7 Most Affordable Fayetteville, NC, Suburbs to Live In

Fayetteville, NC, is an iconic Southeastern city. There are countless things to do in the city whether you hike or bike the Cape Fear River Trail, explore the 80-acre Cape Fear Botanical Garden, or check out the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival during the spring. No wonder 208,800 people live in Fayetteville. 

If you’re looking to buy a house in Fayetteville, know that the housing market is somewhat competitive, the median home sale price is $382,000, and the average sale price per square foot is $180. And for renters, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Fayetteville is about $1,180.

If those prices are out of your budget, don’t worry. We’ve rounded up a list of the 7 best affordable suburbs of Fayetteville, NC, to consider living in – and they’re all under a 50-minute drive from the city. That way, you can live near Fayetteville and all its cool activities without paying the premium price of buying a home or renting an apartment there.

#1: Lumberton

Median home price: $130,250 
Average sale price per square foot: $100 
Driving distance from Fayetteville: 40 minutes
Lumberton, NC homes for sale
Lumberton, NC apartments for rent

With a median home sale price of $130,250, Lumberton comes in at number one on our list of most affordable suburbs of Fayetteville, NC. About 19,000 people live in this suburban area and you’ll only be about a 40-minute drive away from downtown Fayetteville. If you’re considering moving to this area make sure to spend the morning at Luther Britt Park where you’ll find two lakes and a trail.

#2: Spring Lake

Median home price: $159,500 
Average sale price per square foot: $142 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $2,632 
Driving distance from Fayetteville: 20 minutes
Spring Lake, NC homes for sale
Spring Lake, NC apartments for rent

Fayetteville’s second most affordable suburb is Spring Lake. Only 20-minutes from the city center you can stroll through the 80-acre Cape Fear Botanical Garden in just a quick drive. Some popular things to explore in Spring Lake include hiking through the 4,000-acre Carvers Creek State Park filled with pine trees and hiking trails. When living in this suburb of 11,700 people, you can also spend the day checking out the charming downtown.

#3: Hope Mills

Median home price: $239,250 
Average sale price per square foot: $144 
Driving distance from Fayetteville: 15 minutes
Hope Mills, NC homes for sale
Hope Mills, NC apartments for rent

15 minutes outside of the city, you’ll find yourself in the suburb of Hope Mills. There’s plenty of picturesque and outdoorsy activities to take part in when living in Hope Mills. If you find yourself moving here, enjoy the outdoors at Golfview Greenway Walking Trail and take in the views at Hope Mills Lake.

#4: Dunn

Median home price: $260,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $158 
Driving distance from Fayetteville: 30 minutes
Dunn, NC homes for sale
Dunn, NC apartments for rent

Only slightly more expensive than Hope Mills is the suburb of Dunn. With roughly 8,400 residents in this Fayetteville suburb, make sure to stroll through the charming downtown area.

#5: Spout Springs

Median home price: $317,500 
Average sale price per square foot: $143 
Driving distance from Fayetteville: 30 minutes
Spout Springs, NC homes for sale
Spout Springs, NC apartments for rent

30 minutes away from downtown Fayetteville is Spout Springs, another great suburb to consider moving to. With 11,000 people living in this affordable town, Spout Springs is a great option to consider when looking to stay close to Fayetteville without paying the premium for a home in the city. In Spout Springs, you can visit the Carolina Lakes Golf Course and the many recreational areas in town.

#6: Sanford

Median home price: $328,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $161 
Driving distance from Fayetteville: 50 minutes
Sanford, NC homes for sale
Sanford, NC apartments for rent

Sixth on the list of affordable suburbs of Fayetteville, NC, is Sanford, where the median home sale price is about $50K less than in Fayetteville. Home to roughly 30,300 people, Sanford is a great suburb to consider renting or buying a home in. You’ll have easy access to what makes this suburb stand out. So make sure to check out one of the parks, golf courses, or shopping centers.

#7: Anderson Creek

Median home price: $330,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $143 
Driving distance from Fayetteville: 30 minutes
Anderson Creek, NC homes for sale
Anderson Creek, NC apartments for rent

Rounding out our list of affordable suburbs of Fayetteville, NC, is none other than Anderson Creek. With a population of nearly 13,600, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to do in Anderson Creek. If you find yourself moving to this suburb, make sure to explore Anderson Creek County Park.

Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Fayetteville and under a 50-minute drive from downtown Fayetteville. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com March 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

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