The story of this market
The typical home in Wake County, North Carolina sells for about $493,332, or $235 per square foot.
Prices are down 1.14% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 58 days to sell. Over the long run, values in this county have grown 141% since 2000. Last year 118 of 203 neighborhoods saw prices rise, so the story isn't the same street to street. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,689 a month.
HUD sets the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom at $1,689 a month. FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall hazard risk here as Relatively Low.
Price climate
Every year of price change, 2000–2025
0%
2025
Each stripe is one year's median price change across the area's census tracts (FHFA repeat-sales index). Deep blue is a strong gain year, red a falling year. Best: 2022 (+22.3%). Worst: 2010 (-3.1%). Hover to read a year.
Monthly price momentum
Home values since 2015
+2.7%
NC · past 12 months
Freddie Mac House Price Index, single-family homes, monthly through 2026-08. Each line starts at 100 in January 2015, so a reading of 180 means prices are up 80% since then.
Rent benchmark
Fair market rent by size
$2,103
3-bed / month
HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal 2027, for this county. A typical rent for a modest unit, used to set housing-voucher payments.
Neighborhood price trend
Long-run price trend, 2000–2025
0%
2025 change
FHFA repeat-sales index, median of 203 census tracts in this county (2000 = 100). Bars are each year's median change.
Natural hazard exposure
The area's risk shape
30
Relatively Low
FEMA National Risk Index. Each spoke is a hazard ranked nationally, where 100 is the most exposed. Expected annual loss: $299,065,847.
Mortgage activity
Home lending in this county
82.3%
2018 approval rate
| Year | Applications | Loans made | Approval | Investor share | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 63112 | 36061 | 82.3% | 7.2% | $305,000 |
CFPB Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records: every mortgage application reported by lenders for homes in this county. Approval rate is approved ÷ decided (withdrawn and incomplete files excluded). Investor share and home value are the median census tract.
Wake County, North Carolina
The Wake County housing market is showing signs of stabilization as inventory levels gradually increase. While year-over-year prices have seen a slight decline, the region's strong economic fundamentals and population growth continue to support demand.
No ARED distress-ledger coverage for this county yet — the foreclosure ingest rotates the national county directory, and filings appear here once the county's posted notices are read. Key-figure check: median price corroborated by the prior refresh cycle (within 12.5%).
Select a city to expand its ZIP intel reports beneath · 12 cities · 31 ZIP reports
Median prices moved up 0.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 81 days on market with 0.1 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
4% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 18.8% of asking — demand is holding steady.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.2% · poverty 7.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Owned and leased federal assets with active or excess status, per the General Services Administration's Real Estate Across the United States inventory (read 2026-09-25). A federal footprint read on this county — not a market valuation, and never an attribute of any individual property or tenant.
Deterministic aggregate of 32 researched ZIP reports — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.
Wake County, North Carolina — researched county-level history with a deterministic 1 / 3 / 5-year projection
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Each property observation weighs one in its ZIP's deterministic roll-up — property-level records (taxes, scores, permits) never roll individually. Latest property research run Oct 7, 2026.
researched Sep 29
researched Sep 29
researched Sep 30
researched Oct 1
researched Oct 4
researched Oct 4
researched Sep 19
researched Sep 29
researched Sep 29
researched Sep 30
| 27502 | Apex | $577,750 | $245 | -0.9% | 56 | 98.5% | 35% | 11.7 | 1,616 | $1,909 | researched Sep 29 |
| 27511 | Cary | $539,999 | $265 | +2.9% | 57 | 98.5% | 22% | 3.2 | 141 | $1,515 | researched Sep 29 |
| 27513 | Cary | $529,843 | $262 | -7.2% | 18 | 100% | 31.1% | 3.5 | 150 | $1,617 | researched Sep 30 |
| 27518 | Cary | $739,499 | $260 | -9% | 71 | 98.5% | 42.4% | 1.2 | 828 | $1,681 | researched Oct 1 |
| 27519 | Cary | $695,323 | $248 | -2.2% | 51 | 98% | 67% | 6 | 498 | $1,952 | researched Oct 4 |
| 27523 | Apex | $834,500 | $280 | -2.2% | 40 | — | — | — | 1,598 | $1,939 | researched Oct 4 |
| 27526 | Fuquay-Varina | $444,000 | $211 | +7.2% | 76 | 98.5% | 15% | 3.4 | 507 | $1,642 | researched Sep 19 |
| 27529 | Garner | $396,763 | $215 | -0.5% | 49 | 98.5% | 28% | 3.2 | 185 | $1,464 | researched Sep 29 |
| 27539 | Apex | $602,760 | $200 | -0.9% | 13 | 98% | 5% | 4.2 | 1,773 | $1,885 | researched Sep 29 |
| 27540 | Holly Springs | $474,700 | $235 | +4.2% | 32 | 98.5% | 18% | 2.8 | 145 | $1,947 | researched Sep 30 |
Figures are each ZIP report's own latest research — the county roll-up aggregates them sales_count-weighted (population fallback); ZIPs cycle quarterly.
