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Living in
Raleigh.
About
Life in Raleigh
The unemployment rate sits at 3.1%, and you'll find serious career opportunities here without needing to relocate to the coasts or pay coastal prices. That said, the city has grown fast, and sprawl is real — it covers nearly 150 square miles, and unless you live in one of the in-beltline neighborhoods like Downtown, Glenwood South, or the historic Blount Street area, you're looking at a car-dependent lifestyle with an average commute of about 23 minutes. Summers are genuinely hot and humid, with around 48 days hitting 90 degrees or higher, and the area gets nearly 46 inches of rain annually, plus it sits in a hurricane zone (Hurricane Florence in 2018 was a recent reminder).
Raleigh at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Foreign-Born
13.8%
Broadband Internet
94.7%
of households
Population Growth
+8.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Raleigh: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Raleigh, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (13.9%), and 9.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.8%
of residents
65 and Older
11.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.5%
of households
Married Couples
37.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
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 28% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Raleigh
In Raleigh, rent runs 28% above the NC average, and home values are 44% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,048
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $424,663 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below NC average
Unemployment in Raleigh and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Raleigh is 0.5 percentage points lower than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Raleigh 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
Commute23 min avg
How Raleigh residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Raleigh, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 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 20% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Raleigh runs 20% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
394.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,304.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Raleigh 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 Raleigh, 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
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wake County, which includes Raleigh, 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
Climate89°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Raleigh has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.1"
Annual Snowfall
4.5"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
57
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
92
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 32°F | 3.65" |
| Feb | 55°F | 33°F | 2.88" |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 72°F | 49°F | 3.63" |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 3.99" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 4.87" |
| Jul | 91°F | 70°F | 4.65" |
| Aug | 89°F | 69°F | 4.71" |
| Sep | 82°F | 63°F | 5.72" |
| Oct | 73°F | 51°F | 3.90" |
| Nov | 62°F | 41°F | 3.51" |
| Dec | 55°F | 35°F | 3.68" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 4.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Raleigh
Raleigh has 4 hospitals, averaging 4.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
9.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.5 / 5
Rex Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Holly Hill Mental Health Services
Psychiatric
Triangle Springs
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Wakemed, Cary Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.1 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.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Raleigh
Raleigh's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 54.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
91
within city limits
Private Schools
35
within city limits
College Degree Rate
54.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Raleigh
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Public · 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)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
12.6 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, 70 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Raleigh
Raleigh has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (70 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
70 mi awayMoores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Raleigh
Athens Drive Community Library
1420 Athens Dr, Raleigh
Duraleigh Road Community Library
5800 Duraleigh Rd, Raleigh
Express Library Fayetteville Street
336 Fayetteville St, Raleigh
Green Road Community Library
4101 Green Rd, Raleigh
Leesville Community Library
5105 Country Trl, Raleigh
North Regional Library
7009 Harps Mill Rd, Raleigh
Northeast Regional Library
14401 Green Elm Lane, Raleigh
Oberlin Regional Library
1930 Clark Ave, Raleigh
Olivia Raney Local History Library
4016 Carya Dr, Raleigh
Richard B. Harrison Community Library
1313 New Bern Ave, Raleigh
Southgate Community Library
1601-14 Crosslink Rd, Raleigh
Compare Raleigh
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Raleigh
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Raleigh?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Raleigh FAQ
Is Raleigh, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Raleigh's median rent is $1,572/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $85,395/year. Median home value is $415,800.
Is Raleigh, North Carolina safe?⌄
Raleigh's violent crime rate was 395 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2305 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Raleigh, North Carolina?⌄
Raleigh has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Raleigh, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Raleigh is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,572/month and median household income is $85,395/year. The median home value is $415,800. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Raleigh, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Raleigh is 23 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