NC area data
Wake forest, NC
Wake forest, NC.
Population: 82,886 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Wake forest, NC is $514,232 — down 1.1% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $360,000 after a median 170 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,797/month. 14 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with hail, heatwave, icestorm the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$514,232
Median home value
-1.1%
1-year change
170
Median days on market
Relatively High
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $514,232
- 1-year appreciation
- -1.1%
- 3-year appreciation
- -0.3%
- 5-year appreciation
- +24.4%
- 10-year appreciation
- +69.7%
- All-time peak (2022-08)
- $534,496
- House Price Index (state)
- 438.2 (+1.0% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $360,000
- Median list price
- $349,900
- Median price per sqft
- $189
- 1-year sale-price change
- -6.5%
- Median days on market
- 170 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 15
- For-sale inventory
- 489
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 100.2%
- Active listings
- 6
- 1-year forecast
- +0.1%
- Days to pending
- 49 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 153
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,797/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +2.1%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,530/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,600/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,750/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,210/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $2,930/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Below Average)
- 92.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 14.0¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.40/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 14
- Elementary schools
- 8
- Middle schools
- 2
- High schools
- 3
- Charter schools
- 5
- School districts serving the area
- Franklin Academy, Casa Esperanza Montessori, Endeavor Charter
- Schools include
- Franklin Academy, Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School, Endeavor Charter School, Envision Science Academy, Wake Forest Charter Academy
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively High
- Top hazards (county)
- hail, heatWave, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, lightning
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively Moderate
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 26% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 53.9%
- Radon potential (county)
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Ward Transformer (13.6 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 63.0°F
- Average high
- 72.0°F
- Average low
- 54.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 42.5 in
- Annual snowfall
- 1.4 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 49
- Days with Good air quality
- 190
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 170
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 130
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 8.2 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 27,221
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 28,223
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- Airports within 30 mi
- 19
- Nearest airport
- Riley Field (12 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) (15 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 7
- Hospitals include
- NORTH CAROLINA SPECIALTY HOSPITAL, DUKE REGIONAL HOSPITAL, WAKEMED, RALEIGH CAMPUS
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 4.3 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.4 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +2,663 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 2,006
- Housing built before 1970
- 6.7%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 67.4%
- Median annual property tax
- $3,498
- Mean commute to work
- 21 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 88.3%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 555,964
- Average weekly wage
- $1,452
- Top industries (by employment)
- Professional Services, Health Care, Accommodation & Food
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 9,552
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Wake forest | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $514,232 | $287,250 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $360,000 | $330,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 170 days | 70 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,797/mo | $1,686/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $3,498 | $1,366 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Wake forest, NC?
- $514,232.
- What is the median sale price in Wake forest, NC?
- $360,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in Wake forest, NC?
- Median days on market: 170 days.
- What is typical rent in Wake forest, NC?
- Typical rent: $1,797/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Wake forest, NC?
- Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: hail, heatWave, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, lightning.
- Is Wake forest, NC in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in Wake forest, NC?
- Risk to homes is higher than 26% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Wake forest, NC?
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Wake forest, NC?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve Wake forest, NC?
- 14 schools (8 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is Wake forest, NC walkable?
- Walkability index: 8.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in Wake forest, NC?
- Good. Median AQI: 49. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in Wake forest, NC?
- Regional Price Parity: 92.5 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP code for Wake forest
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →