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About Knightdale, NC

About Knightdale, NC

A growing Raleigh suburb

Knightdale is a former railroad community that has seen exponential growth in the last few years. "It is popular because of its proximity to Raleigh," says Jessica Holt, Director of Public Relations with VisitRaleigh. "A lot of people want to move there as it is developing and getting a culture and feel of its own." Knightdale has a population of over 20,000, with many people commuting to Raleigh for work. "Everyone moves here because it is so easy to get around and is a family-oriented community," Holt says. Jennifer Wakefield has lived in Knightdale for over 20 years and says, “It’s a fast-growing place, but they’ve balanced the growth by adding new parks and stores. The green spaces are definitely a highlight for me.”

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Knightdale Marketplace has over 50 stores.
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Mingo Creek Park offers activities for the whole family.
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Go exploring in Mingo Creek Park

Mingo Creek Park and Trail feature three-and-a-half miles of places to explore through the forests and wetlands, while the trail includes a boardwalk surrounded by towering trees. The park also has basketball courts, a children's play area and other multi-purpose trails. Locals can hit the Neuse River Trail, a paved greenway that covers 34-and-a-half miles through six different counties along the banks of the Neuse River. The trail is popular for running and biking through historical sights and wetlands. "There is lots of nature, outdoor greenery, and dog parks," Holt says. Knightdale Station Park includes several athletic fields and areas to host events and is close to Oak City Brewing Company and other Knightdale amenities. “The park is really the hub of the town. It’s great,” Wakefield says. “They’ve put a lot of effort into making it a great place for the community.”

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Neuse River Greenway Trail is great for bicyclists.
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The Neuse River Greenway features over 27 miles of paved trail with scenic views of The Neuse.
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Influx of new home construction

Homes in Knightdale sell for a median price of $440,000. Single-family homes and townhouses in the Shotwell neighborhood range from around $260,000 to $700,000. “Lots of houses are going up with increases in new construction,” Holt says. Homes sell on average after 49 days on the market, slightly higher than the national average of 44 days.

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Traditional style newer construction homes are prevalent in Knightdale.
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Craftsman style columns define this Knightdale home.
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Head downtown to Prime Barbeque

Knightdale is seeing a lot of development for shops and restaurants. “Downtown has grown the last few years and benefits from having key businesses in the area," Holt says. Among the key businesses is Prime Barbeque, also near Knightdale Station Park, with a champion pit master at the helm. "It is considered probably the best restaurant; their food sells out pretty fast, so you need to get there early," Holt says. The Depot is a newer southern restaurant and brings a different type of eatery to the community. "The Depot is a step into adding higher-end local restaurants to the area," Holt says. "You don't have to go to downtown Raleigh to get a meal." Locals can also visit Knightdale Crossing Shopping Center.

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Enjoy a meal at the award winning Prime Barbecue in Knightdale.
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The Depot brings a different type of eatery to Knightdale.
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Highly ranked Wake County Schools

Wake County Public Schools serves the Knightdale area and receives an A from Niche. This includes A's in sports and college preparation. Students are zoned to six elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. However, students can apply to attend magnet, early college and year-round schools in the county. Those looking to continue their education have several colleges and universities close to home to choose from, including Duke University and North Carolina State University.

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Knightdale, NC's Knightdale High School serves over 1600 students.
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Students living in Raleigh, NC can attend Neuse River Middle School.
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Community gatherings at Knightdale Station Park

The Knightdale community regularly gets together for festivities and events at one of the local parks, especially Knightdale Station Park. There are several food truck events, movie nights, and holiday celebrations, like the Fourth of July, a Christmas parade, and tree lighting. "Knightdale is a beautiful community with lots of events, and it is really easy to connect with new people," Holt says. The town experiences warm summers and mild winters.

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Knightdale Station Park offers activities for the whole family.
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The YMCA at Knightdale Station Park features popular water features in their pool facility.
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Need a car to get to Raleigh

Knightdale is about 15 miles from Downtown Raleigh and is a popular commuter area. Residents will need their cars to get to most places. "You really do need a car unless you happen to live right next to everything," Holt says. "Many people in Knightdale also work outside of Knightdale, so they will need their cars to get to work." Knightdale residents can jump on the inner and outer Raleigh Beltlines (Interstates 440 and 540) to drive to the Triangle’s top facilities within 20 to 30 minutes. These include WakeMed Hospital, RDU Airport, Downtown Raleigh, and top schools like North Carolina State University. However, traffic can be heavy during rush hours. For public transportation, there's Knightdale-Raleigh Express (KRX) Triangle Transit and Capital Area Transit, connecting Knightdale to several Raleigh stops, including several downtown locations.

CAP Index crime score slightly higher than national average

Knightdale has a CAP Index crime score of 5 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. In 2023, the Knightdale Police Department reported 58 counts of violent crimes and 529 counts of property crimes. "It's a pretty even-kneeled place, definitely not known as a bad part of town," Holt says.

Joyelle Ronan
Written By
Joyelle Ronan
Bob Fortner
Photography Contributed By
Bob Fortner
Matthew Bloch
Video By
Matthew Bloch

Neighborhood Map

Knightdale by the Numbers

21,249
Population
$400K
Average Housing Value
49
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Knightdale, NC

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Lockhart Elementary School
#1 Lockhart Elementary School
B-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Forestville Road Elementary School
#2 Forestville Road Elementary School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Lake Myra Elementary
#3 Lake Myra Elementary
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Barwell Road Elementary School
#4 Barwell Road Elementary School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Hodge Road Elementary School
#5 Hodge Road Elementary School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Beaverdam Elementary School
#6 Beaverdam Elementary School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Knightdale Elementary School
#7 Knightdale Elementary School
B
Niche
2
GreatSchools
Rogers Lane Elementary
#8 Rogers Lane Elementary
C+
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

Neuse River Middle School
#1 Neuse River Middle School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
River Bend Middle
#2 River Bend Middle
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Wendell Middle School
#3 Wendell Middle School
B
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

East Wake High School
#1 East Wake High School
B-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Southeast Raleigh  Magnet High School
#2 Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Knightdale High
#3 Knightdale High
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools

Best Private School

Thales Academy Knightdale Pre-K-8
#1 Thales Academy Knightdale Pre-K-8

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Dave Wylie
(252) 375-8626
I was lucky to join the Tarheel State at the humble age of 5 and have been here ever since. I have lived in the Triangle region for the last 10 years and love the people, the culture, and everything else this great area has to offer. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and could not bring myself to leave such a beautiful place. I currently reside in Durham, North Carolina and am pleased to see the wonderful growth not only in this city but the greater surrounding area as well. I find great comfort in making people happy, and buying or selling your home should be just as wonderful an experience. This is one of the biggest moments in your life, and I want to be a part of that. With years of experience in client relationships, I promise you will not only succeed in buying or selling your property, you will enjoy it too!
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.