RALEIGH, N.C. — According to a new report by Money magazine, two North Carolina cities are among the top 50 best places to live in the country. The report ranks Raleigh at No. 4 and Chapel Hill at 12. Some of the factors taken into consideration include diversity, fun and amenities as well as overall quality of life. When it comes to Raleigh, the amount of green space played a major role in the ranking.
What You Need To Know
A new report by Money ranks Raleigh as the country's fourth best city to live in and Chapel Hill as No. 12
Some of the factors taken into consideration include diversity, fun and amenities as well as overall quality of life
When it comes to Raleigh, the amount of green space played a major role in the ranking
Between parks and greenways, Raleigh has about 10,000 acres of green space
Maria Winn lives in Rolesville but loves meeting her friend Jackie Dodge at nearby parks because there’s always a new one to visit.
“We do play dates every week at the parks with my daughter and this is our first time coming to this park, and we still have many more parks to try even though I grew up here my whole life,” Winn said.
Dodge lives in Cary and believes green space has become an even higher priority for people when they decide where to live.
“I think especially since the pandemic a lot of people are starting to look for outdoor options, and I think ever since that happened people have started to value it a lot more,” Dodge said.
Hearing comments like that is music to Stephen Bentley’s ears because he’s the director of the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.
“Raleigh has about 10,000 acres of green space. That includes parks and greenways,” Bentley said. “120 miles of greenways, about 200 parks and open spaces, over 100 playgrounds, nine aquatic facilities. We have some seasonal and then some indoor. We have over 100 athletic fields and 100 tennis courts.”
Recently, Money ranked Raleigh as the nation’s fourth best city to live in. Green space was a top reason in the ranking, and Bentley wasn’t surprised by that factor.
“Raleigh is a planned capital, and actually Raleigh was planned around five public squares, so I always say that parks and green space are in the DNA of Raleigh. We were planned around it in 1792, and it has just been the character. We are the City of Oaks. We have been called a ‘park with a city in it’ so all of that really lends to the culture and expectations of our community,” Bentley said.
Bentley believes Raleigh is leading the way for other cities to also prioritize green spaces, especially as more people move here.
“As we become more urban a lot of what our park system and our staff is focused on is being really equitable. Making sure everybody in Raleigh has a 10-minute walk to a park or a greenway, and that’s our goal,” Bentley said.
Whether you’re a kid on a playscape or an adult just enjoying the fresh air, Winn says time spent outside is beneficial in so many ways.
“It’s about health, both physical and emotional and mental health for us,” Winn said.
According to Money, the top three places to live are Atlanta, Georgia; Tempe, Arizona; and Kirkland, Washington.