Population 24,232 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in South
Household size in South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.08 | 2.63 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.05 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.21 | 2.70 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.90 | 2.64 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.18 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in South holds 2.90 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 3.08 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. South has the largest households of any Raleigh neighborhood.
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 South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2 | 35.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.5 | 36.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.9 | 38.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.6 | 38.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.4 | +2.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of South is 36.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 31.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southeast.
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 South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.9% | 10.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 11.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 23.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.4% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in South: 22.4% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 3.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Raleigh neighborhood has a higher share of single-parent households.
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 South
Renters in South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.2% | 32.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.0% | 33.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.5% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.0% | 33.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in South rent their homes (39.0%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 24.2% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the center. The renter share is up 5.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 8.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 7.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in South than nationally: 6.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Raleigh neighborhood has a lower vacancy rate.
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 South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1993 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1994 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1993 | 1994 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1999 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +9 | +7 | +6 |
South has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1994, versus 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in the Raleigh area overall, where the median home dates to 1999. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $841 | $923 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $936 | $1,018 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,099 | $1,207 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,555 | $1,666 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$715 | +$743 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South costs $1,555 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the Raleigh area overall ($1,666). Rent has climbed $715 a month since 2006–10, up 85%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 34.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 South
Bachelor's degrees in South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 41.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.3% | 43.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 47.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 51.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +9.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in South: 25.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. South has the lowest share of college graduates of any Raleigh neighborhood.
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 South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.3% | 89.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.0% | 90.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.1% | 92.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.2% | 93.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +3.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in South never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. South has the lowest share of high school graduates of any Raleigh neighborhood.
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 South
| Period | South | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 6.7% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South runs well above the national rate: 9.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only one other Raleigh neighborhood has higher unemployment. 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).
South compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South | 2.90 | 36.6 | 22.4% | 39.0% | 6.4% | 1994 | $1,555 | 25.1% | 82.2% | 9.6% |
| South Central | 2.23 | 37.8 | 15.6% | 58.8% | 8.2% | 1983 | $1,101 | 25.7% | 83.5% | 11.6% |
| Southeast | 2.84 | 35.7 | 17.1% | 36.6% | 5.0% | 1997 | $1,644 | 29.2% | 83.7% | 5.0% |
| Central | 1.61 | 33.3 | 6.6% | 80.3% | 12.9% | 1996 | $1,604 | 56.5% | 90.8% | 7.1% |
| East Raleigh | 2.55 | 36.0 | 23.7% | 51.7% | 8.7% | 1973 | $1,260 | 37.6% | 90.4% | 8.5% |
| North Central | 1.80 | 30.4 | 8.8% | 63.8% | 22.9% | 1993 | $1,554 | 63.2% | 89.5% | 6.1% |
| Southwest Raleigh | 2.34 | 30.8 | 9.6% | 64.4% | 12.7% | 1994 | $1,416 | 52.2% | 89.9% | 6.1% |
| Mordecai | 1.88 | 36.0 | 5.5% | 28.7% | 9.8% | 1977 | $1,791 | 78.6% | 97.8% | 2.6% |
| Hillsborough | 1.83 | 28.2 | 5.1% | 79.3% | 11.7% | 1984 | $1,365 | 72.1% | 95.7% | 4.2% |
| Five Points | 2.39 | 38.9 | 8.2% | 30.6% | 8.1% | 1963 | $1,773 | 85.2% | 98.7% | 3.4% |
| Wade | 2.17 | 32.5 | 4.4% | 40.0% | 12.3% | 1975 | $1,393 | 74.0% | 93.8% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Upper Vailsburg, Newark, NJ · Back of the Yards, Chicago, IL · Bassett, West Puente Valley, CA · Bay Terraces, San Diego, CA · Beach Haven, Jacksonville, FL · Belair, Augusta, GA · Bronxdale, Bronx, NY · Burns Park, Ann Arbor, MI · 19th Ward, Rochester, NY · Printers Row, Chicago, IL
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 South. 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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