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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Wake County

North Carolina · 627,846 residents · 834.611 sq mi
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The short version

Wake County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $54,988. Population has grown 48% since 1990. 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $156,200. Households here earn about 40% more than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.9
US median: 35.2
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
627,846
+48%since 1990
from 423,380 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
752 / sq mi
+48%since 1990
from 507 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
32.9
+4%since 1990
from 31.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
348K574K801K1.0M1.3M1990201020202024Wake County
20241.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,988
+15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $36,222 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,004
+57%since 1990
from $17,195 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
7.8%
−0.6 ptssince 1990
from 8.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$156,200
+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $96,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$727
+15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $480 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
65.9%
+4.9 ptssince 1990
from 60.9% in 1990
34.1% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+6%since 1990
from 2.7 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wake County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic76.7%(324,545)
Black20.7%(87,850)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(4,894)
Asian2%(8,284)
Diversity Score47.9%(202,758)
2000
White, non-Hispanic69.9%(439,160)
Black19.5%(122,648)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(33,985)
Asian3.4%(21,183)
Diversity Score56.2%(352,864)
Diversity Score
56
+17%since 1990
from 48 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.9%
+8.6 ptssince 1990
from 35.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
89.3%
+4.0 ptssince 1990
from 85.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
14.3%
+3.4 ptssince 1990
from 10.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.0 min
−16%since 1990
from 19.2 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.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Wake County

Hennepin County
Pop 1,284,784
Oakland County
Pop 1,288,337
Salt Lake County
Pop 1,220,916
Travis County
Pop 1,389,670
Places similar to Wake County
Head to head

Compare Wake County to nearby counties

WAKE COUNTY VS
Durham County
Income$82,316+50%
Home value$389,400+149%
Population347,240−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE COUNTY VS
Johnston County
Income$83,384+52%
Home value$305,600+96%
Population256,448−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income$74,240+35%
Home value$284,300+82%
Population82,037−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE COUNTY VS
Harnett County
Income$71,287+30%
Home value$246,200+58%
Population150,137−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wake County, North Carolina?

Wake County, North Carolina has about 627,846 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Wake County, North Carolina earns about $54,988 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wake County, North Carolina expensive?

In Wake County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $156,200, and the typical rent is about $727 a month.

How educated are people in Wake County, North Carolina?

About 43.9% of adults age 25 and over in Wake County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 7.8% of people in Wake County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wake County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Wake County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 204,466 residents, a change of about 48 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

230 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 534.28Census Tract 532.08Census Tract 534.11Census Tract 536.17Census Tract 531.09Census Tract 544.02Census Tract 528.11Census Tract 541.21Census Tract 530.09Census Tract 542.18Census Tract 541.06Census Tract 532.03Census Tract 540.23Census Tract 531.14Census Tract 541.15Census Tract 541.08Census Tract 541.16Census Tract 521.01Census Tract 534.26Census Tract 542.21
32 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 27587ZIP 27610ZIP 27519ZIP 27616ZIP 27529ZIP 27603ZIP 27502ZIP 27540ZIP 27513ZIP 27615ZIP 27606ZIP 27613ZIP 27604ZIP 27612ZIP 27560ZIP 27609ZIP 27614ZIP 27545ZIP 27511ZIP 27597ZIP 27591ZIP 27607ZIP 27539ZIP 27592ZIP 27617ZIP 27518ZIP 27608ZIP 27601ZIP 27571ZIP 27605
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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