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Wake Forest, NC
Full City Profile · North Carolina · Wake County County
3.9
/5.0
B+
Good
51,199
Population
2,575/sq mi density
$120,777
Median Income
$49,241 per capita
$435,000
Home Value
$507,778 Zillow
$1,458
Median Rent
24.7% income on rent
58°F
Avg Temperature
310 sunny days/yr
52
Violent Crime/100K
852 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.9 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$120,777 median income, 3.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.7 / 5.0
$435,000 home value, $1,458/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
52 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
57.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$120,777
61% above
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$49,241
26% above
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
14% below
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
1.7%
86% below
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Wake Forest vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Wake Forest’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$120,777
161%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$49,241
126%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$117,835
164%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$1,477
103%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$1,477
3% above US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
31 min
12% above US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
25.1%
65% above US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
68.5%
6% below US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
0.1%
99% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$128,428M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
68.5%
Public Transit
0.1%
Work From Home
25.1%
Other
6.3%
Average commute time
31 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
50,997
Restaurants
2,765
Healthcare
3,559
Retail
3,595
Manufacturing
605
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$117,835
64% above US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$5,347
53% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $120,777 |
| Per Capita Income | $49,241 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $117,835 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $1,477 |
| County GDP | $128,428M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% |
| Poverty Rate | 1.7% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.451 |
| Cost of Living Index | 94.3 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 31 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 68.5% |
| Public Transit | 0.1% |
| Work From Home | 25.1% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 50,997 |
| Restaurants | 2,765 |
| Healthcare | 3,559 |
| Retail | 3,595 |
| Manufacturing | 605 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $117,835 |
| Avg Property Tax | $5,347 |