United States › Raleigh METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS
Raleigh Metro Raleigh-Cary, NC · 3 counties · 797,071 residents · 2,118 sq mi
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The short version
With 797,071 people, Raleigh is a metro area. The population is up 47% since 1990. 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 24% nationally. Median household income runs $51,878, well clear of the $42,589 US median. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $142,971. Poverty is uncommon here, at 8.9% of people across the metro.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 33.3
US median: 35.2
More educated
38% 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 376 / sq mi
+47%since 1990
from 255 / sq mi in 1990
from 32.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
446K 730K 1.0M 1.3M 1.6M 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Raleigh Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $51,878
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $33,809 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $15,971 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 9.7% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$142,971
+23%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $88,281 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$678
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $445 in 1990
US average: $602
from 63.3% in 1990
32.3% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 76.4%(413,655)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(6,063)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 70.4%(561,365)
Hispanic / Latino 5.7%(45,525)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 11 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data from 29.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 80.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 9.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.2 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.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 30.3%(92,586)
Women 15+
Never married 24.7%(78,592)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 14.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 63.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 13.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 12.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 75.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 25.2% 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) 31.6%(21,729)
Gulf War (1990s) 30.7%(21,123)
Share of the 68,837 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.
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In this metro
Largest cities RaleighCENTRAL 506,306 CaryCENTRAL 183,582 Apex 80,419 Wake Forest 58,147 Holly Springs 50,288 Garner 41,562 Clayton 32,633 Knightdale 23,144 Wendell 19,687 Smithfield 13,114 Rolesville 12,839 Zebulon 11,933 Selma 7,406 Archer Lodge 5,649 Louisburg 3,480 Lake Royale 3,168 Wilson's Mills 2,987 Four Oaks 2,978 Franklinton 2,890 Youngsville 2,461 Pine Level 2,405 Kenly 1,722 Princeton 1,544 Micro 537 Bunn 391 Centerville 202 What's inside
3 component counties Drill deeper
Metros similar to Raleigh Head to head
Compare Raleigh side by side RALEIGH VS
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Home value $519,848 +264%
Population 1,308,377 −18%
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RALEIGH VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Raleigh-Cary, NC? Raleigh-Cary, NC has about 797,071 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Raleigh-Cary, NC? The typical household in Raleigh-Cary, NC earns about $51,878 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 $142,971, and the typical rent is about $678 a month.
How educated are people in Raleigh-Cary, NC? About 37.8% 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 8.9% 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 255,971 residents, a change of about 47 percent over that period.
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