Everything you need to know about Living in Louisburg, NC!
Is Louisburg NC a good place to live? What is it like moving to Louisburg? As one of the most outlying suburbs of Raleigh, Louisburg has been slower to develop than other areas closer in, but that won’t last forever.
If you have questions about moving to Raleigh or any of the surrounding area, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re always happy to talk with you!
Living in Louisburg NC: Contents
Louisburg’s Personality
Those who are living in Louisburg, but didn’t grow up there, are likely to tell you they moved to Louisburg to escape the rat-race of wherever they came from.
The growth of Raleigh and Wake Forest will surely cause Louisburg to grow and change over time, but for now it is authentic small-town North Carolina, with all the perks and drawbacks that entails.
If you are looking for a quiet small town life, or a life in the country, while still being reasonably close to Raleigh, and without paying a fortune for your home, Louisburg might fit the bill.
You won’t find new construction neighborhood after neighborhood up here. The denser construction of the Triangle hasn’t gotten here quite yet.
Louisburg is an old town formed during the War for Independence. It was named after King Louis of France who was assisting the new country in its war against Britain. It is also the seat of Franklin County – named for Benjamin Franklin who was then the country’s ambassador to France.
And the downtown sits right next to the Tar River, with a river park walkable to downtown.
There are quaint old homes lining the streets.
And the oldest residential 2 year college in the country is in downtown.
But this town isn’t booming the way other towns in the Triangle are. . . yet.
Moving to Louisburg, NC: Location
One of the reasons it isn’t booming yet is its location. It’s out there.
Louisburg is northeast of Raleigh on US 401. There aren’t any interstates nearby, so a trip to Louisburg will really feel like a visit to the country. (The DOT has been working on US 401 – expanding and repaving – for some time now.)
The drive to Raleigh will take you at least 45 minutes. Getting into Wake Forest will be about a 30 minute drive.
But Louisburg isn’t really a bedroom community. It isn’t filled with commuters making their way from the country to Raleigh or Wake Forest. It’s still its own town.
If you want to make Louisburg your home, and like to travel, the closest beach is still Wrightsville Beach near Wilimington – a 2 ½ drive. Manteo, Kitty Hawk, and Nags Head are about a 3 hour drive. But recreational opportunities at Kerr Lake on the VA/NC border are just over a half an hour drive.
If you need to escape to the mountains, Boone will be about a 3 ½ hour drive for you.
As part of the Triangle, you’re also not far from Charlotte NC (3 hours) Washington DC (4 hours) and Virginia Beach (3 hours)
Living in Louisburg, NC: Cost of Living
Check out Homes Currently For Sale in Louisburg here.
Being on the outer limits of the Triangle, Louisburg homes are relatively affordable. The median home price in 2023 is around $325,000.
According to Bestplaces.net, the overall cost of living in Louisburg NC is about 9% lower than the US average and about the same as the rest of North Carolina.
In every category except the cost of utilities, Louisburg is cheaper than the national average and the North Carolina average. Groceries, housing, transportation, and healthcare are all below both the US and North Carolina average.
Moving to Louisburg, NC: Healthcare
Healthcare costs are about 5% below the national average. Maria Parham Franklin is the local hospital in Louisburg. Significantly more healthcare options are available in nearby Wake Forest, but just as it is for everywhere else in the Triangle, the most complete services will be in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
The 4 major healthcare systems in the Triangle are: Duke Health, UNC Health, Rex Hospital System and Wakemed. All have really good reputations and offer cutting edge healthcare. Louisburg is roughly 45 minutes from both REX in Raleigh, and WakeMed in east Raleigh. It is an hour from Duke Hospital.
Jobs & Economy in Louisburg NC
In 2022, the median household income in Louisburg was $59,000, according to the US Census Bureau. While certainly rural, Franklin County is also home to several manufacturing companies. The Franklin County Government’s website says that,
“Franklin County is host to a number of industries, and several global headquarters. Companies in the plastics and polymers space, specialty packaging, custom wire and electronic cabling, and general aviation services have all found a place to grow in Franklin County due to its labor availability, trained workforce in targeted industries, and access to major markets via reliable transportation networks.”
