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North Carolina's Raleigh-Durham metro area welcomes newcomers with gorgeous scenery, comfortable weather, a reasonable cost of living and a strong sense of community. These two cities combine to become one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States. For all these reasons and many more, the area is a good place to explore apartments for rent and consider making your new home.

Quality of Life
As the state's capitol and second-largest city, Raleigh offers a very livable blend of urban amenities and Southern charm. The welcoming local ambience is referred to as "City Life, Carolina Style," and trendy restaurants and cutting-edge culture tempered with good old-fashioned Southern manners. Residents enjoy the many libraries, museums, the opera, professional hockey, an arboretum and several 18th-century houses, including the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson. Durham has plenty to offer its residents too, including numerous historic sites, art centers, science centers, sports venues and many popular annual events.

Where the Jobs Are
Raleigh and Durham are most famous for being two-thirds of North Carolina's Research Triangle, an area and organization that capitalizes on the scientific research and talent from the three cities' universities: North Carolina State at Raleigh, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University in Durham. In addition to the employment opportunities provided by the Research Triangle, the area provides jobs in government, trade and industry, including electronics, insurance, healthcare, apparel, food products, paper products and pharmaceuticals.

Cost of Living & Apartment Prices
The cost of living here is 7% below the national average, which comes in handy when looking for affordable apartments for rent. More good news for those looking for apartments: In recent years the area has had a 10-15% vacancy rate, which is higher than average and has sparked lots of move-in specials and other incentives for many apartment rentals. You'll pay around $775 for average apartment rentals in the area, with Raleigh prices being the highest and Chapel Hill the lowest. You can expect to pay $830 for average two-bedroom apartments in Raleigh; $780 for average two-bedroom apartments in Durham; and $745 in Chapel Hill.

Neighborhoods to Explore
There are apartments for rent available throughout the Research Triangle area, but you'll find the greatest concentrations near the universities, including Raleigh's North Carolina State, Shaw University and Meredith College, as well as Duke University in Durham. The added benefit of living in these areas is being able to enjoy the perks of college towns: interesting clothing stores, bars, restaurants and other venues appealing to fun-seeking college kids short on cash abound.

But if college-style entertainment options arent your scene, there are plenty of other options available. You can, for example, look outside the city limits for apartments in the outlying communities, including Garner, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Apex, Holly Springs and Morrisville. These areas are truly on the rise and often have more affordable housing options than you would find in the college areas.