Raleigh, NC

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2024 Population

1.49M

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

37.6

0.267% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

8.67%

1.42% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$100,103

4.2% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$418,400

9.82% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

779,739

3.04% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Raleigh, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

92.7% of the residents in Raleigh, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Raleigh-Cary, NC are North Carolina State University at Raleigh (10,612 degrees awarded in 2024), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (10,612 degrees), and Wake Technical Community College (6,535 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Raleigh, NC was $418,400, and the homeownership rate was 66.6%.

Most people in Raleigh, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 26.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Raleigh, NC was 2 cars per household.

Raleigh, NC borders Dunn, NC, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, Goldsboro, NC, Henderson, NC, Oxford, NC, Roanoke Rapids, NC, Rocky Mount, NC, and Wilson, NC.

About the photo: Crabtree Creek Greenway, Raleigh, NC

Photo by bobistraveling

United States North Carolina

Population & Diversity

Raleigh, NC is home to a population of 1.49M people, from which 92.7% are citizens. As of 2024, 13.6% of Raleigh, NC residents were born outside of the country (202k people).

In 2024, there were 3.11 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (851k people) in Raleigh, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 274k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 103k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.7%

2024 Citizenship

92.8%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 92.7% of Raleigh, NC residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Raleigh, NC was 92.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Raleigh, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Raleigh, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
851k ± 2.1k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
274k ± 2.16k
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
103k ± 1.36k

12.4%

Hispanic Population

184k people

12.4% of the people in Raleigh, NC are hispanic (184k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Raleigh, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
228,441 ± 11,609 people
India
90,815 ± 7,367 people
Honduras
52,061 ± 5,588 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 228,441 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 90,815 and Honduras with 52,061.

Foreign-Born Population

13.6%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

202k people

13.1%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

189k people

As of 2024, 13.6% of Raleigh, NC residents (202k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Raleigh, NC was 13.1%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Raleigh, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
21,729 ± 1,571
Vietnam
16,892 ± 956
Gulf War (1990s)
14,342 ± 975

Raleigh, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.29 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Raleigh, NC.

Health

91.9% of the population of Raleigh, NC has health coverage, with 57.3% on employee plans, 10.3% on Medicaid, 9.73% on Medicare, 13.3% on non-group plans, and 1.34% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see 1,413 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,413 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1634 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 299 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49% were men and 51% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

1,413 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in North Carolina

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see an average of 1,413 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,413 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in North Carolina in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.8% under 18 years, 21.5% between 18 and 34 years, 40.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49% were men and 51% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

8.07%

Uninsured

57.3%

Employer Coverage

10.3%

Medicaid

9.73%

Medicare

13.3%

Non-Group

1.34%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Raleigh, NC declined by 7.29% from 8.7% to 8.07%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Raleigh, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Economy

The economy of Raleigh, NC employs 780k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Raleigh, NC were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (125,647 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (92,531 people), and Retail Trade (74,413 people), and the highest paying industries were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($104,193), Finance & Insurance ($91,095), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($89,731).

Employment

Occupations

780k

2024 Value

± 8,332

3.04%

1 Year growth

± 1.49%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Raleigh, NC grew at a rate of 3.04%, from 757k employees to 780k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Raleigh, NC, are Management Occupations (118,361 people), Sales & Related Occupations (72,047 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (70,558 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Raleigh, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

780k

2024 Value

± 8,332

3.04%

1 Year growth

± 1.49%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Raleigh, NC grew at a rate of 3.04%, from 757k employees to 780k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Raleigh, NC, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (125,647 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (92,531 people), and Retail Trade (74,413 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Raleigh, NC, though some of these residents may live in Raleigh, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$68,606

Median earning men ± $1,457

$50,471

Median earning women ± $777

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($103,936), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($103,715), and Information ($101,142).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($75,322), Information ($70,537), and Manufacturing ($68,539).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

3.04%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

4,341
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
2,783
Construction
2,059
Other Services (except Public Administration)

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$7.68M
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$5.05M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$4.14M
Information

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (47.6%), followed by Other (0.675%).

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Raleigh, NC. Showing the available data for North Carolina.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (50.9%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (47.6%)
Democratic Party
Other (0.675%)
Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (47.6%), followed by Other (0.675%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in North Carolina for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Thom Tillis

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Ted Budd

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2024, universities in Raleigh, NC awarded 22,231 degrees. The student population of Raleigh, NC in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 37,458 male students and 40,350 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Raleigh, NC are White (12,235 and 59.1%), Black or African American (3,303 and 16%), Hispanic or Latino (2,458 and 11.9%), and Asian (1,365 and 6.6%).

The largest universities in Raleigh, NC by number of degrees awarded are North Carolina State University at Raleigh (10,612 and 47.7%), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (10,612 and 47.7%), and Wake Technical Community College (6,535 and 29.4%).

The most popular majors in Raleigh-Cary, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,867 and 8.4%), General Business Administration & Management (1,716 and 7.72%), and Computer Systems Networking & Telecommunications (1,635 and 7.35%).

The median tuition costs are $11,880 for private four year colleges, and $6,535 and $30,583 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Raleigh, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 48.8%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 24.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 77,808 (48.1% men and 51.9% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 77,808 students enrolled in Raleigh, NC, 48.1% men and 51.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 41,386 records, of which 50.7% were women and 49.3% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
1,001 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
503 degrees awarded
General Psychology
430 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Raleigh-Cary, NC was General Business Administration & Management with 1,001 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Raleigh-Cary, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
10,612 degrees awarded
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
10,612 degrees awarded
Wake Technical Community College
6,535 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was North Carolina State University at Raleigh with 10,612 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 11,591 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Raleigh, NC, which is 1.09 times more than the 10,640 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 12,235 degrees mean that there were 3.7 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 3,303 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 2-year ($20,922) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 2-year ($3,198) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($1,647) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Raleigh, NC was $418,400 in 2024, which is 1.26 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $381,000 to $418,400, a 9.82% increase. The homeownership rate in Raleigh, NC is 66.6%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Raleigh, NC have an average commute time of 26.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Raleigh, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$418,400

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,660

$382,581

Median Property Taxes

±$5,148

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Raleigh, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Raleigh, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

66.6%

Homeownership

2024

67.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 66.6% of the housing units in Raleigh, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 67%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Raleigh, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$100,103

Median Household Income

± $1,230

574k

Number of Households

± 6,954

In 2024, the median household income of the 574k households in Raleigh, NC grew to $100,103 from the previous year's value of $96,066.

The following chart displays the households in Raleigh, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Raleigh, NC is from North Carolina.

0.466

2024 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.467

2023 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2024, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.16% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (64.3%)
Worked At Home (26.2%)
Carpooled (6.38%)

In 2024, 64.3% of workers in Raleigh, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (26.2%) and those who carpooled to work (6.38%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

26.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Raleigh, NC have a longer commute time (26.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.66% of the workforce in Raleigh, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Raleigh, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Raleigh, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Raleigh, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

8.67% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Raleigh, NC (127k out of 1.46M people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Raleigh, NC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.