary Combined Statistical Area had an estimated 2,484,238 people on July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau).
How far is Chapel Hill from Raleigh?
Chapel Hill is about 30 to 35 minutes from Raleigh. Traffic changes the time.
How far is Durham from Raleigh?
Downtown Durham is about 30 minutes from Raleigh. By road it is about 24 miles from DPAC to the NC State Capitol (OpenStreetMap routing, October 2026). Traffic changes the time.
Which Triangle areas are walkable?
ITB Raleigh, North Hills, Downtown Durham and Carrboro each have a compact core where shops, restaurants and markets sit close together. Each area guide on this page lists what is there.
How do I find which public school an address is assigned to?
Use the district's lookup: the WCPSS assignment lookup for Wake County, the DPS School Locator for Durham, and the CHCCS Student Assignment Map for Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Assignments can change each school year.
Can I buy a home in the Triangle before I move?
Yes. You can tour homes by live video and plan one visit. A local agent can preview homes and attend inspections for you.
Is there a free relocation guide?
Yes. Our "A Local's Guide to the Triangle" covers neighborhoods, schools, food, parks and events. Get it free on this page.
Moving here? Talk to a local.
We are the #1 Resale team in the Triangle, with a team of about 50 agents. RealTrends Verified 2026 (based on 2025 sales) ranks our team, "Caul Team," #1 in Raleigh by sides and by volume. See the RealTrends profile. We have 5.0 stars on Zillow from 1,200+ reviews (Oct 2026). Read the reviews.
Talk with a Caul Group agent. Call (919) 263-7653 or send us a message.
Office: 201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 200, Cary, NC 27511.