Founded in 1906, Zebulon is Wake County’s easternmost town, fostered by an attitude of independence and community pride, embodying their motto of The Town of Friendly People. “Everyone treats you with genuine compassion here,” says Shannon Baxter, Zebulon’s town commissioner. “A lot of folks say it reminds them of a small town they grew up in – it’s nice that for so many people, our sweet little town is nostalgic. It’s a great place to be from and a great place to be at.” According to the United States Census Bureau, it’s estimated that Zebulon had a population of about 9,400 in 2023, a 36% increase from 2020, when the population was around 6,900. “We’re almost growing faster than the town can keep up with,” says Erica Adams, a Zebulon resident and realtor with eXp Realty. “Especially in terms of housing.”
Lots of comfortable outdoor seating in Downtown Zebulon
There are historic buildings in downtown Zebulon.
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A long-standing town celebrating the contemporary
Properties around the downtown Zebulon area tend to be older, featuring classic styles like minimal traditional and ranch-style homes, while more recent developments have been constructed in the outer areas. These newer subdivisions tend to be contemporary, featuring new traditional and bi-level homes, with townhouses dotting themselves into the landscape. “In Zebulon, we could afford to get a detached single-family house,” Adams says. “On our same budget, closer to Raleigh, we may not have been able to get a house or could only get one that needed a lot more work. Our money went a lot further and we had more options here.” Those options may include having more land. The median price for a single-family home is around $330,000. “That $300,000 to $500,000 range is where a lot of first-time home buyers’ price point may be,” Adam says. “Zebulon is one of the best places to come for that, and they can’t hardly build them fast enough.”
There are new townhouse neighborhoods in Zebulon.
There are colonial styled homes on large lots in Zebulon.
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Exploring the local business of downtown Zebulon
Downtown Zebulon has a variety of unique shops and restaurants, such as the bespoke artisan TK MacLellan & Co. Bagpipe Makers. “We’re actively revitalizing downtown, and it’s working. Businesses are coming, and it’s starting to thrive again,” Baxter says. “I’m a beekeeper, and I started a collaboration with the owner of Olde Raleigh Distillery for barrel-aged honey bourbon. He’s won a ton of awards, and it’s so popular – but that’s just an example of the kind of interconnectedness you can get here.” The town also has a few fast-food chains and grocery options, but residents may choose to travel to neighboring towns for retail. “I grocery shop in the town over, Wendell, at the Publix,” Adams says. “Or Wegmans in Wake Forest. Week to Week, I travel 15-20 minutes to do my grocery run.”
There are many stores and restaurants in downtown Zebulon.
There is indoor and outdoor seating at Olde Raleigh Distillery in Zebulon.
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Candy Cane Lane and summer concerts
When it comes to events, Zebulon always has something going on. “We’ve got daily, weekly and annual events, all run throughout the community by several organizations. For big events, we try to do something each quarter,” Baxter says. “Candy Cane Lane in the winter, concert series in the summer. We’ll do movies outdoors in the park and food trucks will come in and trunk-or-treat at the community center. We want things to be going on year-round.”
Part of A-rated Wake County Schools
Wake County Schools earns an A overall on Niche and serves most of the town, but school zones vary. “In some parts of the borders of Zebulon, you can be zoned for Johnston County Schools,” Adams says of the B-plus-rated school district. Students can apply to attend other schools in Wake County Schools, like the public charter school B-rated East Wake Academy from kindergarten through 12th grade. “East Wake High is a magnet school, and they’re trying to turn the school around and improve it,” Adams says. “But it’s just not all the way there yet. Same thing with Zebulon Middle School.”
Zebulon Middle School offers a Gifted and Talented program in Zebulon.
There is a large soccer field at Zebulon Middle School in Zebulon.
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Indoor and outdoor fun at Zebulon Community Park
Zebulon has four well-maintained parks and the Beaverdam Creek Greenway. At 47 acres, Zebulon Community Park is the largest, featuring sports fields, playgrounds, a walking trail and an 18-hole disc golf course. The park is also home to the Zebulon Community Center, which offers classes and programs for all ages in anything from sports and foreign languages to watercolor painting and martial arts. “If you’re not necessarily near the parks, you may be in a subdivision that provides those amenities,” Adams says. “That’s a plus for families in some of the larger master-planned communities.” Zebulon was the former home of the Carolina Mudcats minor league baseball team. The team will be based in nearby Wilson starting in the 2026 season, and the fate of Zebulon’s Five County Stadium is currently up in the air.
Zebulon Community Park offers great outdoor sport activities in Zebulon.
There are playgrounds for children at Zebulon Community Park in Zebulon.
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Exploring nearby Raleigh and the East Coast
Zebulon sits about 22 miles east of Raleigh, about a 25-minute drive, right on the edge of Wake County. Nearby roadways like Highway 264 make for a direct route into the city, and Interstate 95 for travel up and down the East Coast. With a lack of public transportation, residents need a car to get around most of Zebulon, but there is a walkable downtown area. “I can walk to downtown,” Adams says. “I feel safe walking at 6 p.m., going to a local bar and walking home.”
Lower than average CAP Index crime score
Zebulon has a CAP Index score of 3 compared to the national average of 4. In 2023, the Zebulon Police Department created the Community Advocacy & Resource Enhancement unit to help juveniles impacted by crime and violence. The program is the first of its kind in North Carolina. Like the majority of the state, Zebulon experiences all four seasons.
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