Wake County, NC Local Data & Statistics

State: NC

Total population: 1,178,653 Household income: $105,768 Rent: $1,623

Overview

Total population

1,178,653

Rent

$1,623

Year built

2000

Household income

$105,768

Per capita income

$55,448

Poverty rate

8.1%

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

Total population

1,178,653

Adults over 25

802,678

Total households

460,175

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$105,768

Per capita income

$55,448

Poverty rate

8.1%

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Rent over 30% of income

46.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,623

Year built

2000

Households that rent

35.9%

Households that own

64.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

57.9%

Black

18.8%

Asian

8.5%

Two or more races

9.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

88.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

70.9%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

29.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

19.5%

High school graduate or GED

14.3%

Some college or associate degree

9.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

57.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Wake County, NC with: Raleigh Metro Area, NC North Carolina United States

Wake County, NC

Total population1,178,653

Rent$1,623

Year built2000

Household income$105,768

Per capita income$55,448

Poverty rate8.1%

Unemployment rate2.8%

Raleigh Metro Area, NC

Total population1,487,302

Rent$1,573

Year built2000

Household income$100,103

Per capita income$51,873

Poverty rate8.7%

Unemployment rate3.1%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyWake County, NC	Metro AreaRaleigh Metro Area, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	1,178,653	1,487,302	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,623	$1,573	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	2000	2000	1991	1980
Household income	$105,768	$100,103	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$55,448	$51,873	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	8.1%	8.7%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.8%	3.1%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Wake County, NC

Wake County is located in North Carolina .

Rent & Income

In Wake County, the monthly rent is $1,623 and household income is $105,768. Rent is higher than both North Carolina and the U.S., and household income is higher than both North Carolina and the U.S. The poverty rate is 8.1%, which is lower than both North Carolina and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 35.9% of households. About 46.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 57.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is lower than both North Carolina and the national rate.

Wake County, NC — Rent vs Household Income

Wake County, NC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Wake County, NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,623 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Wake County, NC

Annual Household Income: $105,768

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Wake County, NC

Estimated Rate: 8.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Wake County, NC

In Wake County, NC, households that rent: 165,106 (35.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	165,106	35.9%
Owner-Occupied	295,069	64.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Wake County, NC

In Wake County, NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 76,915 (46.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	76,915	46.6%
Other renter households	88,191	53.4%
Total renter households	165,106	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Wake County, NC

Less than High School: 156,279 people (19.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 114,613 people (14.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 73,012 people (9.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 458,774 people (57.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 802,678

📊 Unemployment Rate in Wake County, NC

Estimated Rate: 2.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.