ZIP Code 27502: Population, Income, Housing

State: NC

Total population: 48,530 Household income: $143,922 Rent: $1,909

Overview

Total population

48,530

Rent

$1,909

Year built

2005

Household income

$143,922

Per capita income

$60,734

Poverty rate

2.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.4%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

County

Wake County

City

Apex

Total population

48,530

Adults over 25

32,299

Total households

17,368

Household size

2.8 persons

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$143,922

Per capita income

$60,734

Poverty rate

2.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

45.4%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,909

Year built

2005

Households that rent

18.4%

Households that own

81.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

7.1

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

67.3%

Black

7.7%

Asian

14.7%

Two or more races

8.3%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.1%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

16,730 (65.8%)

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

8,689 (34.2%)

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

12.7%

High school graduate or GED

9.6%

Some college or associate degree

9.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

68.4%

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

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 27502 with: Wake County, NC Apex, NC Raleigh metro area, NC North Carolina United States

ZIP 27502

Total population48,530

Rent$1,909

Year built2005

Household income$143,922

Per capita income$60,734

Poverty rate2.3%

Unemployment rateN/A

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%

Apex, NC

Total population70,630

Rent$1,902

Year built2008

Household income$144,135

Per capita income$60,473

Poverty rate2.2%

Unemployment rate2.5%

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	ZIP27502	CountyWake, NC	TownApex, NC	Metro AreaRaleigh metro area, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	48,530	1,178,653	70,630	1,487,302	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,909	$1,623	$1,902	$1,573	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	2005	2000	2008	2000	1991	1980
Household income	$143,922	$105,768	$144,135	$100,103	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$60,734	$55,448	$60,473	$51,873	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	2.3%	8.1%	2.2%	8.7%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	2.8%	2.5%	3.1%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 27502

Rent & Income

In 27502, the typical monthly rent is $1,909 and the typical household income is $143,922. Rent here is similar to Apex Town and higher than North Carolina, and household income is similar to Apex Town and higher than North Carolina. The estimated poverty rate is 2.3%, which is similar to the Apex Town rate and lower than the North Carolina rate.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 18.4% of households. About 45.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 68.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 27502 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 27502 — Poverty

How ZIP 27502 compares in North Carolina (126 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,909	123 / 126	from lower rent	$733 – $2,025
Household income	$143,922	3 / 126	from higher income	$42,810 – $165,586
Poverty rate	2.3%	1 / 126	from lower poverty	2.3% – 34.4%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in North Carolina with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 27502

Rent

Looking at rent levels, ZIP Code 27502 places 123rd out of 126 ZIP Codes in North Carolina. Throughout North Carolina, numbers span from $733 in ZIP 28645 up to $2,025 in ZIP 28079.

Household income

In terms of earnings, this ZIP comes 3rd out of 126 ZIP Codes. At the state level, values extend from $42,810 in ZIP 27893 up to $165,586 in ZIP 27519.

Poverty rate

In terms of poverty rate, ZIP Code 27502 comes 1st out of 126 ZIP Codes. In North Carolina as a whole, the range goes from 2.3% in ZIP 27502 up to 34.4% in ZIP 28607.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 27502 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,909 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 like heat, water, and electricity.

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 ZIP Code 27502

Annual Household Income: $143,922

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — 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 ZIP Code 27502

Estimated Rate: 2.3%

💡 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 ZIP Code 27502

In ZIP Code 27502, households that rent: 3,204 (18.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	3,204	18.4%
Owner-Occupied	14,164	81.6%

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 ZIP Code 27502

In ZIP Code 27502, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 1,456 (45.4%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	1,456	45.4%
Other renter households	1,748	54.6%
Total renter households	3,204	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code 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 ZIP Code 27502

Less than High School: 4,092 people (12.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 3,098 people (9.6%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,006 people (9.3%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 22,103 people (68.4%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 32,299

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.