Keep the cheesesteak loyalty.Upgrade the weather.
Rich grew up right across the river in Jersey, so Pennsylvania folks feel like neighbors. Rowhomes and snowy driveways on one side, newer neighborhoods and a mild winter on the other.
By Rich Burghgraef, Broker + Team Leader·Updated November 2026
Moving from Philadelphia + Pennsylvania to the Raleigh-Durham area usually means more space for your money, milder winters and shorter commutes. The towns people from Philly/PA tend to love most are Wake Forest, Apex, Cary and Raleigh. North Carolina has a flat 3.99% state income tax for 2026.
Pennsylvania folks are practical. They want to know what it costs, how good the schools are and whether there's a decent hoagie. I can help with two out of three.
Towns you'll probably love.
Wake Forest
Historic downtown, northern hospitality.
See the guide
Apex
The Peak of Good Living (and they mean it).
See the guide
Cary
Polished, parks-obsessed and very convenient.
See the guide
Raleigh
The capital with a backyard.
See the guideFrom Philly/PA to settled in.
The order we walk our relocation clients through, so nothing sneaks up on you.
- 01Before you list or give notice. Get a real budget from a local lender, then pick two or three towns that fit. The Town Matchmaker helps.
- 02Scout trip (or video tour). Spend a weekend driving the towns at rush hour and on a Saturday. Can't fly in? We'll FaceTime you through homes and neighborhoods.
- 03Make the offer. NC has a due diligence period that works differently than most states. We'll walk you through it so you know exactly what's refundable and when.
- 04Closing. In NC, attorneys handle closings. Many can do much of it remotely, so you don't always have to be here to sign.
- 05First 30 days. Get your NC driver's license and plates, register to vote, and set up utilities and trash pickup with your town.
- 06First 90 days. Find your coffee shop, your greenway and your people. Come run with the Triangle Turtles and Hares. Seriously, we'd love to meet you.
Get your Philly/PA moving plan.
Tell us a little about your move and Rich will send a custom short list: the towns that fit, what homes there really cost right now, and how to house hunt from Philadelphia + Pennsylvania without burning your vacation days.
Quick answers for your move.
Is moving from Philadelphia to Raleigh a good idea?
Many people make the move for milder winters, more space and newer homes. The Triangle's job market and lower overall costs are big draws too.
Which Raleigh suburbs do people from Pennsylvania like?
Wake Forest, Apex and Cary are common picks for their mix of small-town feel and newer neighborhoods. Raleigh works if you want to be closer to the action.
Can you help me buy new construction from out of state?
Yes. We help out-of-state buyers with video walkthroughs, builder contracts, incentives and independent inspections, so you can buy new without flying in every weekend.