The Town FilesKnightdale, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 19,435 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $380,100
- Household income
- $103,220
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 33.6
Knightdale is a town of 19,435 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $380,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Knightdale 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 Knightdale is worth $380,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $103,220, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,674 a month. 64.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Knightdale | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $380,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,674 | $969 |
| Median household income | $103,220 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 64.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2008 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Knightdale
| People | Knightdale | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Knightdale
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Knightdale 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 5.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 108 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 24, 1986.
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 Knightdale itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Knightdale
5 public schools with 3,751 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knightdale High | 9-12 | 1,725 | 16.9 |
| Knightdale Elementary | PK-5 | 549 | 13.1 |
| Forestville Road Elementary | PK-5 | 528 | 11.5 |
| Hodge Road Elementary | PK-5 | 510 | 13.1 |
| Lockhart Elementary | PK-5 | 439 | 11.0 |
Towns near Knightdale
- Wendell, NC8.1 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Raleigh, NC8.6 mi · 467,665 people · home $415,800
- Rolesville, NC8.8 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- Clayton, NC9.7 mi · 26,307 people · home $329,600
- Garner, NC9.7 mi · 31,159 people · home $355,000
- Archer Lodge, NC10.4 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Zebulon, NC10.5 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
- Wake Forest, NC11.9 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
Knightdale questions
Is Knightdale, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Knightdale scores better for retirees than 8% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 8%. 9.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Knightdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Knightdale is valued at $380,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,220, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,674 a month.
What is the weather like in Knightdale?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Knightdale get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Knightdale 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)