Wake Forest, NC
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around Wake Forest to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Life in Wake Forest research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Wake Forest over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Here's a snapshot of Wake Forest based on the most recently available data.

52,844 Population
$512,160 Median home value
$123,802 Median income
117 Cost of living +17% vs US
$1,596 Median rent
4.0% Unemployment
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Wake Forest SnackAbility

9
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 8/10
Housing 8.5/10
Affordability 8/10
Diversity 8.5/10
Safety 8/10
Amenities 9/10
Education 9.5/10
Commute 5/10

Crime in Wake Forest summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Wake Forest. Key points include:

  • There were 811 total crimes in Wake Forest in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Wake Forest is 1,451.5 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Wake Forest is 146.8 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Wake Forest is 1,304.8 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Wake Forest is -31.51% below the national average.

811
Total Crimes
-31.51%
Below National Average
Wake Forest
US

Crime In Wake Forest Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Wake Forest
/ 100k People
North Carolina
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 811 1,451.5 2,343.9 2,119.2
Violent Crime 82 146.8 375.8 359.0
Murder 2 3.6 7.5 5.0
Robbery 5 8.9 50.2 61.0
Aggravated Assault 72 128.9 290.1 256.0
Property Crime 729 1,304.8 1,968.1 1,760.0
Burglary 58 103.8 323.9 229.0
Larceny 624 1,116.8 1,390.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 47 84.1 254.1 259.0
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Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

Cost of living in Wake Forest summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Wake Forest. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around North Carolina. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Wake Forest is 117 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Wake Forest is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Wake Forest is $512,160.

  • The median income in Wake Forest is $123,802.

117
Wake Forest's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average
Wake Forest
US

Cost Of Living In Wake Forest Comparison Table

Living Expense Wake Forest North Carolina National Average
Overall 117 95 100
Services 99 98 100
Groceries 101 98 100
Health 160 89 100
Housing 100 100 100
Transportation 99 97 100
Utilities 103 101 100
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Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100

Wake Forest, NC Weather

  • The average high in Wake Forest is 70.8° and the average low is 47.9°.

  • There are 74.8 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 45.0 inches of precipitation each year with 3.1 inches of snow.

StatWake Forest
Average Annual High70.8
Average Annual Low47.9
Annual Precipitation Days74.8
Average Annual Precipitation45.0
Average Annual Snowfall3.1
70.8°
Average High
74.8
Days of Rain

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

Wake Forest, NC Photos

Sebts Campus
Source: Wikipedia User Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) | GFDL

Rankings & Articles For Wake Forest

Locations Around Wake Forest

Map Of Wake Forest, NC

Best Places Around Wake Forest

1

Raleigh, NC
Population 481,031

$433,996-15% vs Wake Forest
2

Garner, NC
Population 34,473

$384,100-25% vs Wake Forest
3

Knightdale, NC
Population 20,214

$370,204-28% vs Wake Forest
4

Wendell, NC
Population 13,064

$369,603-28% vs Wake Forest
5

Butner, NC
Population 8,065

$273,630-47% vs Wake Forest

Wake Forest Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Wake Forest

The current population in Wake Forest is 52,844. The population has increased 97.3% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 52,844 3.2%
2023 51,199 6.6%
2022 48,047 3.6%
2021 46,387 5.3%
2020 44,068 4.6%
2019 42,111 4.9%
2018 40,159 4.4%
2017 38,473 5.5%
2016 36,472 4.8%
2015 34,786 4.4%
2014 33,319 5.3%
2013 31,632 5.8%
2012 29,889 6.2%
2011 28,132 5.0%
2010 26,790 -

Race / Ethnicity in Wake Forest

White 64.6% (34,160)
African American 19.5% (10,323)
American Indian 0.0% (21)
Asian 2.9% (1,554)
Hawaiian 0.0% (5)
Other 0.3% (157)
Two Or More 3.6% (1,880)
Hispanic 9.0% (4,744)
See the full breakdown

Wake Forest is:

  • 64.6% White with 34,160 White residents.

  • 19.5% African American with 10,323 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 21 American Indian residents.

  • 2.9% Asian with 1,554 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 5 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.3% Other with 157 Other residents.

  • 3.6% Two Or More with 1,880 Two Or More residents.

  • 9.0% Hispanic with 4,744 Hispanic residents.

Race Wake Forest NC USA
White 64.6% 60.0% 57.4%
African American 19.5% 20.0% 11.9%
American Indian 0.0% 0.8% 0.5%
Asian 2.9% 3.3% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.3% 0.5% 0.6%
Two Or More 3.6% 4.1% 4.3%
Hispanic 9.0% 11.3% 19.3%

Gender in Wake Forest

Female 51.8% (27,347)
Male 48.2% (25,497)
See the full breakdown
  • Wake Forest is 51.8% female with 27,347 female residents.

  • Wake Forest is 48.2% male with 25,497 male residents.

Gender Wake Forest NC USA
Female 51.8% 51.1% 50.5%
Male 48.2% 48.9% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Wake Forest for adults over 25

< 9th Grade -0.0% (0)
9-12th Grade 3.0% (1,585)
High School / GED 13.0% (6,869)
Some College 16.0% (8,455)
Associate's Degree 8.0% (4,227)
Bachelor's Degree 36.0% (19,023)
Master's Degree 19.0% (10,040)
Professional Degree 3.0% (1,585)
Doctorate Degree 2.0% (1,056)
See the full breakdown
  • -0.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed < 9th grade.

  • 3.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed 9-12th grade.

  • 13.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed high school / ged.

  • 16.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed some college.

  • 8.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed associate's degree.

  • 36.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed bachelor's degree.

  • 19.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed master's degree.

  • 3.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed professional degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed doctorate degree.

Education Wake Forest NC USA
< 9th Grade -0.0% 3.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 3.0% 6.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 13.0% 25.0% 26.0%
Some College 16.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 8.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 36.0% 22.0% 22.0%
Master's Degree 19.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 3.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Wake Forest, North Carolina

Less than $10,000 2.6% (138,405)
$10,000 to $14,999 0.8% (43,933)
$15,000 to $24,999 3.3% (172,002)
$25,000 to $34,999 4.1% (214,787)
$35,000 to $49,999 4.6% (240,630)
$50,000 to $74,999 14.4% (758,647)
$75,000 to $99,999 10.9% (574,010)
$100,000 to $149,999 19.6% (1,034,310)
$150,000 to $199,999 13.3% (700,356)
$200,000 or more 26.6% (1,407,316)
See the full breakdown
  • 2.6% of households in Wake Forest earn Less than $10,000.

  • 0.8% of households in Wake Forest earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 3.3% of households in Wake Forest earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 4.1% of households in Wake Forest earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 4.6% of households in Wake Forest earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 14.4% of households in Wake Forest earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 10.9% of households in Wake Forest earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 19.6% of households in Wake Forest earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 13.3% of households in Wake Forest earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 26.6% of households in Wake Forest earn $200,000 or more.

Income Wake Forest NC USA
Less than $10,000 2.6% 5.0% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 0.8% 3.7% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 3.3% 7.1% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 4.1% 7.4% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 4.6% 11.7% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 14.4% 16.8% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 10.9% 13.0% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 19.6% 16.6% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 13.3% 8.3% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 26.6% 10.4% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)