Wake Forest, NC
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Wake Forest, North Carolina Summary

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. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Wake Forest:

  • The population in Wake Forest is 51,199.

  • The median home value in Wake Forest is $518,745.

  • The median income in Wake Forest is $120,777.

  • The cost of living in Wake Forest is 117 which is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Wake Forest is $1,458.

  • The unemployment rate in Wake Forest is 4.5%.

  • The poverty rate in Wake Forest is 2.9%.

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

Wake Forest SnackAbility

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

Wake Forest, NC Crime Report

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

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

Wake Forest, NC Cost Of Living

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 $518,745.

  • The median income in Wake Forest is $120,777.

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

Cost Of Living In Wake Forest Comparison Table

Living Expense Wake Forest North Carolina National Average
Overall 117 92 100
Services 98 100 100
Groceries 98 99 100
Health 114 106 100
Housing 157 86 100
Transportation 95 93 100
Utilities 100 95 100

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

Wake Forest, NC Photos

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

Rankings for Wake Forest in North Carolina

Locations Around Wake Forest

Map Of Wake Forest, NC

Best Places Around Wake Forest

1

Raleigh, NC
Population 470,763

2

Garner, NC
Population 32,543

3

Knightdale, NC
Population 19,532

4

Wendell, NC
Population 11,585

5

Butner, NC
Population 7,996

Wake Forest Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Wake Forest

The current population in Wake Forest is 51,199. The population has increased 91.1% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
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
65.6% (33,590)
African American
19.7% (10,104)
American Indian
0.1% (34)
Asian
2.4% (1,227)
Hawaiian
0.0% (7)
Other
0.3% (138)
Two Or More
4.1% (2,104)
Hispanic
7.8% (3,995)

Wake Forest is:

  • 65.6% White with 33,590 White residents.

  • 19.7% African American with 10,104 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 34 American Indian residents.

  • 2.4% Asian with 1,227 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 7 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.3% Other with 138 Other residents.

  • 4.1% Two Or More with 2,104 Two Or More residents.

  • 7.8% Hispanic with 3,995 Hispanic residents.

Race Wake Forest NC USA
White 65.6% 60.6% 58.2%
African American 19.7% 20.3% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.8% 0.5%
Asian 2.4% 3.1% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.3% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 4.1% 3.7% 3.9%
Hispanic 7.8% 10.9% 19.0%

Gender in Wake Forest

Female
51.5% (26,358)
Male
48.5% (24,840)
  • Wake Forest is 51.5% female with 26,358 female residents.

  • Wake Forest is 48.5% male with 24,840 male residents.

Gender Wake Forest NC USA
Female 51.5% 51.1% 50.5%
Male 48.5% 48.9% 49.5%

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

  • 3.0% 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.

  • 15.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed associate's degree.

  • 35.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed bachelor's degree.

  • 18.0% of adults in Wake Forest completed master's degree.

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

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

< 9th Grade
3.0% (1,535)
9-12th Grade
3.0% (1,535)
High School / GED
13.0% (6,655)
Some College
15.0% (7,679)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (4,607)
Bachelor's Degree
35.0% (17,919)
Master's Degree
18.0% (9,215)
Professional Degree
2.0% (1,023)
Doctorate Degree
2.0% (1,023)
Education Wake Forest NC USA
< 9th Grade 3.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 3.0% 6.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 13.0% 25.0% 26.0%
Some College 15.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 35.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 18.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Wake Forest, North Carolina

  • 1.3% of households in Wake Forest earn Less than $10,000.

  • 0.9% of households in Wake Forest earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 4.1% of households in Wake Forest earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 3.0% of households in Wake Forest earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 5.5% of households in Wake Forest earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 15.7% of households in Wake Forest earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 10.6% of households in Wake Forest earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 21.2% of households in Wake Forest earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 15.4% of households in Wake Forest earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 22.2% of households in Wake Forest earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
1.3% (66,782)
$10,000 to $14,999
0.9% (45,572)
$15,000 to $24,999
4.1% (207,799)
$25,000 to $34,999
3.0% (155,921)
$35,000 to $49,999
5.5% (283,754)
$50,000 to $74,999
15.7% (802,537)
$75,000 to $99,999
10.6% (545,151)
$100,000 to $149,999
21.2% (1,084,284)
$150,000 to $199,999
15.4% (790,212)
$200,000 or more
22.2% (1,137,882)
Income Wake Forest NC USA
Less than $10,000 1.3% 5.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 0.9% 3.9% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 4.1% 7.6% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 3.0% 7.8% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 5.5% 12.0% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 15.7% 17.0% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 10.6% 13.0% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 21.2% 16.5% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 15.4% 7.8% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 22.2% 9.5% 12.6%

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