Citing it’s top-notch school system, a charming and inviting downtown area, affordability, and unmatched community spirit, the town of Apex was recently named by Time.com as number one on its annual list of the 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2015.

One major underlying factor in almost all aspects playing into Apex being named at the top of the list of Best Places to Live in the U.S. according to the Time.com study is the “high- paying tech-industry jobs that help make the quality of life here second to none.” The article goes on to further explain that Apex’s close proximity to the Research Triangle Park (RTP), which is just 18 miles away, host more than 200 major companies including IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, and Cisco, who employ in excess of 50,000 workers. With the rich tech job market in Apex and the surrounding area thriving, it still is considerable more affordable than other “technology hubs” across the country, as for example in California’s Silicon Valley on average a three bedroom home cost upwards of $1 million, where as in Apex the same size home goes for an average of about $265,000.

The quality of Apex’s schools is certainly a major draw for young families and likewise played into Time’s ranking of the town as tops among the Best Places to Live in the U.S. The article at Time.com explains the close proximity to RTP also gives a “boost to the local schools, already among the state’s best.” The tech hub factors into the school system with the implementation of the Academy of Information Technology, a four year program offered at Apex High School which allows the young students to become familiar and get hands on experience in the IT field through coursework and internships. Likewise, Apex Friendship High School, which just opened this past year boast cutting-edge technology, afforded to students at few other schools with 70-inch monitors and 3-D printers in every classroom.

Obviously, Apex being “top dog” among the Best Places to Live in the U.S. is no real secret, as evident by the fact that the town’s population has doubled since the year 2000. Staying on top of that growth, however, the town has adapted and even improved along with the population spike, adding among other things a new toll road that cut commute time to RTP in half. Speaking to this point and the “community spirit” the town has been able to maintain despite seeing consistent growth, Time Staff Writer, Daniel Bortz concluded, “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 award winning custom homebuilders, Upton & Co. have “built a reputation-one customer at a time,” in Apex and across the Triangle area based upon trust and unparalleled quality. To see Upton & Co.’s available floor plans and homes in Apex and the surrounding area, visit their website at uptonandco.com.

To see the full details and article on Apex being named as number one in the Top 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S., go to Time.com/money.