The Town FilesFuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 34,152 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $451,500
- Household income
- $115,497
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 37.0
Fuquay-Varina is a town of 34,152 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $451,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 91% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 90% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 86% of North Carolina towns.
How Fuquay-Varina ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fuquay-Varina is worth $451,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $115,497, which is more affordable than 47% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,720 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fuquay-Varina | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $451,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,720 | $969 |
| Median household income | $115,497 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2011 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Fuquay-Varina
| People | Fuquay-Varina | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.9% | — |
| Work from home | 30.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Fuquay-Varina
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fuquay-Varina since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 3, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 13, 2019.
Severe weather in Wake County since 1996
Wake County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Wake County
Wake County had 653,153 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,807 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Fuquay-Varina itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Fuquay-Varina
13 public schools with 11,570 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Spring High | 9-12 | 2,056 | 19.2 |
| Fuquay-Varina High | 9-12 | 1,744 | 18.4 |
| Herbert Akins Road Middle | 6-8 | 1,214 | 16.0 |
| Fuquay-Varina Middle | 6-8 | 1,019 | 17.9 |
| Herbert Akins Rd Elementary | PK-5 | 979 | 14.6 |
| Willow Springs Elementary | K-5 | 821 | 14.2 |
| South Lakes Elementary | PK-5 | 782 | 14.2 |
| Fuquay-Varina Elementary | PK-5 | 722 | 14.4 |
| Ballentine Elementary | PK-5 | 711 | 13.4 |
| Lincoln Heights Elementary | PK-5 | 645 | 13.7 |
| Northwest Harnett Elementary | PK-5 | 553 | 14.2 |
| Achievement Charter Academy (charter) | K-6 | 202 | 20.2 |
Towns near Fuquay-Varina
- Holly Springs, NC4.9 mi · 41,239 people · home $535,800
- Angier, NC7.0 mi · 5,265 people · home $268,200
- Apex, NC10.1 mi · 58,780 people · home $576,100
- Garner, NC10.5 mi · 31,159 people · home $355,000
- Cary, NC12.2 mi · 174,721 people · home $580,200
- Lillington, NC13.7 mi · 4,735 people · home $247,200
- Buies Creek, NC14.0 mi · 3,253 people · home $361,500
- Morrisville, NC16.1 mi · 29,630 people · home $518,800
Fuquay-Varina questions
Is Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fuquay-Varina scores better for retirees than 60% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 18%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Fuquay-Varina?
The median owner-occupied home in Fuquay-Varina is valued at $451,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,497, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,720 a month.
What is the weather like in Fuquay-Varina?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 4.1 inches of snow.
Does Fuquay-Varina get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fuquay-Varina since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)