The Town FilesGarner, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 31,159 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $355,000
- Household income
- $78,756
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.7
Garner is a town of 31,159 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $355,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 96% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Garner ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Garner is worth $355,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $78,756, which is more affordable than 25% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,549 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garner | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $355,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,549 | $969 |
| Median household income | $78,756 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Garner
| People | Garner | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.9% | — |
| Work from home | 24.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Garner
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 50.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garner since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 81 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 93 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 13, 2019.
Severe weather in Wake County since 1996
Wake County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Wake County
Wake County had 653,153 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,807 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Garner itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Garner
14 public schools with 11,916 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Garner High | 9-12 | 1,888 | 18.0 |
| Garner High | 9-12 | 1,670 | 15.5 |
| East Garner Middle | 6-8 | 1,101 | 15.1 |
| Polenta Elementary | PK-5 | 993 | 15.0 |
| West View Elementary | PK-5 | 969 | 16.4 |
| Cleveland Middle | 6-8 | 923 | 18.5 |
| North Garner Middle | 6-8 | 896 | 15.7 |
| Bryan Road Elementary | PK-5 | 756 | 14.5 |
| Creech Road Elementary | PK-5 | 579 | 13.8 |
| Vandora Springs Elementary | PK-5 | 553 | 12.3 |
| East Garner Elementary | PK-5 | 496 | 12.4 |
| Timber Drive Elementary | PK-5 | 383 | 12.4 |
Towns near Garner
- Knightdale, NC9.7 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
- Clayton, NC9.7 mi · 26,307 people · home $329,600
- Raleigh, NC9.9 mi · 467,665 people · home $415,800
- Fuquay-Varina, NC10.5 mi · 34,152 people · home $451,500
- Holly Springs, NC13.1 mi · 41,239 people · home $535,800
- Cary, NC13.3 mi · 174,721 people · home $580,200
- Archer Lodge, NC13.7 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Angier, NC14.1 mi · 5,265 people · home $268,200
Garner questions
Is Garner, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garner scores better for retirees than 29% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 15%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Garner?
The median owner-occupied home in Garner is valued at $355,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,756, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,549 a month.
What is the weather like in Garner?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.7 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Garner get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)