Wake Forest, NC
About Wake Forest
Wake Forest is an old college town with a lively downtown. Wake Forest College was founded here in 1834 and stayed until 1956, when it moved to Winston-Salem and became Wake Forest University. The historic campus and the 19th-century homes around it still shape the town's look, and the Wake Forest Historical Museum tells the story.
Downtown is walkable, with shops, restaurants and galleries, free Friday-night concerts through the warm months, and the Renaissance Centre, an arts hub that hosts the Wake Forest Film Festival. E. Carroll Joyner Park, 117 acres with a pecan grove and restored farm buildings, holds the free Six Sundays in Spring concert series in its amphitheater.
The town has more than 500 acres of parks and about 50 miles of greenway trails, and Falls Lake State Recreation Area, built around a 12,000-acre lake, is right next door. Fortune included Wake Forest in its 2024 rankings of the 25 best places to live in the country.
Property tax in Wake Forest
The combined Wake County and Wake Forest rate is $0.9571 per $100 of tax value: about $3,828 a year on a $400,000 tax value. Every rate in the county, with sources.
What's coming to Wake Forest
121 active projects from public records as of . Newest first.
See them all on the mapWeekly "What's coming to Wake Forest" roundups
New Development (112)
Wait Avenue Medical Office Construction Plans Under review
Wait Avenue Medical Office Construction Plans for a 3-story, 30,000-square-foot mixed-use building with retail, restaurant and medical uses on a 2.58-acre parcel at Dr. Calvin Jones Hwy & Traditions Grande Blvd. in Wake Forest — under review, last status update October 2026.
Grove 98 North Under review
Development of four non-residential parcels and associated site improvements at Grove 98 North on Dr. Calvin Jones Hwy in Wake Forest — under review, last status update October 2026.
E Cedar Ave Townhomes Master Plan Under review
E Cedar Ave Townhomes Master Plan in Wake Forest proposes five 3-bedroom long-term affordable rental units on E. Cedar Ave, including site grading, drainage, landscaping, and sewer and water service installation. The project is under review, last status update October 2026.
E Cedar Ave Townhome Subdivision Reported by developer
Townhome subdivision at 408 and 412 E Cedar Ave. in Wake Forest, reported by the developer, includes 5 units. Submitted and last updated October 2026, first move-ins and expected completion are 12/1/2027. Builder: 408 E Cedar Avenue, LLC.
Skate Park & Pump Track Facility Under review
Skate Park & Pump Track Facility on Harris Rd in Wake Forest is a new public recreation facility with a skate park, pump track, fitness area, basketball courts, greenway connections, a picnic pavilion with restrooms, and surface parking. It is under review, last status update October 2026.
Heritage Urgent & Primary Care Construction Plans Under review
Heritage Urgent & Primary Care Construction Plans for an 8,400-sqft medical office building on Heritage Lake Rd. in Wake Forest are under review, with the last status update in October 2026.
Roads & Transportation (9)
B-5318: SR 2044 (Ligon Mill Road) Under construction
Bridge 910126 over Smiths Creek on SR 2044 (Ligon Mill Road) in Wake Forest is under construction, replacing the existing bridge, started in 2023.
U-6023: Various Under construction
U-6023: Various is under construction in the Town of Wake Forest, building a townwide ITS and signal system on various routes, scheduled for 2023.
HS-2405Q: SR 5144 (Heritage Lake Road) Planned
Heritage Heights Lane intersection on SR 5144 (Heritage Lake Road) will have crosswalk and sidewalk improvements planned for 2026. The project is in the planned stage.
P-5707: CSX S Line Planned
P-5707: CSX S Line is a planned project to construct a grade separation at the SR 2052 (Rogers Road Extension) crossing (633905Y) in Wake Forest. The right-of-way is secured in 2025, with construction scheduled for 2026.
P-5753AH: CXS S Line Planned
P-5753AH: CXS S Line is planned to construct grade separations on SR 2013 (Gresham Lake Road) and SR 2044 (Ligon Mill Road) and improve roadway at SR 2046 (Seawell Drive) and Friendship Chapel Road, with right-of-way in 2027 and construction in 2030.
BL-0188: Smith Creek Greenway Phases 2 and 3 Planned
Planned construction of Smith Creek Greenway Phases 2 and 3 will extend Burlington Mills Road to the existing greenway at Heritage High School, creating a new greenway in 2027.
Information compiled from public records (NCDOT, Town of Wake Forest, Wake County Public School System, from the developer's Residential Notification Form) as of 2026-10-26. Projects may change or never be built. Verify with the official source.