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Economy, jobs and prices in Wake Forest, North Carolina: official figures

The median household income in Wake Forest was $123,802 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 89th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the North Carolina median $72,388.

Median household income
$123,802
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
4.0%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
30.9 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,596
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$474,500
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
74.0%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
97.8%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Wake Forest?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Wake Forest averaged $51,709 a year in 2020-2024, 197th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; North Carolina: $41,385).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Wake Forest?

Wake Forest's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.391 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 60th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

4.0% of the civilian labor force in Wake Forest was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (1,136 people), 176th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and North Carolina's 4.7%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Wake Forest are working?

70.0% of Wake Forest's 40,636 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 152nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Wake Forest have jobs?

27,199 residents of Wake Forest held civilian jobs, 66.9% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 121 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Wake Forest?

The largest industry group for working residents of Wake Forest was education, health care and social assistance (27.0% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (18.6%) and retail trade (11.8%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Wake Forest work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 11.0% of working residents of Wake Forest, 250th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 18.6% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

Commuters in Wake Forest took 30.9 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 109th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 9.5% travelled an hour or more and 20.6% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Wake Forest get to work?

28.7% of workers living in Wake Forest worked from home in 2020-2024, 62nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 64.5% drove to work alone, 5.1% carpooled, 0.0% used public transport and 1.1% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Wake Forest, North Carolina?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Wake Forest was $1,596 a month in 2020-2024, 411th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; North Carolina: $1,228).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Wake Forest?

Owner-occupied homes in Wake Forest had a median value of $474,500 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 286th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; North Carolina: $288,900).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Wake Forest?

The median home value in Wake Forest was 3.8 times the median household income, 277th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Wake Forest, North Carolina own their home?

74.0% of the 18,403 occupied homes in Wake Forest were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 4,786 were rented, 91st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; North Carolina: 66.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Wake Forest have broadband?

97.8% of households in Wake Forest had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 17th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; North Carolina: 90.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Wake Forest have no internet?

1.1% of households in Wake Forest (210) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 22nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 6.2% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Wake Forest compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 89 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
86Rocklin$124,168
87Broomfield$123,874
88Seattle$123,860
89Wake Forest$123,802
90Daly City$123,547
91Santa Clarita$123,062
92Westfield$122,789
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 197 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
194New York$51,844
195Charlotte$51,814
196South Jordan$51,766
197Wake Forest$51,709
198Orange$51,601
199Renton$51,528
200Carrollton$51,524
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 764 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
761Prescott Valley0.392
762Gilbert0.392
763Livonia0.391
764Wake Forest0.391
765Blaine0.391
766Colton0.391
767Surprise0.389
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 648 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
645Columbia4.0%
646Lehi4.0%
647Fayetteville4.0%
648Wake Forest4.0%
649Sandy Springs4.0%
650Plano4.0%
651Homestead4.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 152 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
149Lincoln70.0%
150Lawrence70.0%
151Florissant70.0%
152Wake Forest70.0%
153St. Paul70.0%
154Beaverton70.0%
155West New York70.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 109 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
106Downey31.0
107Yorba Linda31.0
108Montebello31.0
109Wake Forest30.9
110Burleson30.9
111Elk Grove30.8
112Oak Lawn30.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 62 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
59Castle Rock28.8%
60Plymouth28.8%
61Charlotte28.8%
62Wake Forest28.7%
63Ann Arbor28.7%
64Fulshear28.6%
65Portland28.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 801 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
798Broken Arrow0.0%
799Burleson0.0%
800Carmel0.0%
801Wake Forest0.0%
802Burlington0.0%
803Blue Springs0.0%
804Bellevue0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 250 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
247Gilroy11.0%
248Palo Alto11.0%
249San Ramon11.0%
250Wake Forest11.0%
251Simi Valley11.0%
252Gilbert11.0%
253Huntington Beach11.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 150 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
147Pharr27.1%
148Lancaster27.1%
149Casper27.1%
150Wake Forest27.0%
151Medford27.0%
152Albuquerque27.0%
153Olympia26.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 411 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
408Cathedral City$1,601
409Olympia$1,599
410Aurora$1,596
411Wake Forest$1,596
412Oak Park$1,593
413Hesperia$1,590
414Nashville$1,586
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 286 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
283Rancho Cordova$477,600
284Minnetonka$475,800
285Perris$474,700
286Wake Forest$474,500
287Eden Prairie$473,900
288Missoula$473,100
289Huntersville$472,900
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 544 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
541Kenner3.8x
542Bryan3.8x
543Anchorage3.8x
544Wake Forest3.8x
545Bismarck3.8x
546Columbus3.8x
547Lenexa3.8x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 91 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
88Hoffman Estates74.2%
89Carson74.0%
90Arlington Heights74.0%
91Wake Forest74.0%
92Madison74.0%
93Elk Grove73.8%
94Joliet73.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 17 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
14Pleasanton97.9%
15Collierville97.8%
16Johns Creek97.8%
17Wake Forest97.8%
18Frisco97.7%
19Weston97.7%
20Castle Rock97.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Wake Forest ranks 802 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
799Cedar Park1.3%
800Flower Mound1.2%
801Kyle1.2%
802Wake Forest1.1%
803Lehi1.1%
804Dublin1.1%
805Johns Creek1.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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