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Rolesville, NC

A town of about 10,766 people in Wake County, part of the Raleigh area. Resident comments and photos are about Rolesville; job numbers cover the wider area.

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What kind of place it is

Big-city feel, Growing, Lively

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Rolesville scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Big-city feel
93 / 100
Big-city feel: 1.4 million people in the metro, 9 buildings 20+ stories, 1,463 bus and train stops
"tight-knit community with tons of wildlife. I can see lightning bugs at night and kids playing" A resident, Reddit
Growing
90 / 100
Growing faster than 90% of metros
"Looks like there's a Raleigh Transplants meetup group" A resident, Reddit
Lively
80 / 100
Lively: 1,351 bars, sit-down restaurants and music businesses in the area (about 97 per 100,000 people)
"we have many meetups such as game nights, hiking, book clubs, and more" A resident, Reddit
Outdoorsy
75 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
"Durant Nature Preserve is my go-to. Bass Lake Park (Holly Springs) Neuse river trail near Archers Lodge is great." A resident, Reddit

Less so: cozy.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around Rolesville

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Rolesville
Rolesville in North Carolina
North Carolina in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Rolesville's center.

10
grocery stores
36
restaurants
8
coffee shops
33
parks
31
playgrounds
1
library
1
movie theater
2
live theaters
1
museum
1
bookstore
8
gyms
4
bars
2
pharmacies

None found within 5 miles: hospitals.

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Rolesville.

Bike lanes and bike paths
46 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
33 miles
more than most U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
0
Bus stops within 5 miles
8
Nearest train station
None within 30 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Wakemed, Raleigh Campus in Raleigh, about 11 miles away in a straight line.

Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Raleigh, NC · about 11 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
Rex Hospital
Raleigh, NC · about 15 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 5 of 5
Wakemed, Cary Hospital
Cary, NC · about 21 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 5 of 5
Duke Regional Hospital
Durham, NC · about 26 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 5 of 5
In the county, compared with North Carolina and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.9
per 1,000 people · North Carolina: 0.7 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
0.7
per 1,000 people · North Carolina: 0.6 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
4.3
per 1,000 people · North Carolina: 3.3 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
8.5%
North Carolina: 11.2% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 157 rented homes in Rolesville, 75% rent for under $2,000 a month and 100% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 52%
$1,000 to $1,499: 17%
$1,500 to $1,999: 7%
$2,000 to $2,499: 17%
$2,500 to $2,999: 8%
$3,000 or more: 0%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Rolesville rents for under $1,000 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about under $2,000 for first month plus a deposit, or up to under $3,000 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For rent under $1,000, that's a yearly income of about under $36,000.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to North Carolina: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the North Carolina DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: North Carolina voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

One public school district serves this county, with about 159,778 students. The county also has 25 public charter schools and 66 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

