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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Wake Forest

North Carolina · 12,588 residents · 19.6 sq mi
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The short version

With 12,588 people, Wake Forest is a city in North Carolina. The population has more than doubled since 1990, adding 6,819 people. This is an unusually credentialed place: 43% of adults have a four-year degree. That is roughly 33% ahead of the North Carolina median. This skews young, with a median age of 31.5. The median household earns $52,307, about 23% above the national median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 31.5
US median: 35.2
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,588
+118%since 1990
from 5,769 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
31.5
−2%since 1990
from 32.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
19.6 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K15K29K43K58K19902000201020202024Wake Forest
202453K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59.8%(1,229)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 98.8%(1,110)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.4%(932)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 195.2%(655)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.9%(737)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3420%(2,521)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4419.3%(2,424)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5410.8%(1,358)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 645%(628)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 743.7%(470)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 842.8%(350)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.4%(174)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,307
+43%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $27,776 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,746
+83%since 1990
from $12,399 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
8.8%
−0.5 ptssince 1990
from 9.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$142,100
+41%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $76,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$652
+33%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $372 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
63.1%
+7.8 ptssince 1990
from 55.3% in 1990
36.9% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic75.7%(4,370)
Black23.6%(1,360)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(51)
Asian0.1%(7)
2000
White, non-Hispanic78.6%(9,897)
Black15.7%(1,978)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(262)
Asian2%(255)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican2.4%(1,288)
Mexican1.8%(963)
Colombian0.8%(441)
Salvadoran0.8%(415)
Venezuelan0.8%(402)
Cuban0.7%(391)
Spaniard0.4%(220)
Nicaraguan0.2%(86)
Argentine0.1%(65)
Ecuadorian0.1%(56)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Dominican0.1%(37)
Peruvian0%(15)
Asian origin
Korean0.7%(349)
Nepalese0.4%(186)
Vietnamese0.3%(147)
Chinese0.2%(94)
Thai0.1%(73)
Bangladeshi0.1%(53)
Pakistani0.1%(45)
Filipino0.1%(37)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English17%(8,997)
German10.7%(5,628)
Irish10.3%(5,454)
Italian5.9%(3,134)
American4.3%(2,283)
Scottish3.6%(1,909)
Polish2.5%(1,313)
West Indian1.9%(1,018)
French1.7%(920)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(729)
Ukrainian1.2%(628)
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian1.1%(587)
Haitian1%(539)
Dutch1%(512)
Welsh0.8%(399)
Swedish0.8%(397)
Russian0.7%(389)
Jamaican0.7%(370)
Hungarian0.5%(277)
Arab0.5%(273)
Canadian0.4%(224)
British0.4%(212)
Nigerian0.3%(151)
Brazilian0.3%(150)
Romanian0.3%(142)
Greek0.2%(112)
Portuguese0.2%(109)
Czech0.2%(101)
Lithuanian0.2%(97)
Swiss0.2%(90)
Jordanian0.2%(89)
Slovak0.2%(87)
Somali0.2%(83)
Egyptian0.1%(75)
Lebanese0.1%(72)
Croatian0.1%(68)
Austrian0.1%(62)
Danish0.1%(47)
Kenyan0.1%(30)
Ethiopian0%(24)
Serbian0%(19)
Finnish0%(18)
Syrian0%(16)
Slovene0%(16)
Iranian0%(15)
Belgian0%(10)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.0%
+12.2 ptssince 1990
from 30.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
89.3%
+11.0 ptssince 1990
from 78.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
10.7%
+3.3 ptssince 1990
from 7.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.0 min
−2%since 1990
from 22.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.4%(1,035)
Married68.8%(3,037)
Widowed1.5%(66)
Divorced6.3%(277)
Women 15+
Never married19.8%(973)
Married64.3%(3,163)
Widowed7%(346)
Divorced8.8%(435)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
4.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2013
from 7.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
67.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 68.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2020
from 18.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
13.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 11.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
10.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 10.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
82.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2020
from 85.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
23.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 21.2% 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)28.1%(836)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)37.5%(1,117)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era25.9%(771)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.7%(81)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,975 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
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Wake Forest to nearby cities

WAKE FOREST VS
Rolesville
Income$149,565+186%
Home value$535,000+276%
Population12,839−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE FOREST VS
Raleigh
Income$85,395+63%
Home value$415,800+193%
Population506,306+771%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE FOREST VS
Knightdale
Income$103,220+97%
Home value$380,100+167%
Population23,144−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE FOREST VS
Zebulon
Income$79,112+51%
Home value$320,700+126%
Population11,933−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

Wake Forest, North Carolina has about 12,588 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

The typical household in Wake Forest, North Carolina earns about $52,307 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wake Forest, North Carolina expensive?

In Wake Forest, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $142,100, and the typical rent is about $652 a month.

How educated are people in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

About 43.0% of adults age 25 and over in Wake Forest, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

About 8.8% of people in Wake Forest, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wake Forest, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Wake Forest, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,819 residents, a change of about 118 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 →