The Town FilesHolly Springs, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 41,239 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $535,800
- Household income
- $135,578
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.5
Holly Springs is a town of 41,239 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $535,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more upscale than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Holly Springs 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 Holly Springs is worth $535,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $135,578, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $2,021 a month. 80.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Holly Springs | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $535,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $2,021 | $969 |
| Median household income | $135,578 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2008 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Holly Springs
| People | Holly Springs | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.4% | — |
| Work from home | 33.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Holly Springs
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.0°F. About 47.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holly Springs since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 0.1 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 88 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 1, 2017.
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 Holly Springs itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Holly Springs
9 public schools with 9,303 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Springs High | 9-12 | 2,111 | 19.9 |
| Pine Springs Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-8 | 1,268 | 16.9 |
| Holly Ridge Middle | 6-8 | 980 | 17.2 |
| Holly Grove Middle | 6-8 | 966 | 17.6 |
| Holly Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 907 | 14.6 |
| Holly Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 897 | 14.5 |
| Buckhorn Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 870 | 14.3 |
| Holly Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 751 | 14.4 |
| Southern Wake Academy (charter) | 6-12 | 553 | 12.6 |
Towns near Holly Springs
- Fuquay-Varina, NC4.9 mi · 34,152 people · home $451,500
- Apex, NC5.5 mi · 58,780 people · home $576,100
- Cary, NC9.0 mi · 174,721 people · home $580,200
- Angier, NC11.3 mi · 5,265 people · home $268,200
- Morrisville, NC12.7 mi · 29,630 people · home $518,800
- Garner, NC13.1 mi · 31,159 people · home $355,000
- Lillington, NC16.6 mi · 4,735 people · home $247,200
- Fearrington Village, NC16.6 mi · 2,557 people · home $472,600
Holly Springs questions
Is Holly Springs, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Holly Springs scores better for retirees than 24% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 10%. 8.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Holly Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Holly Springs is valued at $535,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $135,578, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $2,021 a month.
What is the weather like in Holly Springs?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 4.8 inches of snow.
Does Holly Springs get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holly Springs 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)