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CITY · INCORPORATED 1792

Raleigh

North Carolina · 506,306 residents (2025 est.) · 149 sq mi
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Part of the Raleigh metro area
The short version

Raleigh is home to 481,031 people in North Carolina. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 204,938 people. 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Owners hold 51% of the housing stock. The median age is 34.7, younger than the US median of 38.9. There are 3,219 people per square mile.

At a glance
Average income
median household income $85,395, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
54% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Raleigh

What changed most since 1990

  • Population207,951 → 481,031 (+131%)US over the same years: +35%

Among the 26 cities and towns in the Raleigh metro

  • 12th in household income$85,395
  • 6th in share with a bachelor's degree54.0%
  • 7th in home value$415,800
  • 8th in diversity score81.2

Its weight in Wake County

Raleigh's population equals 41% of Wake County's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 60% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 61% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
481,031
+74%since 2000
from 276,093 in 2000
506,306 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,219 / sq mi
+74%since 2000
from 1,847 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.7
+12%since 2000
from 30.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
149 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
181K263K344K426K508K19902000201020202024Raleigh
2024481K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(27,524)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(25,894)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.5%(26,397)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(32,315)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.6%(41,309)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3418.7%(89,940)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.4%(69,503)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.5%(60,327)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.5%(50,741)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747%(33,665)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.5%(16,905)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(6,511)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$85,395
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,612 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$52,897
+111%since 2000
from $25,113 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.8%
+20.5 ptssince 2009
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.484
+5%since 2010
from 0.460 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade7.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration6.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$415,800
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $152,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,572
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $718 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 51.6% in 2000
49.3% rent
Vacancy rate
9.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.27 people
−5%since 2009
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.5%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.9
+32%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
69
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic60.3%(166,386)
Black27.5%(75,931)
Hispanic / Latino7%(19,308)
Asian3.4%(9,282)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic51.1%(246,042)
Black26%(125,059)
Hispanic / Latino12.6%(60,502)
Asian5.2%(24,783)
Other5.1%(24,645)
Diversity Score
81
+10%since 2009
from 74 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.5%(21,574)
Central American2.7%(13,059)
Puerto Rican1.6%(7,465)
South American1.3%(6,058)
Dominican1.1%(5,134)
Salvadoran1%(5,029)
Honduran0.9%(4,115)
Guatemalan0.6%(2,721)
Colombian0.5%(2,355)
Cuban0.3%(1,588)
Venezuelan0.3%(1,443)
Spaniard0.2%(1,101)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Peruvian0.2%(1,032)
Nicaraguan0.1%(602)
Panamanian0.1%(442)
Ecuadorian0.1%(385)
Argentine0.1%(352)
Uruguayan0%(151)
Chilean0%(149)
Bolivian0%(137)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.5%(7,453)
Vietnamese1%(4,920)
Chinese0.7%(3,469)
Filipino0.6%(2,720)
Korean0.5%(2,195)
Pakistani0.2%(988)
Bangladeshi0.1%(440)
Burmese0.1%(346)
Japanese0.1%(321)
Taiwanese0.1%(303)
Kazakh0.1%(242)
Thai0%(228)
+ 8 more asian origin groups with data
Laotian0%(214)
Sri Lankan0%(125)
Hmong0%(111)
Malaysian0%(50)
Nepalese0%(48)
Cambodian0%(38)
Uzbek0%(26)
Mongolian0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(171)
Samoan0%(90)
Ancestry
English12.6%(60,610)
German9.3%(44,612)
Irish8.8%(42,175)
American5.7%(27,226)
Italian4%(19,126)
Subsaharan African2.5%(11,871)
Scottish2.4%(11,630)
Polish1.8%(8,888)
Arab1.7%(8,193)
Scotch-Irish1.6%(7,906)
French1.6%(7,780)
West Indian0.9%(4,406)
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.8%(4,010)
Nigerian0.7%(3,468)
British0.7%(3,293)
Norwegian0.7%(3,203)
Russian0.6%(2,819)
Welsh0.6%(2,729)
Swedish0.5%(2,555)
Egyptian0.5%(2,311)
Portuguese0.4%(1,875)
Hungarian0.4%(1,830)
Moroccan0.4%(1,746)
French Canadian0.4%(1,731)
Lebanese0.4%(1,692)
Ukrainian0.3%(1,616)
Greek0.3%(1,595)
Ethiopian0.3%(1,466)
Jamaican0.3%(1,383)
Haitian0.3%(1,309)
Danish0.2%(1,190)
Lithuanian0.2%(1,159)
Czech0.2%(1,072)
Canadian0.2%(970)
Kenyan0.2%(945)
Iranian0.2%(868)
Austrian0.2%(800)
Swiss0.2%(770)
Slovak0.2%(746)
Turkish0.2%(744)
Romanian0.1%(674)
Brazilian0.1%(632)
Belgian0.1%(485)
Palestinian0.1%(417)
Bulgarian0.1%(400)
Iraqi0.1%(388)
Croatian0.1%(320)
Ghanaian0.1%(317)
Finnish0.1%(301)
Syrian0%(233)
Armenian0%(197)
Israeli0%(139)
Slovene0%(132)
Serbian0%(118)
Jordanian0%(112)
Guyanese0%(97)
Latvian0%(68)
Somali0%(41)
Barbadian0%(23)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
54.0%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 44.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 88.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.1%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.0 min
+66%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.3%
−16.0 ptssince 2009
from 78.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
25.8%
+20.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 71.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
79.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 78.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
11.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
53.9%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
51.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
13.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 7.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−6.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.7%
+8.7 ptssince 2017
from 86.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
98.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 96.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
81.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 79.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
81.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2016
from 83.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 9.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married46%(88,644)
Married44.2%(85,141)
Widowed1.6%(3,172)
Divorced8.2%(15,750)
Women 15+
Never married41.2%(85,823)
Married40.9%(85,178)
Widowed5.6%(11,656)
Divorced12.4%(25,852)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.3%
−6.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
61.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 61.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 15.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
12.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 12.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
14.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 13.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 74.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
26.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 24.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)34.3%(6,186)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)28.2%(5,071)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era22.4%(4,038)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.1%(737)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(122)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 18,009 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Raleigh, decade by decade

Raleigh population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990207,951$77,885$230,88740.6%56.6
2000276,093$84,911$277,62044.9%69.4
2010403,892$75,121$292,46146.6%77.3
2020467,665$84,503$323,49351.4%80.9
2024481,031$85,395$415,80054.0%81.2

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

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Neighborhoods in Raleigh

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RALEIGH VS
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Home value$380,100−9%
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RALEIGH VS
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RALEIGH VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Raleigh, North Carolina?

Raleigh, North Carolina has about 481,031 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Raleigh, North Carolina?

The typical household in Raleigh, North Carolina earns about $85,395 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Raleigh, North Carolina expensive?

In Raleigh, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $415,800, and the typical rent is about $1,572 a month.

How educated are people in Raleigh, North Carolina?

About 54.0% of adults age 25 and over in Raleigh, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Raleigh, North Carolina?

About 11.9% of people in Raleigh, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Raleigh, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Raleigh, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 273,080 residents, a change of about 131 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →