Raleigh suburb a Top 25 U.S. moving destination. Now it has to keep up. | Opinion
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Garner once was in the shadow of Raleigh, but now it has it made in the shade.
The town of about 40,000 just south of the 10-times larger Capital City is in a sweet spot between proximity and affordability. It’s close to Raleigh and its amenities, but still removed from Raleigh’s higher home prices. According to Zillow, the average cost of a home in Garner is $379,099 compared to $426,538 in Raleigh.
“We’re always going to be a little cheaper than Raleigh, but we’re 10 minutes from downtown Raleigh,” said Matthew Coppedge, president and CEO of the Garner Chamber of Commerce.
That price difference is fueling growth. Last year, Garner was ranked the 10th fastest growing town in the nation, according to U.S. Census figures reported by The News & Observer.
On Tuesday, the U-Haul company announced that Garner has broken into the top 25 in its measure of cities with more do-it-yourself movers arriving than departing. Garner came in at No. 22,
U-Haul noted that, “While rankings may not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well states, metros and cities are attracting and maintaining residents.”
Garner has added a new town hall, landed an Amazon distribution center and has seen its options for health care facilities expand.
Coppedge said the town is focused on smart growth and offering good schools and services. While that has led to higher property tax bills, he said, “It’s quality of life. You’ve got to invest in those things.”
Garner is getting the growth that once bypassed it in favor of Raleigh, Cary, Holly Springs, Morrisville and other Wake County towns. But it’s also getting the higher demand on its government services and more upward pressure on housing prices.
As more people move to Garner, the town will need to keep moving, too.
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This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 10:04 AM.