Quality Of Life
The residents of Wake Forest enjoy a unique lifestyle that combines the best of a small town sensibility with suburban amenities and metropolitan sophistication. Safe, tree-lined neighborhoods offer surprisingly affordable housing with choices that can include a home in a historic neighborhood, a spectacular golf course community or a bucolic rural setting with a few acres. Low taxes and a lower overall cost of living translate into more discretionary income and spending power.
Crime Rates by City
| Name | Population | Violent Crime | Property Crime | Total |
| Asheboro | 24,399 | 57 | 1,670 | 1,727 | Cary | 114,221 | 134 | 2,120 | 2,254 | Charlotte-Mecklenburg | 733,291 | 7,233 | 51,279 | 58,512 | Garner | 24,547 | 99 | 1,246 | 1,345 | Morrisville | 14,336 | 8 | 301 | 309 | New Bern | 28,254 | 156 | 1,866 | 2,022 | Raleigh | 367,120 | 2,098 | 12,762 | 14,860 | Wake Forest | 24,348 | 49 | 594 | 643 | Wilmington | 96,913 | 821 | 5,893 | 6,714 |
Source:FBI 2007 Crime in the US www.fbi.gov
Taxes
Local Property Tax Rates Per $100 Assessed Valuation
| Wake County | Wake Forest (municipal rate) |
| $0.53 | $0.51 |
Property taxes are calculated by adding the county rate and the municipal rate. Unincorporated areas of the county are only taxed the county rate.
Special Districts
In place of the municipal rate, the Wake Forest Downtown Service District has a tax rate of .17%
Fire Tax Districts
The Wake County Fire Tax District includes all unincorporated areas of the county and is set at .1%.
Sales Tax
Retail Sales & Use Tax Rate:
6.75% (combined state and county)
Source: Wake County Revenue Department, 2008
Cost of Living
The ACCRA Cost of Living Index is the most reliable source comparing consumer costs throughout the nation. If an index score is below 100, the community is less expensive than the average of all US cities. If an index score is above 100, the community is more expensive than the average of all US cities. Compare U.S. Cities
ACCRA Cost of Living Survey: November, 2008
Wake Forest Area Shopping Centers:
| Name | Anchor Stores |
| Capital Plaza | Home Depot, Petsmart, Super Target, Staples | Market at Wake Forest | Food Lion | Wake Forest Crossings | Kohl's, Lowes Foods | Wake Pointe Plaza | Walmart Supercenter | Shoppes at Caveness | Red Robin, Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse | Heritage Station | Harris Teeter | Wakefield Commons | Kroger | Heritage Square | Walgreens, RBC Bank | Shoppes at Heritage | O'Dwyers | The Forestville Shops | Lowes Foods, CVS Pharmacy | Gateway Commons | Lowes Foods, Ace Hardware | The Factory | The Ice House | Quail Crossing | Bloom |
Metro Area Retail Centers
| Name | Mall Type | Location | Anchor Stores |
| Triangle Town Center | Indoor Mall | Raleigh | Dillard's, Macy's, Sax Fifth Avenue, Sears | Crabtree Valley Mall | Indoor Mall | Raleigh | Lord & Taylor's, Belk, Macy's, Dillard's | Streets of Southpoint | Indoor Mall | Durham | Nordstrom, Macy's, Hudson Belk, Sears | Cary Towne Center | Indoor Mall | Cary | Sears, Dillard's, Hudson Belk, JC Penney | Northgate Mall | Indoor Mall | Durham | Macy's, Sears | University Mall | Indoor Mall | Chapel Hill | A Southern Season, Dillard's Harris Teeter | Cameron Village | Outdoor Shopping | Raleigh | Harris Teeter, Ann Taylor, Talbots, The Fresh Market | North Hills | Outdoor Shopping | Raleigh | Target, REI, JC Penney, Total Wine | Alexander Place Promenade | Power Centers (350K + sq. ft.) | Raleigh | Super Wal-Mart, Kohls | Brier Creek Commons | Power Centers (350K + sq. ft.) | Raleigh | BJ's Wholesale Club, Dicks Sporting Goods, Michaels | Pleasant Valley Promenade | Power Centers (350K + sq. ft.) | Raleigh | Marshall's, OfficeMax, Golfsmith | Poyner Place | Power Centers (350K + sq. ft.) | North Raleigh | Super Target, Pier One, Linens & Things, Old Navy | Six Forks Station | Power Centers (350K + sq. ft.) | North Raleigh | Home Depot, Borders, Kmart |
Recreation and Leisure
Wake Forest has a comprehensive system of parks and greenways and borders Falls Lake, a major state park. The town is culturally alive offering well-attended concert series, arts festivals and artist studio tours, a monthly Art AfterHours in historic downtown, garden and historic home tours and easy access to three renowned museums of art, history and natural sciences. Professional and top-ranked college sports teams delight fans and reward them with championship play on a regular basis.
Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau |
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Town Of Wake Forest |
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Town of Wake Forest - Cultural Arts Association |
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Town Of Wake Forest Parks & Recreation |
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Wake County Visitor Information – Museums, Arts, Sports & Recreation |
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Wake Forest Attractions |
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