Apex

Named the #1 place to live in the country by Money Magazine in August 2015, Apex has all the things you'd expect: a charming downtown, top-notch schools, and the kind of community spirit that draws 15,000 people, or more than a third of the population, to the annual PeakFest street fair.

The community has also managed to retain its close-knit vibe, even as the population has grown, with events like a weekly farmers' market and an annual jazz festival. The just-opened Apex Friendship High School, with cutting-edge technology like 70-inch monitors in every classroom and 3-D printers, relieves overcrowding at Apex High.