That said, we have noticed a lot of turnover in downtown businesses.
While the town and county are certainly poised to become a more integral part of the Triangle region, they’re not there just yet. We have seen towns on the outskirts of Raleigh that went from sleepy little places no one had really heard of to bustling economic centers.
I have no doubt that Franklin County and Louisburg will experience that in the future. Louisburg’s neighbor, Franklinton (which is a little closer in) has seen more of that growth. You can see what we mean in the video below where we visit Franklinton and other small towns on the outskirts of Raleigh.
Culture and Community
Downtown Louisburg
Louisburg NC was incorporated in 1779 and there are two historic districts within the town. Because the county courthouse is in the center of town, you will also find just a few attorney’s offices! Lots of attorney’s offices, and quite frankly many empty storefronts.
The Tar River runs right by downtown, and there is a River Park. The potential is enormous. There is also Louisburg College in Downtown. The college was chartered in 1787 and opened in 1805. Current student enrollment is 490 according to USNews.com.
Now all of this, a historic downtown, river frontage, a college, and reasonable proximity to Raleigh makes living in Louisburg NC a great spot for future growth and development.
But again, it isn’t there yet.
Louisburg Events
During the summer months, Louisburg hosts Friday Nights on the Tar on the 3rd Friday night of the month. Bands and food trucks bring residents together in the downtown.
BBQ in the Burg: What would a southern town be like without an annual whole hog cooking contest?
Of course, Christmas brings the annual tree lighting ceremony and a local parade and Christmas Market in downtown.
Living in Louisburg NC: Parks & Recreation
Riverbend Park is the big park in town. It provides residents with access to fishing, canoeing, and has playground equipment along with a picnic shelter.
Joyner Park, not to be confused with Carroll E Joyner Park in Wake Forest, has a paved walking trail and nature trail surrounding ball fields, a playground, and picnic shelters.
There is a 2.2 mile bike trail in town, along with a skate park, and public basketball goals are available next to the Police/Fire training center.
Now, honestly, these park offerings pale in comparison to most of the towns in the Triangle.
But, that is kind of the point.
These are the amenities of a small, close-knit, town – not a rapidly developing suburb.
People living in Louisburg NC do have one secret gem. Just south of town is Louisburg College’s De Hart Botanical Gardens. This 92 acre garden is open to the public for hiking, weddings, community events, and picnicking. This may be one of the Triangle’s hidden gems. For more info on the Gardens, check out the travel blog “Life in the Big Green Jolly” and their visit here.
The town of Louisburg has a parks and recreation department that runs basketball, baseball, and soccer activities for the youth. Just remember, this is small-town North Carolina, not a true suburb of Raleigh.However, just outside of town, with its own airstrip, you will find Cadence Sky Sports. If you’ve ever just felt the need to jump out of an airplane or helicopter, they’ve got you covered. They offer sky-diving training and tandem jumps for those who just want to experience falling through the sky at 120 miles per hour. The prices are actually reasonable. For just over $200 you can fall 13,000 feet!
Living in Louisburg NC: Weather
Living in Louisburg NC will give you a moderate climate with mild winters and warm, humid summers.
The weather in Louisburg isn’t going to be much different than other parts of the triangle, with the exception of less snow than parts of the Triangle to the west.
Rainfall is about 44 inches of rain each year, more than the national average of 38 inches. Snowfall is minimal. Louisburg will only get 3 inches of snow (and that’s in a good year for snow, many years there won’t be any). If you want to see snow, go to the mountains. Louisburg has 213 sunshine days per year, higher than the national average of 205 days.
Living in Louisburg, NC Education
Public Schools
Louisburg is part of the Franklin County School system. You can see the district’s report card from the State here. There are two elementary schools in Louisburg, a middle and a high school. The Vance-Granville Community College has a campus in Louisburg, and Crosscreek Charter School and Louisburg College also call Louisburg home.
- Louisburg Elementary School
- Royal Elementary School
- Terrell Lane Middle School
- Louisburg Magnet High School
- Vance-Granville Community College Franklin Campus
Private & Charter Schools:
(Charter schools are publicly funded schools, run similar to the way a private school is run.)
