Updated: 2025-10-25
Life in Wake County research summary. HomeSnacks has been researching the quality of life in Wake County over the past eight years using Census data, FBI crime data, cost of living data, and other primary sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Wake County:
The population in Wake County is 1,151,009.
The median home value in Wake County is $483,693.
The median income in Wake County is $101,763.
The median rent in Wake County is $1,508.
The unemployment rate in Wake County is 4.2%.
The poverty rate in Wake County is 7.9%.
The average high in Wake County is 76.6° and there are 114.7 inches of rainfall annually.
The average high in Wake County is 76.6°.
There are 88.3 nice days each year.
Expect an average of 114.7 inches of rain each year with 2.0 inches of snow.
There is an average of 5:18 hours of sun each day in Wake County.
| Stat | Wake County |
|---|---|
| Mean High | 76.6 |
| Nice Days | 88.3 |
| Rainfall | 114.7 |
| Snowfall | 2.0 |
| Sunny Hours | 5:18 |
The current population in Wake County is 1,151,009. The population has increased 4.1% from 2019.
| Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,112,883 | 1.9% |
| 2022 | 1,091,662 | 2.1% |
| 2021 | 1,069,079 | - |
Wake County is 51.0% female with 587,331 female residents.
Wake County is 49.0% male with 563,678 male residents.
| Gender | Wake County | NC | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 51.0% | 51.1% | 50.5% |
| Male | 49.0% | 48.9% | 49.5% |
Wake County is:
57.0% White with 656,508 White residents.
18.9% African American with 217,801 African American residents.
0.2% American Indian with 2,123 American Indian residents.
8.1% Asian with 92,960 Asian residents.
0.0% Hawaiian with 341 Hawaiian residents.
0.6% Other with 6,705 Other residents.
3.8% Two Or More with 43,467 Two Or More residents.
11.4% Hispanic with 131,104 Hispanic residents.
| Race | Wake County | NC | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 57.0% | 60.6% | 58.2% |
| African American | 18.9% | 20.3% | 12.0% |
| American Indian | 0.2% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 8.1% | 3.1% | 5.7% |
| Hawaiian | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Two Or More | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.9% |
| Hispanic | 11.4% | 10.9% | 19.0% |
3.2% of households in Wake County earn Less than $10,000.
2.0% of households in Wake County earn $10,000 to $14,999.
4.6% of households in Wake County earn $15,000 to $24,999.
4.9% of households in Wake County earn $25,000 to $34,999.
8.7% of households in Wake County earn $35,000 to $49,999.
14.0% of households in Wake County earn $50,000 to $74,999.
11.8% of households in Wake County earn $75,000 to $99,999.
19.1% of households in Wake County earn $100,000 to $149,999.
12.4% of households in Wake County earn $150,000 to $199,999.
19.3% of households in Wake County earn $200,000 or more.
| Income | Wake County | NC | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 3.2% | 5.0% | 4.9% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 2.0% | 3.9% | 3.6% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4.6% | 7.6% | 6.6% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 4.9% | 7.8% | 6.8% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 8.7% | 12.0% | 10.4% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 14.0% | 17.0% | 15.7% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 11.8% | 13.0% | 12.7% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 19.1% | 16.5% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 12.4% | 7.8% | 9.3% |
| $200,000 or more | 19.3% | 9.5% | 12.6% |
2.0% of adults in Wake County completed < 9th grade.
3.0% of adults in Wake County completed 9-12th grade.
15.0% of adults in Wake County completed high school / ged.
15.0% of adults in Wake County completed some college.
8.0% of adults in Wake County completed associate's degree.
34.0% of adults in Wake County completed bachelor's degree.
17.0% of adults in Wake County completed master's degree.
3.0% of adults in Wake County completed professional degree.
3.0% of adults in Wake County completed doctorate degree.
| Education | Wake County | NC | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 1% | 3% | 5% |
| 9-12th Grade | 3% | 6% | 6% |
| High School / GED | 15% | 25% | 26% |
| Some College | 15% | 20% | 19% |
| Associate's Degree | 8% | 10% | 9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 34% | 22% | 21% |
| Master's Degree | 17% | 9% | 10% |
| Professional Degree | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| Doctorate Degree | 3% | 2% | 2% |
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