The Town FilesWake Forest, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 47,601 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $474,500
- Household income
- $123,802
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 38.6
Wake Forest is a town of 47,601 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $474,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 94% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 94% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest is worth $474,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $123,802, which is more affordable than 49% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,596 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wake Forest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $474,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,596 | $969 |
| Median household income | $123,802 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2009 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Wake Forest
| People | Wake Forest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 28.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Wake Forest
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wake Forest since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 0.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 1, 1990.
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 Wake Forest itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Wake Forest
15 public schools with 15,047 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-12 | 2,203 | 21.8 |
| Wake Forest High School | 9-12 | 2,075 | 18.9 |
| Heritage High | 9-12 | 1,817 | 18.7 |
| Franklin Academy (charter) | K-12 | 1,652 | 14.0 |
| Heritage Middle | 6-8 | 947 | 15.5 |
| Wake Forest Middle School | 6-8 | 919 | 16.7 |
| Endeavor Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 788 | 15.8 |
| Wake Forest Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 761 | 23.1 |
| Envision Science Academy (charter) | K-8 | 743 | 13.8 |
| Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 668 | 17.6 |
| Heritage Elementary | PK-5 | 606 | 13.5 |
| Jones Dairy Elementary | PK-5 | 577 | 14.4 |
Towns near Wake Forest
- Rolesville, NC4.3 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- Raleigh, NC11.6 mi · 467,665 people · home $415,800
- Knightdale, NC11.9 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
- Zebulon, NC14.4 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
- Creedmoor, NC14.5 mi · 4,866 people · home $281,400
- Wendell, NC14.8 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Louisburg, NC15.0 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Butner, NC17.4 mi · 8,397 people · home $231,100
Wake Forest questions
Is Wake Forest, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wake Forest scores better for retirees than 44% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 10%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Wake Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Wake Forest is valued at $474,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $123,802, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,596 a month.
What is the weather like in Wake Forest?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Wake Forest get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wake Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 28, 1988. 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)