Crime in Louisburg NC
Is Louisburg NC a safe place to live?
Overall, according to BestPlaces.net, Louisburg has a lower crime rate than the country as a whole.
The violent crime rate in Louisburg is 18.9 (US average is 22.7)
The property crime rate in Louisburg is 46 (US average is 35.4)
So what does that actually mean? The chart below compares Louisburg to the Raleigh-Cary metro area and North Carolina as a whole (data from BestPlaces.net).
Raleigh, and especially Cary are known as some of the safest cities in the country.
Louisburg is not anecdotally known for its crime, but if you were to look at NeighborhoodScout.com, you would see they report Louisburg as only safer than 7% of U.S. neighborhoods. This seems like one of those instances where statistics might be giving a fuzzy picture of life in Louisburg. With a population of only 3,000 people, a few incidents could really throw off those numbers.
Living in Louisburg NC: Food & Shopping
You won’t be surprised to learn that shopping in Louisburg is limited. There is a Walmart Supercenter in town, but for any other big-box shopping you need to do, you’ll have to drive into Wake Forest. That drive will set you back 30 minutes of your time.
Grocery Stores
Typical of small North Carolina towns, the grocery scene in Louisburg consists of a Food Lion, an IGA, and in Louisburg’s case, Moss Foods. Also typical is the WalMart Supercenter on the south side of town.
If you need stores that specialize in natural foods, Whole Foods in Raleigh is 40 minute drive and Trader Joes is a 45 minute drive. Wegmans in Wake Forest is 30 minutes away. Costco is about a 40 minute drive from Louisburg.
Popular Restaurants
Downtown establishments are always our favorites. No matter how small a town is, there always seems to be a brewery in town. Louisburg has a brewery, a pub, and a moonshine distillery in town, along with the requisite coffee shop. 210 Nash is a local favorite for food.
- Three Lions Pub: karaoke, relaxed and fun with a traditional pub vibe.
- Tar Banks Brewing Co. Local craft brewery.
- 210 Nash: Local favorite. Spirits, appetizers, salads, and sandwiches.
- Tar River Moonshine Distillery: Moonshine, do we need to say more?
- Mad Flavorz Wing Lounge: full bar and wings.
- Blue Collie Coffee: coffee, teas, and pastries.
On US 401, as it skirts downtown, you’ll find your fast food restaurants: Bojangle, Waffle House, Wendy’s, Subway, Pizza Hut.
Moving to Louisburg: Popular Neighborhoods
Most of the homes you will find for sale in Louisburg will not be in large subdivisions. They simply aren’t here yet. However, south and east of town is Lake Royale.
Lake Royale is a gated resort community built around a 345 acre lake that was created in the early 1970’s. The community has its own police and security departments. There is a clubhouse, pavilion, mini-golf, boat ramp, swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, horseshoe and shuffleboard and an 18 hole golf course! It’s like vacation year-round! The annual association dues are a very reasonable $1,035 for 2023.
The community is not completely built out. There are about 1,000 homes and 3,000 parcels. So if you’re looking to build a home in a community like this, opportunity exists. Lake Royale would not fit into the category of a luxury community. While there are larger homes in the neighborhood, many of the homes are modest by contemporary standards.
Louisburg’s Future
It would seem unlikely that Louisburg would not experience a renaissance like many other outlying communities of the Triangle.
The fact is there is still a lot of undeveloped land closer in to Raleigh and Wake Forest.
It will take some time, but I wouldn’t expect Louisburg to remain the quiet small town it currently is.
But if you want some breathing space around you, and you don’t mind the distance to shopping, Louisburg offers possibilities that are becoming increasingly difficult to find in the greater Triangle area.
Cons of Living in Louisburg NC
There’s a downside to everywhere. If there were anything that would bug me about living in Louisburg, NC it would be these things:
- It’s small, only 3,000 people. In my mind this is a good thing and it may be in yours. The bad part of it is that there isn’t a lot of housing inventory here.
- Unless you are willing to embrace small town life, whole cloth, you are going to be doing some driving. Driving out to Louisburg will really feel like you’ve left the Raleigh area.
- Most shopping requires significant drive times (around 30 minutes, less if you are on the south side of town.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