The Exploris SchoolMagellan CharterSterling Montessori AcademyFranklin AcademyEast Wake AcademyRaleigh Charter High SchoolQuest AcademyPreeminent CharterSouthern Wake AcademyCasa Esperanza Montessori Charter SchoolEndeavor Charter SchoolTriangle Math and Science AcademyLongleaf School of the ArtsNcvpsCardinal Charter AcademyEnvision Science AcademyWake Forest Charter AcademyRise Southeast Raleigh CharterPeak Charter AcademyPine Springs Preparatory AcademyCarolina Charter AcademyRaleigh Oak CharterRolesville Charter AcademyDoral Academy of North CarolinaCardinal Charter Acad at Wendell FallsThe Math and Science Academy of ApexCreech Road ElementaryDurant Road ElementaryLeesville Road ElementaryPleasant Union ElementaryWest Lake ElementaryWest Lake MiddleDurant Road MiddleLeesville Road HighOak Grove ElementaryDavis Drive ElementaryHodge Road ElementaryWeatherstone ElementaryAdams ElementaryApex ElementaryApex MiddleApex HighAthens Drive HighAversboro ElementaryBaucom ElementaryBrentwood ElementaryBriarcliff ElementaryBrooks ElementaryNeedham Broughton HighBugg ElementaryCarnage MiddleCarroll MiddleCary ElementaryCary HighCombs ElementaryConn ElementaryOberlin MiddleDouglas ElementaryReedy Creek MiddleEast Garner MiddleEast Millbrook MiddleEast Wake HighFarmington Woods ElementaryFuller ElementaryFuquay-Varina ElementaryFuquay-Varina MiddleFuquay-Varina HighGarner HighGreen ElementaryHunter ElementaryJeffreys Grove ElementaryJoyner ElementaryKingswood ElementaryKnightdale ElementaryLacy ElementaryLigon MiddleLincoln Heights ElementaryLockhart ElementaryLynn Road ElementaryMartin MiddleMillbrook ElementaryMillbrook HighNorth Garner MiddleNorth Ridge ElementaryNorthwoods ElementaryOlds ElementaryPoe ElementaryPowell ElementaryRolesville ElementaryRoot ElementarySanderson HighSmith ElementaryStough ElementarySwift Creek ElementaryUnderwood ElementaryVance ElementaryVandora Springs ElementaryWake Forest ElementaryWake Forest High SchoolWake Forest Middle SchoolWashington ElementaryWendell ElementaryWest Cary MiddleWest Millbrook MiddleWilburn ElementaryWiley ElementaryWillow Springs ElementaryYork ElementaryZebulon ElementaryZebulon MiddleBaileywick Road ElementaryDavis Drive MiddleHilburn Drive AcademyHolly Springs ElementaryHeritage ElementaryEnloe HighCarver ElementaryBrassfield ElementaryFox Road ElementaryPenny Road ElementaryNeuse River MiddleLead Mine ElementaryRand Road ElementaryLeesville Road MiddleMorrisville ElementaryOlive Chapel ElementarySoutheast Raleigh HighTimber Drive ElementaryPartnership ElementaryDillard Drive ElementaryDillard Drive MiddleGreen Hope HighLufkin Road MiddleReedy Creek ElementaryWakefield ElementaryWildwood Forest ElementaryCentennial Campus MiddleGreen Hope ElementaryMiddle Creek ElementarySalem ElementaryWakefield MiddleWakefield HighYates Mill ElementaryBallentine ElementaryMiddle Creek HighMoore Square MiddleHeritage MiddleHolly Ridge ElementaryHolly Ridge MiddleForestville Road ElementaryHighcroft ElementaryJones Dairy ElementaryKnightdale HighSalem MiddleTurner Creek ElementaryCedar Fork ElementaryForest Pines Drive ElementaryHarris Creek ElementaryWakelon ElementaryPanther Creek HighSanford Creek ElementaryNorth Forest Pines ElementaryWendell MiddleEast Cary MiddleEast Garner ElementaryHolly Springs HighBarwell Road ElementaryRiver Bend ElementaryCarpenter ElementaryWake Early College of Health and ScienceBrier Creek ElementaryHolly Grove ElementaryMills Park ElementaryLaurel Park ElementarySycamore Creek ElementaryHerbert Akins Rd ElementaryBanks Road ElementaryLake Myra ElementaryWalnut Creek ElementaryWake Stem Early College High SchoolMills Park MiddleHolly Grove MiddleAlston Ridge ElementaryHeritage HighWake Young Women'S Leadership AcademyRichland Creek ElementaryWake Young Men'S Leadership AcademyRolesville MiddleAbbotts Creek ElementaryRolesville HighVernon Malone College and Career AcademyApex Friendship HighScotts Ridge ElementaryWhite Oak ElementaryPleasant Grove ElementaryPine Hollow MiddleOakview ElementaryBeaverdam ElementaryCrossroads FlexNorth Wake College and Career AcademyRogers Lane ElementaryRiver Bend MiddleHortons Creek ElementaryApex Friendship MiddleBryan Road ElementarySouth Garner HighBuckhorn Creek ElementarySoutheast Raleigh ElementaryAlston Ridge MiddleParkside ElementaryGreen Level HighSouth Lakes ElementaryWillow Spring HighApex Friendship ElementaryBarton Pond ElementaryHerbert Akins Road MiddleWake Ec of Information & BiotechnologiesCathedral School (private)Cardinal Gibbons High School (private)Saint Mary'S School (private)Friendship Christian School (private)Wake Christian Academy (private)Neuse Christian Academy (private)Ravenscroft School (private)St Catherine of Siena Catholic School (private)St Michael the Archangel Catholic School (private)The Trilogy School (private)Chesterbrook Academy-Preschool and Elementary (private)Follow the Child Montessori School (private)St Thomas More Academy (private)St Mary Magdalene Catholic School (private)Raleigh Christian Academy (private)Resurrection Lutheran School (private)Peace Montessori School (private)Thales Academy Apex K-5 (private)An-Noor School (private)Oak City Academy (private)Discovery Child Development Center Llc (private)Grove School of Cary (private)Knowledge Beginnings School (private)Learn With the Best School, Inc. (private)Thales Academy (private)Children'S Discovery Center (private)Christian Life Academy (private)Commission Leadership Academy (private)True Light Shines Academy (private)Dynamic Opportunities (private)Little Lambs Learning Center (private)Mariposa School (private)Thales Academy of Raleigh (private)True Abalities Lrng. Academy Llc (private)Iron Academy (private)Guidepost Montessori at Spruce Tree (private)Accelerator School Llc (private)Heritage Christian Academy (private)King'S Town Christian Academy (private)Renaissance Montessori School of Cary (private)Scholars Academy Gifted and Artistically Elite (private)St Raphael Catholic School (private)Sure Promise Christian Academy (private)Triangle Montessori Academy (private)Primrose Schools at the Park (private)Maracas Montessori (private)Montessori School of Raleigh (private)The Fletcher Academy (private)Grace Christian School (private)Chesterbrook Academy-North Raleigh (private)St Timothys School (private)Al-Iman School (private)Word of God Christian Academy (private)Lucy Daniels School (private)North Raleigh Christian Academy (private)Cary Academy (private)Adventist Christian Academy of Raleigh (private)Hilltop Christian School (private)New School Montessori Center (private)The Raleigh School (private)Montessori Creative Learning School (private)St Andrews Early Childhood Center (private)Thales Academy (private)Word of God Fellowship (private)The Franciscan School (private)St Philip Lutheran Preschool (private)FRANKLIN COUNTYORANGE COUNTYDURHAM COUNTYJOHNSTON COUNTYCHATHAM COUNTYHARNETT COUNTYGRANVILLE COUNTYNASH COUNTYWILSON COUNTYWAKE COUNTYLEE COUNTYRolesville
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Rolesville: Wake County Schools
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Rolesville

