The Town FilesZebulon, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 6,903 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $320,700
- Household income
- $79,112
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 38.3
Zebulon is a town of 6,903 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $320,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900).
How Zebulon 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 Zebulon is worth $320,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $79,112, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,109 a month. 62.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zebulon | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $320,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,109 | $969 |
| Median household income | $79,112 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Zebulon
| People | Zebulon | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.5% | — |
| Work from home | 22.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 33.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Zebulon
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 Zebulon since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 13, 2019 about 0.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 13, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 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 Zebulon itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Zebulon
5 public schools with 3,741 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Wake Academy (charter) | K-12 | 1,246 | 15.2 |
| Zebulon Middle | 6-8 | 714 | 14.0 |
| Wakelon Elementary | PK-5 | 606 | 13.8 |
| Zebulon Elementary | PK-5 | 595 | 12.9 |
| Corinth-Holders Elementary | PK-5 | 580 | 13.8 |
Towns near Zebulon
- Wendell, NC3.2 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Rolesville, NC10.2 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- Knightdale, NC10.5 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
- Archer Lodge, NC10.6 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Lake Royale, NC11.6 mi · 3,392 people · home $280,400
- Clayton, NC14.0 mi · 26,307 people · home $329,600
- Wake Forest, NC14.4 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
- Wilson's Mills, NC17.0 mi · 2,534 people · home $241,800
Zebulon questions
Is Zebulon, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zebulon scores better for retirees than 27% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 37%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Zebulon?
The median owner-occupied home in Zebulon is valued at $320,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,112, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,109 a month.
What is the weather like in Zebulon?
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 Zebulon get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zebulon 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)