At a Glance
Median Income
$120,777
$49,241 per capita
Home Value
$435,000
Zillow: $507,778
Median Rent
$1,458/mo
24.7% of income on rent
Violent Crime
52/100K
852/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
57.8%
95.8% high school+
Unemployment
3.1%
1.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
28.9%
9.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
58°F
310 sunny days/yr
How Wake Forest Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Wake Forest's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Wake Forest a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Wake Forest residents earn a median household income of $120,777 , which is 61% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $49,241. The unemployment rate stands at 3.1% (14% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 1.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 50,997 business establishments, including 2,765 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Wake Forest is $435,000 , 54% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $507,778. Median rent is $1,458/month, with 24.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 2006.
Safety & Crime
Wake Forest reports 52 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 86% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 852/100K. The murder rate is 2.2/100K.
Education
57.8% of adults in Wake Forest hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(72% above the national average).
95.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Wake Forest has an average annual temperature of 58°F (15°C).
Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population51,199
Median Age38.8 yrs
Density2,575/mi²
Male / Female49% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans8.2%
Economy
A+
Median Income$120,777
Per Capita$49,241
Unemployment3.1%
Poverty1.7%
County GDP$128,428M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,477
Housing
A+
Home Value$435,000
Rent$1,458
Ownership74.7%
Zillow$507,778
Housing Units17,754
Rent Burden24.7%
Crime
F
Violent52/100K
Property852/100K
Murder2.2/100K
Assault35/100K
Burglary72/100K
Health
Obesity28.9%
Diabetes8.2%
Smoking9.3%
Heart Disease4.4%
Premature Death5,322/100K
Climate
Avg Temp58°F
Sunny Days310/yr
Rain47.5 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation351 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+57.8%
High School+95.8%
Graduate+21.9%
School Score6.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 36% / D 62%
Commute31 min
Broadband97.4%
Internet Speed230 Mbps
EV Stations14
Libraries23
Did You Know?
The median home in Wake Forest was built in 2006.
25.1% work from home.
The nearest airport is Raleigh-Durham International (16 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.451 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
9.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 230 Mbps.
There are 2,765 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 91 fatal vehicle crashes.
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