Poverty and living standards in Raleigh, North Carolina: official figures
11.9% of residents of Raleigh (54,989 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 395th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; North Carolina: 13.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Raleigh?
16.0% of children under 18 in Raleigh lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (15,087 children), 388th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; North Carolina: 17.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Raleigh?
By age, the poverty rate in Raleigh was 14.5% for children under 6 and 9.4% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Raleigh live in deep poverty?
28,754 people in Raleigh, 6.2% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 369th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Raleigh are cost-burdened?
52.1% of renting households in Raleigh spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (50,633 households), 368th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; North Carolina: 48.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Raleigh spend half their income on rent?
24.2% of renting households in Raleigh spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 289th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Raleigh are food insecure?
An estimated 14.1% of adults in Raleigh experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 186th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 11.8% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Raleigh compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 429 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 426 | Aurora | 11.9% |
| 427 | Urban Honolulu | 11.9% |
| 428 | Sanford | 11.9% |
| 429 | Raleigh | 11.9% |
| 430 | Grand Junction | 11.8% |
| 431 | Gardena | 11.8% |
| 432 | Missoula | 11.8% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 388 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 385 | Sterling Heights | 16.1% |
| 386 | Tacoma | 16.1% |
| 387 | Denver | 16.0% |
| 388 | Raleigh | 16.0% |
| 389 | Santa Barbara | 15.9% |
| 390 | Smyrna | 15.9% |
| 391 | Brookhaven | 15.9% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 369 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 366 | Lacey | 6.2% |
| 367 | Joliet | 6.2% |
| 368 | Miami Beach | 6.2% |
| 369 | Raleigh | 6.2% |
| 370 | Columbia | 6.2% |
| 371 | West Allis | 6.2% |
| 372 | Omaha | 6.2% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 456 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 453 | Santa Fe | 52.1% |
| 454 | Norwalk | 52.1% |
| 455 | Edmond | 52.1% |
| 456 | Raleigh | 52.1% |
| 457 | Richmond | 52.0% |
| 458 | Cedar Park | 52.0% |
| 459 | Bossier City | 52.0% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Raleigh ranks 404 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 401 | West Jordan | 14.3% |
| 402 | La Mesa | 14.3% |
| 403 | Bowie | 14.2% |
| 404 | Raleigh | 14.1% |
| 405 | Elk Grove | 14.1% |
| 406 | Eastvale | 14.1% |
| 407 | Palatine | 14.1% |
More on Raleigh: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.