Wake Forest: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Wake Forest center on a median $123,802 (1.2× higher than Wake County median $105,768; 1.7× higher than North Carolina median $72,388), with homes at a median value of $474,500. The surrounding county supports 13,747 jobs (avg $57,174).
- $69,748 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income (vs North Carolina $84,123).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $123,802 — above the North Carolina median ($79,112). Poverty rate 4.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 38% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.8× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 14.1% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 37.8% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 4.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $33,760 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $2,354,706 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $69,748 (vs North Carolina $84,123) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $137,627 |
| Median Household Income | $123,802 (vs North Carolina $79,112) |
| Poverty Rate | 4.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | affluent |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $123,802 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.8% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 29% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 30.90 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 28.7% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 13,747 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $786,001,048 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $57,174 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 4,795,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% (vs North Carolina 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 518 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 21,979 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 42.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Horticulture Totals, Animal Totals, Grain, Tobacco |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,182 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 11,786 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 624,301 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 11 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 27 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 18 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 10 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 8 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 25 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 33 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (12)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | CVS Pharmacy 7051 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 36 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | WAKE FOREST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $415,156,959 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,054.23 (vs North Carolina $7,140) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 68,573 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 1 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 64.5% |
| Pct Public Transit | 1.1% |
| Pct Walked | 28.7% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 38.6 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 22.6% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | limited |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12