Wake Forest Authority

Wake Forest is a high-income, family-oriented small city of 52,844 with home prices 1.6× the North Carolina median.

Wake Forest, North Carolina

With 52,844 residents, Wake Forest ranks among the larger cities of North Carolina. Median household income reaches $123,802, ranking the city among the wealthiest in North Carolina.

Definition and scope

Located in Franklin County, North Carolina, Wake Forest operates within North Carolina's county-municipal framework. Local services and ordinances are coordinated through county and state-level agencies. The city operates within Congressional District 2 and is part of the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area.

Who lives here

Wake Forest has approximately 52,844 residents. The median age is 38.6 years. Roughly 74% of housing units are owner-occupied. The median home value is $474,500.

Demographic composition (Census 2023 ACS5):

• White (non-Hispanic): 64.6%
• Black or African American: 19.5%
• Hispanic or Latino: 9.0%
• Asian: 2.9%

Economy and earnings

Median household income in Wake Forest is $123,802. Poverty rate stands at 4.5%. Unemployment rate at last release was 2.8%. Educational attainment: 59.5% of residents 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Public services and infrastructure

Available public services on file for Wake Forest:

• Public schools: 15
• Public libraries: 1
• Fire stations: 3
• Police stations: 3

Getting around

Riley Field provides commercial air service for the area. The closest U.S. courthouse for federal proceedings is Supreme Court of North Carolina. For passenger rail, the nearest Amtrak station is Raleigh, North Carolina.

Geography and climate

Elevation here is 337 feet. The USDA plant hardiness zone is 6a.

References

• North Carolina State Authority — state-level reference for North Carolina.
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — population, income, demographic data.
• Authority Network America — federal- and network-level reference.