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METRO AREA

Raleigh Metro

Raleigh-Cary, NC · 3 counties · 1,595,720 residents (2025 est.) · 2,118.432 sq mi
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#3Most work-from-homeof 92526.0%#17Fastest growingof 918+25.1%#23Most educatedof 92551.2%#27Most densely populatedof 925753
The short version

Raleigh is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $100,665. The metro area has grown rapidly, with population up 87% since 2000. 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $427,923. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,487,302
+87%since 2000
from 797,071 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
702 / sq mi
+87%since 2000
from 376 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.6
+13%since 2000
from 33.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,595,720 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
446K730K1.0M1.3M1.6M1990201020202024Raleigh
20241.5M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$100,665
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,878 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$51,874
+106%since 2000
from $25,187 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
62.1%
+22.4 ptssince 2009
from 39.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+3%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$427,923
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $142,971 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,521
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $678 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 67.7% in 2000
33.3% rent
Vacancy rate
7.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.2%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.3
+54%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
90
RELATED:See current rent listings in Raleigh on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.4%(561,365)
Black19.5%(155,743)
Hispanic / Latino5.7%(45,525)
Asian2.7%(21,675)
Other0%
Diversity Score55.5%(442,518)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic57.2%(851,297)
Black18.4%(273,666)
Hispanic / Latino12.4%(183,839)
Asian6.9%(103,181)
Other5.1%(75,319)
Diversity Score77%(1,144,986)
Segregation Score32.4%(482,467)
Diversity Score
77
+39%since 2000
from 56 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
−10%since 2020
from 36 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.2%
+13.4 ptssince 2000
from 37.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.2%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 86.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
20.3%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+51%since 2000
from 17.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
64.4%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.4%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
26.0%
+20.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 71.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
54.3%
−14.6 ptssince 2009
from 68.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
51.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
13.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 8.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.0%
−77.9 ptssince 2013
from 85.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.1%
+8.5 ptssince 2017
from 85.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
81.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2016
from 84.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 8.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

RaleighCENTRAL506,306CaryCENTRAL183,582
What's inside

3 component counties

Wake CountyCENTRAL1,257,235Johnston County256,448Franklin CountyCENTRAL82,037
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Raleigh

Salt Lake City
Pop 1,308,377
Providence
Pop 1,708,161
Richmond
Pop 1,389,338
Hartford
Pop 1,171,426
Places similar to Raleigh
Head to head

Compare Raleigh side by side

RALEIGH VS
Salt Lake City
Income$98,059−3%
Home value$519,848+21%
Population1,308,377−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RALEIGH VS
Providence
Income$87,204−13%
Home value$426,358same
Population1,708,161+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RALEIGH VS
Richmond
Income$89,669−11%
Home value$351,202−18%
Population1,389,338−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RALEIGH VS
Hartford
Income$95,076−6%
Home value$332,239−22%
Population1,171,426−27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Raleigh-Cary, NC?

Raleigh-Cary, NC has about 1,487,302 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Raleigh-Cary, NC?

The typical household in Raleigh-Cary, NC earns about $100,665 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Raleigh-Cary, NC expensive?

In Raleigh-Cary, NC, the median home is worth about $427,923, and the typical rent is about $1,521 a month.

How educated are people in Raleigh-Cary, NC?

About 51.2% of adults age 25 and over in Raleigh-Cary, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Raleigh-Cary, NC?

About 8.7% of people in Raleigh-Cary, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Raleigh-Cary, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Raleigh-Cary, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 946,202 residents, a change of about 175 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →