The Town FilesWendell, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 9,793 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $330,500
- Household income
- $95,787
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 38.0
Wendell is a town of 9,793 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $330,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 82% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 80% of North Carolina towns.
How Wendell 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 Wendell is worth $330,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $95,787, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,457 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wendell | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $330,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,457 | $969 |
| Median household income | $95,787 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2010 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wendell
| People | Wendell | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.5% | — |
| Work from home | 25.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Wendell
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wendell since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 13, 2019 about 2.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 13, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 24, 1986.
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 Wendell itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Wendell
8 public schools with 8,089 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corinth Holders High | 9-12 | 2,270 | 21.0 |
| East Wake High | 9-12 | 1,708 | 18.8 |
| Archer Lodge Middle | 6-8 | 1,223 | 19.4 |
| Wendell Middle | 6-8 | 711 | 13.9 |
| Lake Myra Elementary | PK-5 | 672 | 13.7 |
| Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls (charter) | K-8 | 627 | 33.0 |
| Carver Elementary | PK-5 | 454 | 12.3 |
| Wendell Elementary | K-5 | 424 | 10.9 |
Towns near Wendell
- Zebulon, NC3.2 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
- Archer Lodge, NC7.8 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Knightdale, NC8.1 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
- Rolesville, NC10.5 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- Clayton, NC10.8 mi · 26,307 people · home $329,600
- Wilson's Mills, NC14.3 mi · 2,534 people · home $241,800
- Wake Forest, NC14.8 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
- Lake Royale, NC14.8 mi · 3,392 people · home $280,400
Wendell questions
Is Wendell, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wendell scores better for retirees than 50% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 44%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Wendell?
The median owner-occupied home in Wendell is valued at $330,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,787, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,457 a month.
What is the weather like in Wendell?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Wendell get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wendell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 13, 2019. 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)