City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Holly Springs, NC

Holly Springs's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

43,429
Residents
$132,435
Median income
$485,500
Median home
$1,161
Median rent (state)
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State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Holly Springs.

Place dossier plate

Sheet NC-HOLLY-SPRINGS-NC · Holly Springs, NC 43,429 pop · income 91st pct

POP-SMALL · INC-TOP · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-TOP · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-HIGH · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-SMALL 43,429
  • INC-TOP $132,435
  • COL-BELOW 94.3
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-TOP 91st
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Stansbury Park
  • HOME-HIGH $485,500
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Stansbury Park, UT ( $6 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Holly Springs

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Holly Springs on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Holly Springs on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 43,429.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $132,435. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Holly Springs - the verdict

Holly Springs ranks in the 91st percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

91st
percentile, household income
84th
percentile, home value
48th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Holly Springs, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 43,429 residents in Holly Springs, a small city within North Carolina. Households in Holly Springs report a median income of $132,435 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.7%. Home values in Holly Springs run a median of $485,500, and the median resident age is 36.3 years. 67.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 69.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 758 residential building permits were authorized in Holly Springs (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,161 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Workers in Holly Springs report an average commute of 19.8 minutes, with 63.2% driving alone and 30.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 66.7 out of 100 (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Holly Springs's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to housing and income to population change to schools and households to comparison shortlist; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Holly Springs, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares, matched public-school count, annual population history, local building permits. No matched row is reported here for within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in Holly Springs?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 63.2%. The reported mean trip to work is 19.8 minutes.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Compare commute patterns →

2. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Holly Springs?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.7 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 2.7%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 3

Is Holly Springs growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +8,718 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +21.0% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 758 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

See the national growth ranking →

4. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Holly Springs?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within North Carolina, the closest population matches are Hickory (43,747 residents, $63,361 income); Indian Trail (41,146 residents, $99,073 income); Wilson (47,740 residents, $47,294 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Danville, CA (43,426 residents); Woodbridge, VA (43,443 residents); Hagerstown, MD (43,490 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Other supported questions

Why these stay compact

These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.

Schools and households

What does the education layer cover for Holly Springs?

The city has a broader matched school footprint, but count alone does not describe performance, capacity, program availability, or attendance boundaries. This profile deliberately avoids converting it into an unsupported family-friendliness score.

The NCES join finds 9 public schools within the city match. 67.7% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher in the ACS estimate. These measures answer different questions: the school count describes local institutions, while adult attainment describes residents and cannot be used as a school-quality rating.

Poverty estimate
2.7%
Bachelor's degree+
67.7%
Matched public schools
9

NCES Common Core of Data school locations plus Census ACS resident characteristics.

See how the family ranking is built →

Population

43,429 residents

Small city (10k–49k)

Median Household Income

$132,435 /yr

Top-decile income · poverty 2.7% (Low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

City profile score · Holly Springs, NC

83/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Bachelor's+ share A+
67.7%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income A+
$132,435

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate A-
2.7%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Cost of living B-
94.3 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Holly Springs profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Bachelor's+ share, Household income, Poverty rate, Cost of living. Bachelor's+ shareHousehold incomePoverty rateCost of living 83 A-
Holly Springs profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Bachelor's+ share: 96/100 (A+) · 67.7%
  • Household income: 91/100 (A+) · $132,435
  • Poverty rate: 81/100 (A-) · 2.7%
  • Cost of living: 67/100 (B-) · 94.3 index

How does Holly Springs compare to other US cities?

Holly Springs measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 91% higher than other cities
Home value 84% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Holly Springs against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Holly Springs near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Holly Springs ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Holly Springs only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#20 of 700
97th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#42 of 708
94th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#597 of 746
20th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#23 of 746
97th percentile in North Carolina
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

91stIncome percentile
Gauge source note

91st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Holly Springs's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$485,500 16th percentile more affordable than 16% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Holly Springs $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Holly Springs's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.7×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#9,598 of 15,516
More affordable than 38% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#1,651 of 3,317
Small cities (10,000–49,999)

At 3.7×, Holly Springs sits in the moderate band: national rank #9,598 of 15,516 and #1,651 of 3,317small cities (10,000–49,999). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$132,435 Holly Springs, NC median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Holly Springs, NC Holly Springs, NC's median household income ($132,435) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Holly Springs, NC-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Holly Springs, NC median $132,435/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Holly Springs, NC median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Holly Springs, NC.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 67.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
43,429
Median Income
$132,435
Median Home Value
$485,500
Median Age
36.3
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Labor force participation
69.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
67.7%

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
40,000 residents45,000 residents50,000 residents55,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 41,570 residents 50,288 residents ▲ +21.0%
Holly Springs's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 41,570 residents
2021 43,477 residents
2022 45,813 residents
2023 46,407 residents
2024 48,508 residents
2025 50,288 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
758
housing units authorized
Single-Family
481
detached homes
Multifamily
277
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
17.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 755
2020 816
2021 1,056
2022 488
2023 918
2024 758

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.8 minutes
Drive Alone
63.2%
Carpool
3.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.6%
Work from Home
30.5%
Other
0.8%

Based on 21,199 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

North Carolina statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $215

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across North Carolina at $215 (electricity about $115 , water and sewer about $45 ).

These are North Carolina statewide averages, not a meter reading for Holly Springs. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

North Carolina's BEA cost-of-living index is 94.3 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Holly Springs is $1,161/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to North Carolina statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 66.7 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a North Carolina statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Holly Springs sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Holly Springs compares to similar-size North Carolina cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Holly Springs (this city) 43,429 $132,435
Hickory 43,747 $63,361
Indian Trail 41,146 $99,073
Wilson 47,740 $47,294
NCES CCD Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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