The Town FilesRaleigh, North Carolina
City in Wake County · population 467,665 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $415,800
- Household income
- $85,395
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 34.7
Raleigh is a city of 467,665 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $415,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 99% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 97% of North Carolina towns.
How Raleigh 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 Raleigh is worth $415,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $85,395, which is more affordable than 18% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,572 a month. 50.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Raleigh | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $415,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,572 | $969 |
| Median household income | $85,395 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Raleigh
| People | Raleigh | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.8% | — |
| Work from home | 25.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Raleigh
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raleigh since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 4.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 186 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 106 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 28, 2005.
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 Raleigh itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Raleigh
99 public schools with 65,553 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enloe High | 9-12 | 2,538 | 17.0 |
| Leesville Road High | 9-12 | 2,517 | 19.8 |
| Millbrook High | 9-12 | 2,455 | 18.1 |
| Wakefield High | 9-12 | 2,105 | 19.5 |
| Needham Broughton High | 9-12 | 2,062 | 17.6 |
| Athens Drive High | 9-12 | 2,060 | 16.6 |
| Sanderson High | 9-12 | 1,661 | 17.5 |
| Southeast Raleigh High | 9-12 | 1,490 | 14.8 |
| Oberlin Middle | 6-8 | 1,121 | 16.2 |
| West Millbrook Middle | 6-8 | 1,105 | 16.7 |
| River Bend Middle | 6-8 | 989 | 15.2 |
| Martin Middle | 6-8 | 968 | 15.9 |
Towns near Raleigh
- Knightdale, NC8.6 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
- Garner, NC9.9 mi · 31,159 people · home $355,000
- Cary, NC10.8 mi · 174,721 people · home $580,200
- Morrisville, NC11.1 mi · 29,630 people · home $518,800
- Rolesville, NC11.5 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- Wake Forest, NC11.6 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
- Apex, NC15.3 mi · 58,780 people · home $576,100
- Clayton, NC16.2 mi · 26,307 people · home $329,600
Raleigh questions
Is Raleigh, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Raleigh scores better for retirees than 22% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 2%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Raleigh?
The median owner-occupied home in Raleigh is valued at $415,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,395, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,572 a month.
What is the weather like in Raleigh?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Raleigh get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raleigh since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 28, 1988. 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)