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Living in
Knightdale.
About
Life in Knightdale
Knightdale has transformed from a quiet railroad town into one of the Research Triangle's fastest-growing communities, and if you're considering the move, here's what actually matters: it's affordable relative to the region, the job market is solid thanks to proximity to Raleigh's tech and government sectors, and you get a real sense of community without feeling isolated. The 26-minute average commute puts you within reach of major employers across the Triangle, and with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, finding work here or nearby is genuinely manageable. Summers are hot and humid (upper 80s to low 90s with peak rain in July and August), and winters are mild, so you're trading true seasonal cold for months of serious heat—something to factor in if you hate AC-dependent living.
Knightdale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Foreign-Born
12.0%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
+18.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.0% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Knightdale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Knightdale, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (10.7%), and 7.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.1%
of residents
65 and Older
9.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.0%
of households
Married Couples
47.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
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 36% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Knightdale
In Knightdale, rent runs 36% above the NC average, and home values are 32% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,828
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2008
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $361,028 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below NC average
Unemployment in Knightdale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Wake County, which includes Knightdale, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Knightdale: Wake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Wake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Knightdale is about 2% of Wake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Knightdale 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
Commute24 min avg
How Knightdale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Knightdale, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 143 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 38% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Knightdale runs 38% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
204.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,282.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Knightdale 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 Knightdale, 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
Knightdale is about 2% 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 Knightdale, 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
Knightdale is about 2% of Wake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Knightdale has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.3"
Hot Days/Year
41
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
77
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 30°F | 4.28" |
| Feb | 56°F | 31°F | 3.07" |
| Mar | 63°F | 37°F | 4.10" |
| Apr | 73°F | 46°F | 3.64" |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 4.06" |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 6.14" |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 5.86" |
| Sep | 82°F | 62°F | 5.89" |
| Oct | 73°F | 49°F | 3.47" |
| Nov | 63°F | 38°F | 3.59" |
| Dec | 55°F | 32°F | 3.82" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Knightdale
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Knightdale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Holly Hill Mental Health Services
Psychiatric · 5 mi away · Raleigh
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Raleigh
Rex Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.7 mi away · Raleigh
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.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Knightdale
Knightdale's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 48.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
48.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Knightdale (within 15 miles)
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
10 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)
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
13.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 585 students · in-state tuition $11,764 · 44% graduate
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, 79 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Knightdale
Knightdale has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (79 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
79 mi awayMoores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Knightdale
East Regional Library
946 Steeple Square Ct, Knightdale
Cities Near Knightdale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Knightdale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Knightdale FAQ
Is Knightdale, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Knightdale's median rent is $1,674/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $103,220/year. Median home value is $380,100.
Is Knightdale, North Carolina safe?⌄
Knightdale's violent crime rate was 205 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2283 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Knightdale, North Carolina?⌄
Wake County, which includes Knightdale, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Knightdale, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Knightdale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,674/month and median household income is $103,220/year. The median home value is $380,100. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Knightdale, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Knightdale is 24 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