Wake County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wake County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 1,151,009. It is the 1st most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wake County is 37.2 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wake County is $101,763. This is 46% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.9%. This is 40% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $422,800. Housing costs are 63% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 64.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 18.9%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (8.1% vs 3.1%).

Education

56.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Wake County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%. Notably, 22.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.