CENSUS TRACT
Census Tract 542.21
North Carolina · Wake County · 8,475 residents · 10.475 sq mi
Notable rankings
#20highest rent in NC$2,646#66highest population in NC#1341 US8,475#85highest household income in NC$158,722#90lowest low rent burden in NC6.9%TRACT SHAPE · Wake County, NC
The short version
Census Tract 542.21 is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $158,722. Population has grown 41% since 2020. 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2020, reaching $493,100. Households here earn about 50% more than the Wake County median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
58% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth
Total population
8,475
+41%since 2020
from 6,021 in 2020
2020 – 2024
Population density
809 / sq mi
+41%since 2020
from 575 / sq mi in 2020
US average: 281
Median age
39.2
−3%since 2020
from 40.3 in 2020
US average: 38.9
Population, 2020 – 2024
20248K
Section 02
Income & economy
Median household income
$158,722
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2020
from $108,816 in 2020
US average: $82,259
2020 – 2024
Per capita income
$54,515
+30%since 2020
from $41,819 in 2020
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
78.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 75.5% in 2020
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.7% in 2020
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.379
+12%since 2020
from 0.338 in 2020
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services8.1%
Information8%
Public administration5.4%
Retail trade5.3%
Finance & insurance4.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
Arts, entertainment, food3.3%
Wholesale trade2.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
Education & health services1.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
Manufacturing1%
Construction0%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
Median home value
$493,100
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2020
from $288,500 in 2020
US average: $376,019
2020 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,646
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
92.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 94.4% in 2020
7.9% rent
Vacancy rate
1.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 0.0% in 2020
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 9.2% in 2020
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
6.9%
−55.2 ptssince 2020
from 62.2% in 2020
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+17%since 2020
from 2.7 in 2020
2020 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Census Tract 542.21 on RentDataNow
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2020
White, non-Hispanic78.7%(4,740)
Black6.8%(411)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(316)
Asian1.5%(92)
Other7.7%(462)
Diversity Score45.8%(2,760)
2024
White, non-Hispanic68.1%(5,775)
Black21.6%(1,830)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(531)
Asian1%(85)
Other3%(254)
Diversity Score60.5%(5,129)
Diversity Score
61
+32%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
2020 – 2024
Section 05
Education
Bachelor's degree or higher
58.0%
+13.4 ptssince 2020
from 44.6% in 2020
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.3%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 93.3% in 2020
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
29.4%
+14.0 ptssince 2020
from 15.5% in 2020
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation
Average commute
31.8 min
−7%since 2020
from 34.3 min in 2020
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.5%
−10.2 ptssince 2020
from 77.7% in 2020
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 6.6% in 2020
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 0.0% in 2020
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
26.2%
+13.6 ptssince 2020
from 12.6% in 2020
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 0.2% in 2020
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 0.0% in 2020
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 0.0% in 2020
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment
Unemployment rate
2.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.9%
−3.3 ptssince 2020
from 74.2% in 2020
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
−6.0 ptssince 2020
from 19.8% in 2020
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
64.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 62.9% in 2020
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community
Male
48.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 45.6% in 2020
Female
51.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 54.4% in 2020
Foreign born
13.2%
+8.3 ptssince 2020
from 4.8% in 2020
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 9.8% in 2020
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
+4.0 ptssince 2020
from 8.7% in 2020
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 4.0% in 2020
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 95.0% in 2020
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.1%
−4.2 ptssince 2020
from 93.4% in 2020
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper
Places similar to Census Tract 542.21
Census Tract 166.12
Pop 7,494
Census Tract 166.11
Pop 10,262
Census Tract 135.01
Pop 7,023
Census Tract 148.11
Pop 6,528
Places similar to Census Tract 542.21Head to head
Compare Census Tract 542.21 to nearby tracts
CENSUS TRACT 542.21 VS
Census Tract 542.22
Income$158,787same
Home value$578,600+17%
Population7,763−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENSUS TRACT 542.21 VS
Census Tract 542.23
Income$92,813−42%
Home value$472,400−4%
Population3,968−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENSUS TRACT 542.21 VS
Census Tract 542.24
Income$68,986−57%
Home value$438,300−11%
Population5,413−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENSUS TRACT 542.21 VS
Census Tract 542.19
Income$136,219−14%
Home value$523,500+6%
Population4,600−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in this census tract?
this census tract has about 8,475 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in this census tract?
The typical household in this census tract earns about $158,722 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is this census tract expensive?
In this census tract, the median home is worth about $493,100, and the typical rent is about $2,646 a month.
How educated are people in this census tract?
About 58.0% of adults age 25 and over in this census tract hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in this census tract?
About 6.8% of people in this census tract live below the federal poverty line.
Keep going
Explore from here
Containing area
Wake CountyOther census tracts in Wake County
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 541.08DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024