Wake County, NC

County in North Carolina, South · ranked on 52 metrics

Rank among US counties

Wake County, NC is a county in North Carolina with a population of 1,284,995 (36th of 3,094). It ranks best for Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (38th of 3,094), Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (51st of 3,094), Median Household Income (120th of 3,093). It ranks lowest for Median Home Value ($2,000,001 Means $2M or More) (2,918th of 3,092), Average Commute (Minutes) (1,759th of 3,094).

Population
1.3M
36th highest of 3,094
Density
1,538.9
105th highest of 3,094
Growth since 2020
13.6%
132nd highest of 3,094
Area
835
993rd highest of 3,094
Region
South
North Carolina

Strengths and weak spotsPercentileWhere a place sits among all places, from 0 to 100. 100 is the best, 50 is the middle, 0 is the worst.More in the glossary →

Percentile on 21 metrics that rank at least half of all US counties, given whether higher or lower is better.

Totals that track populationCounts like “number of burglaries” that mostly reflect how many people live somewhere, so big places rank high or low regardless.More in the glossary →

Best at

Highest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)57.2%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    38th of 3,094
  2. Homes with Broadband Internet (%)95.3%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    51st of 3,094
  3. Adults Who Smoke (%)9.5%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 54th of 2,916
  4. Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)13.5%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 75th of 2,916
  5. Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)17.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 85th of 2,916
  6. Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)14.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 88th of 2,916
  7. Median Household Income$105,768
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    120th of 3,093
  8. Adults with Obesity (%)28.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 145th of 2,916
  9. Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)79.8%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 147th of 2,916
  10. Median Income$105,768
    Poorest Counties
    120th of 2,000

Worst at

Lowest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Median Rent (Monthly; $3,501 Means $3,500 or More)$1,623
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    tied 2,917th of 3,090
  2. Median Home Value ($2,000,001 Means $2M or More)$461,300
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    2,918th of 3,092
  3. Cooling Degree Days per Year1,572
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    tied 2,117th of 3,050
  4. Average Commute (Minutes)25.1
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    1,759th of 3,094
  5. Adults with Depression (%)23.1%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,185th of 2,916
  6. Heating Degree Days per Year3,284
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    840th of 3,050
  7. Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)8%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 471st of 2,916
  8. Adults with Diabetes (%)9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 420th of 2,916
  9. Adults Who Binge Drink (%)15.0%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 365th of 2,916
  10. Poverty Rate (%)8.13%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    380th of 3,094

Profile by category

Average percentile per category, from the median line. Select a category to list its metrics.

Strongest category Health (89), weakest Economics (66). Select a category to list its metrics.

Notable facts

Where it ranks first or last among US counties

Never first or last on a widely ranked metric.

Where it is

Shaded by population; select a place to open it

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Similar places

Closest percentiles on 20 widely reported measures from 6 categories, leaving out size and totals

  1. Orange County, NC88% similar
    Compared on 18 of 20
  2. Hamilton County, IN84% similar
    Compared on 14 of 20
  3. Sarasota County, FL83% similar
    Compared on 16 of 20
  4. Loudoun County, VA82% similar
    Compared on 14 of 20
  5. Denton County, TX82% similar
    Compared on 14 of 20

Quick answers

What is the population of Wake County, NC?
Wake County, NC has a population of 1,284,995, 36th among 3,094 US counties.
What does Wake County, NC rank best at?
Among US counties, Wake County, NC ranks best for Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (38th of 3,094); Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (51st of 3,094); Median Household Income (120th of 3,093).
Where does Wake County, NC rank worst?
Wake County, NC ranks lowest for Median Home Value ($2,000,001 Means $2M or More) (2,918th of 3,092); Average Commute (Minutes) (1,759th of 3,094).
How many statistics does Rankodex have for Wake County, NC?
Rankodex ranks Wake County, NC on 52 statistics compared with other US counties, compiled from World Population Review and the sources it cites.

Every metric

52 metrics with a value for this place, in 15 topics