City · North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, city, mostly in Wake County (99.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Durham County, North Carolina. Raleigh had 506,306 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 467,665 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 481,031 (±391). GEOID 3755000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
506,306
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 467,665 · ACS 2020-2024: 481,031 ±391
Median household income
$85,395
±$2,159 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$415,800
±$7,720 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,572
±$23 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Raleigh and what county is it in?
Raleigh is a city mostly in Wake County (99.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Durham County, North Carolina. It covers 150.9 square miles of land, 3,098 residents per square mile in 2020.
Raleigh is in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 466,106 | 99.7% |
| Durham County | 1,559 | 0.3% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Raleigh, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 506,306 people lived in Raleigh on July 1, 2025, up 8.2% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 467,665 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 481,031 (±391).
| Measure | Raleigh | Wake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 481,031 ±391 | 1,178,653 | +16,546 |
| Households | 203,443 ±1,758 | 460,175 | +20,108 |
| Average household size | 2.27 ±0.02 | 2.51 | −0.15 |
| Housing units | 224,853 ±1,424 | 496,047 | +22,436 |
Raleigh's population since 2000
From 276,093 in 2000 to 506,306 in 2025: up 83.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Raleigh as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Raleigh?
The median resident of Raleigh is 34.7 years old; 19.8% are under 18 and 11.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.1%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 26.0%. 13.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Raleigh | Wake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 ±0.4 | 37.3 | +1.1 |
| Under 18 years | 19.8% ±0.4 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.9% ±0.3 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Male | 48.5% ±0.5 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.6% ±0.7 pts | 11.6% | +1.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 51.1% ±0.7 pts | 56.2% | −2.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 26.0% ±0.7 pts | 18.5% | −2.2 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.2% ±0.4 pts | 8.5% | +0.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±0.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.8% ±0.8 pts | 15.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 18.9% ±0.9 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.7% ±0.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| With a disability | 9.6% ±0.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.3% ±0.6 pts | 7.5% | −0.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.6% ±0.5 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 54.0% ±0.9 pts | 57.2% | +3.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 21.1% ±0.6 pts | 23.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.3% ±0.7 pts | 85.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.5% ±0.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Raleigh earn?
Half of Raleigh's 203,443 households earn less than $85,395 a year (±$2,159), against $105,768 in Wake County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $82,784 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Raleigh | Wake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,395 ±$2,159 | $105,768 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $122,525 ±$2,802 | $139,586 | – |
| Per capita income | $52,897 ±$1,028 | $55,448 | +$5,523 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.9% ±0.8 pts | 8.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.0% ±1.9 pts | 9.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.4% ±0.7 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.1% ±0.3 pts | 98.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.7% ±0.5 pts | 95.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Raleigh?
Owners occupy 50.7% of Raleigh's occupied homes and renters 49.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $415,800 by its owner (±$7,720). The median renter pays $1,572 a month including utilities, and 41.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Raleigh | Wake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $415,800 ±$7,720 | $461,300 | +$110,219 |
| Median gross rent | $1,572 ±$23 | $1,623 | +$192 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.1% ±2.0 pts | 38.1% | +4.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,910 ±$36 | $2,113 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 50.7% ±1.1 pts | 64.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 49.3% ±1.1 pts | 35.9% | – |
| Housing units | 224,853 ±1,424 | 496,047 | +22,436 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.6% ±0.9 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 43.7% ±0.9 pts | 58.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.0% ±0.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 18.3% ±0.7 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.5% ±0.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.0% ±0.5 pts | 4.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Raleigh building?
Builders took permits for 4,738 new housing units in Raleigh in 2025 (1,343 in single-family houses), 9.4 per 1,000 residents against 7.7 across North Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Raleigh work and get to work?
62.3% of Raleigh's workers drive alone and 25.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Raleigh | Wake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.9% ±0.7 pts | 69.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% ±0.4 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.3% ±1.0 pts | 61.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.7% ±0.6 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±0.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 25.8% ±0.9 pts | 29.1% | +17.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.0 min ±0.4 | 25.1 min | −1.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Raleigh?
100 census tracts lie mostly in Raleigh, and 23 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $29,750 (Tract 509) to $201,906 (Tract 516).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 540.23Wake County | 9,308 | $81,191 |
| Tract 521.01Wake County | 8,803 | $53,237 |
| Tract 541.21Wake County | 10,170 | $108,765 |
| Tract 541.06Wake County | 9,648 | $72,118 |
| Tract 525.04Wake County | 6,802 | $85,233 |
| Tract 528.11Wake County | 10,695 | $73,473 |
| Tract 541.16Wake County | 8,919 | $82,344 |
| Tract 521.02Wake County | 7,617 | $53,542 |
| Tract 527.04Wake County | 6,438 | $46,127 |
| Tract 540.08Wake County | 6,748 | $64,432 |
| Tract 528.10Wake County | 8,421 | $89,860 |
| Tract 527.01Wake County | 6,433 | $61,372 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Raleigh) · Census block assignment files
How does Raleigh compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Raleigh is the 39th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Raleigh ranks 111th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 101st | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 5th | 443 |
| Median household income | 111th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 61st | 443 |
| Median home value | 72nd | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 52nd | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 218th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52nd | 421 |
| Median age | 381st | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 374th | 443 |
| Work from home | 41st | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 264th | 439 |
Raleigh's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Raleigh with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Raleigh?
1 of the 57 figures for Raleigh on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Raleigh are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Raleigh.