The Raleigh metro area: Franklin, Johnston and Wake counties · Population 1,487,302 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in the Raleigh area
Household size in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, the Raleigh area sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in North Carolina overall, where it has 2.52 people. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of the Raleigh area is 38.4 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 35.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in the Raleigh area than nationally: 9.4%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. The Raleigh area has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five large metro areas.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Raleigh area
Renters in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in the Raleigh area rent their homes (33.4%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 28.0% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. The renter share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in the Raleigh area than nationally: 7.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.7 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1994 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1999 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in the Raleigh area is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1999, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only two have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $923 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,018 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,207 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,666 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$743 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Raleigh area pays $1,666 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $743 a month since 2006–10, up 81%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Raleigh area
Bachelor's degrees in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
The Raleigh area is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (51.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only five have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Raleigh area is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.4 points, mirroring the country. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only eight have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Raleigh area
| Period | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in the Raleigh area than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Raleigh area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh area (all) | 2.64 | 38.4 | 9.4% | 33.4% | 7.6% | 1999 | $1,666 | 51.6% | 93.3% | 4.1% |
| Cary | 2.66 | 41.9 | 7.2% | 33.8% | 6.0% | 1998 | $1,914 | 70.5% | 96.1% | 3.4% |
| Apex | 2.82 | 38.6 | 7.7% | 20.4% | 6.0% | 2007 | $2,170 | 70.5% | 97.5% | 2.8% |
| Wake Forest | 2.88 | 39.5 | 7.9% | 20.6% | 6.6% | 2006 | $1,591 | 57.7% | 96.7% | 3.0% |
| Clayton | 2.79 | 36.5 | 11.3% | 24.3% | 5.2% | 2005 | $1,673 | 38.1% | 94.9% | 3.3% |
| Garner | 2.65 | 39.3 | 9.8% | 28.3% | 6.8% | 2000 | $1,593 | 41.9% | 93.3% | 5.3% |
| Fuquay-Varina | 2.75 | 39.4 | 7.8% | 20.0% | 6.0% | 2004 | $1,594 | 46.1% | 94.6% | 3.1% |
| Holly Springs | 3.00 | 37.8 | 7.1% | 18.6% | 4.8% | 2008 | $2,273 | 65.7% | 95.9% | 3.5% |
| Morrisville | 2.47 | 34.9 | 6.0% | 55.3% | 8.9% | 2008 | $1,900 | 73.3% | 96.8% | 3.1% |
| Knightdale | 2.80 | 35.2 | 15.7% | 28.1% | 5.1% | 2004 | $1,699 | 40.5% | 89.7% | 4.7% |
| Henderson | 2.59 | 38.9 | 20.8% | 45.4% | 15.7% | 1979 | $923 | 16.3% | 85.3% | 9.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Hartford area · Salt Lake City area · Richmond area · Memphis area · Louisville area · Oklahoma City area · Milwaukee area · Jacksonville area · Providence area · Virginia Beach area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Raleigh area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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