County · North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina. Wake County had 1,257,235 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 11.3% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 15 places (15 cities, villages and boroughs) and 230 census tracts. GEOID 37183.
Wake County is one of the 3 counties of the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,257,235
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,129,410 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,178,653
Median household income
$105,768
±$1,626 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$461,300
±$3,848 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,623
±$16 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
How many people live in Wake County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,129,410 residents in Wake County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,257,235 for July 1, 2025, up 11.3% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,178,653 over 835 square miles of land.
| Measure | Wake County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,178,653 | 10,730,404 | +109,574 |
| Households | 460,175±2,096 | 4,282,345 | +60,003 |
| Average household size | 2.51±0.01 | 2.44 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 496,047±204 | 4,895,668 | +64,495 |
Wake County's population since 2000
From 627,846 in 2000 to 1,257,235 in 2025: up 100.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Wake County?
Wake County holds 15 places: 15 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Raleigh with 506,306 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Raleigh | 467,665 | $85,395 |
|---|---|---|
| Cary | 174,721 | $134,905 |
| Apex | 58,780 | $144,135 |
| Wake Forest | 47,601 | $123,802 |
| Holly Springs | 41,239 | $135,578 |
| Fuquay-Varina | 34,152 | $115,497 |
| Garner | 31,159 | $78,756 |
| Morrisville | 29,630 | $125,396 |
| Knightdale | 19,435 | $103,220 |
| Wendell | 9,793 | $95,787 |
| Rolesville | 9,475 | $149,565 |
| Zebulon | 6,903 | $79,112 |
| Angier | 5,265 | $52,214 |
| Durham | 283,506 | $81,619 |
| Clayton | 26,307 | $78,822 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wake County?
The median resident of Wake County is 37.3 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 12.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 56.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 18.5%. 15.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wake County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3±0.1 | 39.1 | +1.1 |
| Under 18 years | 23.0%±0.1 pts | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.9%±0.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.6% | 11.3% | +1.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 56.2%±0.2 pts | 60.0% | −3.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 18.5%±0.2 pts | 20.0% | −1.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.5%±0.1 pts | 3.3% | +1.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4%±0.2 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.3%±0.4 pts | 9.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.4%±0.5 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6%±0.2 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 9.1%±0.2 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5%±0.3 pts | 9.9% | −0.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.0%±0.3 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 57.2%±0.6 pts | 35.7% | +4.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 23.4%±0.4 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.4%±0.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 Wake County earn?
Half of Wake County's 460,175 households earn less than $105,768 a year (±$1,626), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $99,183 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $6,585 after inflation. 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wake County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $105,768±$1,626 | $72,388 | +$6,585 |
| Mean household income | $139,586±$1,644 | $101,208 | – |
| Per capita income | $55,448±$627 | $41,385 | +$5,012 |
| People below the poverty line | 8.1%±0.4 pts | 13.0% | −1.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.6%±1.0 pts | 17.7% | −2.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.2%±0.4 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.3%±0.4 pts | 90.1% | – |
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 Wake County?
Owners occupy 64.1% of Wake County's occupied homes and renters 35.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $461,300 by its owner (±$3,848). The median renter pays $1,623 a month including utilities, and 38.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wake County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $461,300±$3,848 | $288,900 | +$114,614 |
| Median gross rent | $1,623±$16 | $1,228 | +$208 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.1%±1.4 pts | 39.6% | +4.1 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,113±$24 | $1,631 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.1%±0.7 pts | 66.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 496,047±204 | 4,895,668 | +64,495 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.9%±0.7 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.3%±0.5 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.7%±0.2 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.8%±0.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.8%±0.2 pts | 4.9% | – |
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 Wake County building?
Builders took permits for 13,806 new housing units across Wake County in 2025 (8,392 single-family), 11.0 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Wake County get to work?
61.4% of Wake County's workers drive alone and 29.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Wake County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.8%±0.4 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1%±0.3 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 61.4%±0.6 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.9%±0.4 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.2%±0.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 29.1%±0.6 pts | 16.3% | +19.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.1 min±0.3 | 25.1 min | no clear change |
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 are Wake County's census tracts?
Wake County is divided into 230 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $29,750 (Tract 509) to $250,000 or more (Tract 538.03).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Wake County compare with North Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 1st of 100 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 11th of 100 |
| Residents per square mile | 2nd of 100 |
| Median household income | 1st of 100 |
| Median home value | 1st of 100 |
| Median gross rent | 2nd of 100 |
| Poverty rate | 95th of 100 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2nd of 100 |
| Median age | 89th of 100 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Wake County 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' school search.