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Friday, November 13, 2026

Wake County

Population
1,178,6532024
Higher than communities in North Carolina
Household income
$105,7682024
More favorable than communities in North Carolina
Home value
$461,3002024
More favorable than communities in North Carolina
Unemployment
3.1%2026
More favorable than communities in North Carolina
Violent crime
3092023
Similar to communities in North Carolina
Work from home
29.1%2024
Higher than communities in North Carolina
Source: Polco GPAL, using data from the original source shown for each indicator.Data from Polco
Community livability

How Wake County scores in ten areas of community life

Polco gives each area an index from the public data behind it, adjusted for the community's socioeconomic profile. Higher is stronger by Polco's measure. Where this page has the numbers behind an area, pick it to see them.

  1. Parks and recreation69
  5. Inclusivity and engagement54
  6. Natural environment52
  10. Utilities25
Source: Polco GPAL, using data from the original source shown for each indicator. The area indexes are for 2025.
Data index

What each number actually means.

Pick a number to see how Wake County compares with other communities, what Polco's model expected and what to keep in mind.

Where Wake County ranks on population
1,178,653 in 2024
Compared with communities nationallyHigher · 98th percentile
Compared with communities in North CarolinaHigher · 100th percentile
Compared with communities of similar population sizeSimilar · 73rd percentile
Each dot is Wake County's percentile within that group, from Polco. Polco treats this measure as neither good nor bad, so further right only means higher.
Source: Polco GPAL, using data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Polco’s name for this measure: “Total population”.

What it measures

2024 · Census ACS

How many people live in Wake County. The number comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, and college students who live there count as residents.

What Polco's model shows

Model estimate

Polco's GPAL model projects 1,201,814 for 2025.

Who it affects

More residents means more demand on housing, schools, roads and local services. Population also shapes how much state and federal money Wake County receives.

Keep in mind

Survey figures are estimates with a margin of error. Small changes from one year to the next may not be meaningful.

About this data

These figures come from Polco's GPAL data, which brings together public data on U.S. cities and counties from sources like the Census Bureau, the CDC, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI. Each number is for the year shown with it, and most public data runs one to two years behind. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

The comparisons are Polco's. Each one names the group of communities Wake County is compared with, and the percentile is Wake County's place within that group. Polco's model figures are estimates, not measurements.

Polco has 333 measures for Wake County. This page shows the 67 whose units and values could be checked. Polco data release of Oct 26, 2026.

Explore Wake County on Polco →

Which of these matters most to you?

Tell us, and see how your neighbors answered. Notes and tips go to people covering Wake County.