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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Wake County

North Carolina · 1,129,410 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 $83,567. The county has grown rapidly, with population up 80% since 2000. 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $301,600. Households here earn about 48% more than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.3
US median: 38.8
More educated
54% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,129,410
+80%since 2000
from 627,846 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,353 / sq mi
+80%since 2000
from 752 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
36.3
+10%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
348K574K801K1.0M1.3M1990201020202024Wake County
20241.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$83,567
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,988 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,721
+58%since 2000
from $27,004 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
55.0%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 42.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
8.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information9.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services8.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade8.4%
US avg: 10%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food3%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$301,600
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $156,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,204
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $727 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
61.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 65.9% in 2000
38.4% rent
Afford Score
3.6
+27%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wake County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic69.9%(439,160)
Black19.5%(122,648)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(33,985)
Asian3.4%(21,183)
Other0%
Diversity Score56.2%(352,864)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic57.1%(645,020)
Black18.1%(204,535)
Hispanic / Latino11.4%(128,241)
Asian8.6%(96,665)
Other3.6%(40,275)
Diversity Score76.2%(860,415)
Segregation Score37.7%(426,070)
Diversity Score
76
+36%since 2000
from 56 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
54.0%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 43.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.4%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 89.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
20.5%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.6 min
+60%since 2000
from 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.7%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
70.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 72.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
53.4%
−17.8 ptssince 2009
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
51.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
13.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.5%
−78.2 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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$82,316−1%
Home value$389,400+29%
Population347,240−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE COUNTY VS
Johnston County
Income$83,384same
Home value$305,600+1%
Population256,448−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income$74,240−11%
Home value$284,300−6%
Population82,037−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAKE COUNTY VS
Harnett County
Income$71,287−15%
Home value$246,200−18%
Population150,137−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wake County, North Carolina?

Wake County, North Carolina has about 1,129,410 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wake County, North Carolina earns about $83,567 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 $301,600, and the typical rent is about $1,204 a month.

How educated are people in Wake County, North Carolina?

About 54.0% 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 8.5% 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 706,030 residents, a change of about 167 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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