RANK #945 / 1001 NAT · #48 / 51 NC · POP 1,178,653
1YR FORECAST: -1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +15%
Known as the "City of Oaks," Raleigh, the county seat, anchors Wake County, North Carolina, a region distinguished by its lush, tree-lined streets and commitment to green spaces. Located in the state's Piedmont region, Wake County is part of the larger Research Triangle area. Commute times within the county and to nearby cities vary, with options like the I-540 outer loop assisting in navigating the region. The county offers extensive outdoor recreation, including over 200 miles of greenway trails, numerous parks, and lakes such as Falls Lake and Lake Crabtree, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and water activities.
Life in Wake County attracts a diverse population, including families and professionals, drawn by its quality of life and educational opportunities. The Wake County Public School System is the largest in North Carolina, serving over 161,000 students across more than 200 schools. The economy is driven by a range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, education, and research, with significant investment flowing into these areas. The presence of institutions like North Carolina State University and the broader Research Triangle Park contributes to a skilled workforce and a dynamic economic landscape.
Wake County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -2.2% runs above the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 10.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
New Hill Data Center Campus
Undisclosed (Developer)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Forge Battery Gigafactory
Forge Battery
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Longleaf Solar Center
Duke Energy
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Knightdale Battery Storage
Duke Energy
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
WakeMed Health Rolesville Campus
WakeMed Health
|
$54M | Planned |
|
Siemens Manufacturing Expansion (Raleigh & Wendell)
Siemens
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Wake County scores just 5/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #945 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +1.9% and median household income of $105,768 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Wake County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $461,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,623/month on average.
Wake County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.9% clip. Home values shifted -2.2% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.88% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Wake County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.