Elementary
Rolesville Elementary0.2 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 509 students · 13.4 per teacher
Sanford Creek Elementary0.8 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 622 students · 13.5 per teacher
Rolesville Charter Academy1.1 mi
Public charter
grades K to 8 · 746 students · 23.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 61%, math about 56% (state: reading about 48%, math about 50%)
Middle
Rolesville Middle0.9 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 944 students · 16 per teacher
Rolesville Charter Academy1.1 mi
Public charter
grades K to 8 · 746 students · 23.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 61%, math about 56% (state: reading about 48%, math about 50%)
Franklin Academy3.1 mi
Public charter
grades K to 12 · 1,652 students · 14 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 78%, math about 84% (state: reading about 48%, math about 50%)
High school
Rolesville High1.3 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 2,319 students · 18.4 per teacher
Franklin Academy3.1 mi
Public charter
grades K to 12 · 1,652 students · 14 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 78%, math about 84% (state: reading about 48%, math about 50%)
Heritage High3.1 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,817 students · 18.7 per teacher
Private
Thales Academy0.5 mi
Private
grades 6 to 12 · 544 students · 16.9 per teacher
True Light Shines Academy3.3 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 22 students · 7.3 per teacher
Commission Leadership Academy3.4 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 224 students · 10.2 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Rolesville, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on North Carolina's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Wake County Schools · Cary
159,778 students · 15 students per teacher · 197 schools · grades Pre-K to 13

School choice and pre-K in North Carolina

Going to school in another district
State law doesn't set an open enrollment rule between districts. Transfers, where allowed, are up to the districts.
Picking a different school in your district
State law doesn't set a rule for switching schools within a district; it's up to each district.
Free state pre-K
21% of 4-year-olds in North Carolina attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in North Carolina

Federal rating for the state: Needs assistance (two or more years in a row)
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates North Carolina as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read North Carolina's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

North Carolina keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$307/week
about $16,000 a year
$217/week
about $11,300 a year
Toddler (2)$251/week
about $13,100 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$189/week
about $9,800 a year
$202/week
about $10,500 a year
School-age$99/week
about $5,100 a year

For an infant at a center: $307/week here, $220 across NC, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 13% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in North Carolina →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

10 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Rolesville. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh
Public, 4-year · 37,323 students · $8,895 in-state, $31,767 out-of-state
Wake Technical Community College · Raleigh
Public, 2-year (community college) · 22,763 students · $2,336 in-state, $7,582 out-of-state
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary · Wake Forest
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 2,926 students · $10,516 a year
Meredith College · Raleigh
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 1,576 students · $43,936 a year
Shaw University · Raleigh
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 962 students · $17,272 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$428,267
What a typical home sells for across the Raleigh area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 2% below the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $98 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 98.2 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Drive to the nearest big job hub
About 31 min at rush hour
To downtown Raleigh, NC, 14 miles. About 29 min with no traffic.
Source: Google traffic estimate for a weekday morning around 8am
Average commute
27 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
1 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 9.2 miles from the town center. The largest is about 143,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $3,124 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in NC. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively High
Hail is a real cost here: roof claims are common and some insurers charge a separate, higher deductible for wind and hail. Covered parking helps protect a car.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
None within 5 miles
No hospital is mapped within 5 miles of the center. Check the drive to the nearest one before you move.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
10.5 per 100,000 people a year
130 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. NC average: 20.2 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 8 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 6,746 people without housing in the North Carolina Balance of State area (85 counties): 4,521 in shelters and 2,225 outside, up from 4,180 in 2024. NC: 14 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$101,763
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.71% of home value a year
About $710 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 3.99%
NC's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026

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