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Living in
Garner.
About
Life in Garner
If you're considering Garner, you're looking at a solidly middle-class suburban option with strong job access to Raleigh's thriving tech and research sectors. The median household income sits around $78,756 and unemployment is low at 3.5%, which reflects the broader economic strength of the Research Triangle. The commute to Raleigh jobs averages 27 minutes, manageable but worth factoring in if you'll be working downtown regularly.
Garner at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Foreign-Born
11.9%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
+32.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Garner: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Garner, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.3%), and 10.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.7%
of households
Married Couples
47.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Garner
In Garner, rent runs 26% above the NC average, and home values are 23% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,673
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2001
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $377,966 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Garner and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Garner is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Garner Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Raleigh, NC metro area
Commute26.2 min avg
How Garner residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Garner, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 57% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 135 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 26% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Garner runs 26% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
415.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,119.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Garner Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wake County, which includes Garner, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $167,000 |
| 2024 | 29 | Flash Flood | $425,000 |
| 2023 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $326,500 |
| 2022 | 43 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 15 | Winter Weather | $265,000 |
| 2020 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.6M |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $101.4M |
| 2018 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Wake County, county-wide
Garner is about 3% of Wake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wake County, which includes Garner, is typically good — 250 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
250
per year
Moderate Days
115
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Wake County, county-wide
Garner is about 3% of Wake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Garner has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.7"
Annual Snowfall
4.5"
Hot Days/Year
33
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
88
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
107
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 28°F | 3.92" |
| Feb | 56°F | 29°F | 3.11" |
| Mar | 64°F | 35°F | 4.18" |
| Apr | 72°F | 45°F | 4.08" |
| May | 78°F | 55°F | 4.03" |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 4.79" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 5.34" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 4.76" |
| Sep | 80°F | 60°F | 5.63" |
| Oct | 71°F | 46°F | 3.59" |
| Nov | 61°F | 36°F | 3.65" |
| Dec | 54°F | 30°F | 3.64" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Garner
Garner has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.0%
of residents
Raleigh Oaks Behavioral Health
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Holly Hill Mental Health Services
Psychiatric · 6.6 mi away · Raleigh
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Raleigh
Wakemed, Cary Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10 mi away · Cary
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Garner
Garner's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 46.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Garner (within 15 miles)
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
7.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 27,371 students · in-state tuition $8,815 · 85% graduate · median earnings $77,810 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,188 students · in-state tuition $47,448 · 67% graduate · median earnings $54,417 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 875 students · in-state tuition $19,278 · 22% graduate · median earnings $38,822 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 666 students · in-state tuition $35,180 · 52% graduate · median earnings $47,869 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 75 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Garner
Garner has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (75 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
75 mi awayMoores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Garner
Southeast Regional Library
908 7th Ave, Garner
Cities Near Garner
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Garner?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Garner FAQ
Is Garner, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Garner's median rent is $1,549/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $78,756/year. Median home value is $355,000.
Is Garner, North Carolina safe?⌄
Garner's violent crime rate was 416 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3120 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Garner, North Carolina?⌄
Garner has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Garner, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Garner is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,549/month and median household income is $78,756/year. The median home value is $355,000. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Garner, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Garner is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from