Wake County maintains a crime rate generally lower than the national average, with localized variations in urban centers like Raleigh compared to suburban municipalities.
The county is served by the Wake County Public School System, which is consistently recognized for high academic performance and a wide array of magnet school programs.
The region faces moderate risks from severe thunderstorms and occasional tropical weather impacts, with flood zones primarily concentrated along the Neuse River and its tributaries.
Wake County is a primary economic engine for North Carolina, anchored by the Research Triangle Park, which drives significant employment in technology, life sciences, and education.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (North Carolina) — Tax Lien Attachment: A tax lien attaches to all real property, taking priority over all other liens and encumbrances regardless of when they were created. State (North Carolina) — Ad Valorem Property Tax: Tax is calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property by the combined state and local tax rate. The formula is: Tax = (Assessed Value / 100) * Tax Rate.
The economy is heavily diversified, led by the technology, biotechnology, and higher education sectors, supported by major universities and the Research Triangle Park.
The county is served by a network of major highways including I-40, I-440, and I-540, with ongoing efforts to expand regional bus and commuter rail connectivity.
The Wake County Tax Administration performs property assessments on a cyclical basis to ensure valuations reflect current market conditions.
The county is served by various special districts including water and sewer authorities and regional transit planning organizations.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional weather patterns, with coastal-adjacent risks leading to steady monitoring of coverage costs.
- Frankie's of Raleigh4.415.1 mi
- Fantasy Lake Adventure Park4.710.8 mi
- Dave & Buster's Cary411.2 mi
- Happy Feet Planet Apex4.717.1 mi
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park4.114.3 mi
- Lenovo Center4.58.7 mi
- North Carolina Museum of Art4.87.7 mi
- North Carolina State Fair4.48.3 mi
- Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center4.64.7 mi
- Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek4.43.7 mi
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences4.84.4 mi
- North Carolina Museum of Art4.87.7 mi
- Downtown Cary Park4.812.1 mi
- Dix Park4.75.4 mi
- Pullen Park4.75.7 mi
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences4.84.4 mi
- North Carolina Museum of Art4.87.7 mi
- Museum of Life and Science4.724.3 mi
- Marbles Kids Museum4.84.3 mi
- Duke University Chapel4.925 mi
- North Carolina Museum of Art4.87.7 mi
- Downtown Cary Park4.812.1 mi
- Dix Park4.75.4 mi
- Pullen Park4.75.7 mi
- Pleasant Park4.719 mi
- Topgolf3.815.9 mi
- Drive Shack4.79.7 mi
- Knights Play Golf Center4.315.1 mi
- Prestonwood Country Club4.715.1 mi
- Pin Point Indoor Pickleball & Golf4.65.4 mi
- Crabtree4.46.9 mi
- H Mart Cary4.615.9 mi
- Triangle Town Center4.24.4 mi
- State Farmers Market4.76.1 mi
- Fenton4.610.8 mi
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport4.413.4 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this county — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
A massive 5,500-acre park offering hiking, biking, and lake access in the heart of the county.
Home to the Carolina Hurricanes and major concert tours, serving as a primary regional entertainment anchor.
Features an extensive collection and a large outdoor park with walking trails and art installations.
Retrieved from data.census.gov
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
applies when — Applies to parcels where the title holder has created or is subject to recorded easements, restrictions, or conditions.
Imposes binding limitations on the use, development, or maintenance of the parcel as defined in the recorded instrument.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 39-6.4
A tax lien attaches to all real property, taking priority over all other liens and encumbrances regardless of when they were created.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-355
applies when — Applies to parcels governed by a Homeowners' Association (Chapter 47F) or Condominium Association (Chapter 47C) where assessments remain unpaid.
Associations may file a claim of lien and foreclose in a manner similar to a mortgage under power of sale, or through a civil action.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47F-3-116 and § 47C-3-116
Allows for non-judicial foreclosure, though it requires a hearing before the Clerk of Superior Court to authorize the sale. Borrowers are entitled to a pre-foreclosure notice at least 45 days prior to the filing of a notice of hearing for primary residences.
N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 45, Article 2A and Article 11
Tax is calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property by the combined state and local tax rate. The formula is: Tax = (Assessed Value / 100) * Tax Rate. Assessment is based on the true value in money, with counties required to conduct revaluations at least every eight years.
N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 105, Article 12 (2025)
Governance registry — every jurisdiction re-researches on a rolling 90-day cycle. Property reports compose these inherited burdens into a per-parcel ledger with conditional determinations. Informational only — not legal advice.