Johnston County

The fast-growing exurban corridor south and southeast of Raleigh, anchored by Clayton and the county seat of Smithfield along the I-40/I-95 interchange. Johnston County's population grew 11% between 2020 and 2024, driven by affordable land, lower taxes, and improving connectivity to Raleigh employment via I-40 and the future Complete 540 extension. Clayton has emerged as one of the Triangle's signature growth communities, with Smithfield and Selma offering small-town character along the Neuse River at significantly lower price points than Wake County.