Raleigh, NC

Census Place

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2020 Population

469,698

1.12% 1-year growth

US Senator

Richard Burr

Republican Party

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

1.19% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

11.8%

6.24% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$69,720

3.65% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$266,900

7.49% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

258,584

1.59% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Raleigh, NC had a population of 470k people with a median age of 34 and a median household income of $69,720. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Raleigh, NC grew from 464,485 to 469,698, a 1.12% increase and its median household income grew from $67,266 to $69,720, a 3.65% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Raleigh, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (53%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (28.1%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (4.84%), White (Hispanic) (4.46%), and Other (Hispanic) (3.92%).

None of the households in Raleigh, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

92.3% of the residents in Raleigh, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Raleigh, NC are North Carolina State University at Raleigh (10,090 degrees awarded in 2020), MyComputerCareer.edu-Raleigh (1,813 degrees), and Meredith College (638 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Raleigh, NC was $266,900, and the homeownership rate was 51.5%.

Most people in Raleigh, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Raleigh, NC was 2 cars per household.

Photo by James Willamor

Population & Diversity

Raleigh, NC is home to a population of 470k people, from which 92.3% are citizens. As of 2020, 12.8% of Raleigh, NC residents were born outside of the country (60.2k people).

In 2020, there were 1.89 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (249k people) in Raleigh, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 132k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 22.7k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.3%

2020 Citizenship

91.8%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 92.3% of Raleigh, NC residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Raleigh, NC was 91.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Raleigh, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Raleigh, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
249k ± 3.71k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
132k ± 3.06k
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
22.7k ± 1.73k

10.9%

Hispanic Population

51.2k people

10.9% of the people in Raleigh, NC are hispanic (51.2k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Raleigh, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
224,275 ± 11,501 people
India
74,765 ± 6,689 people
Honduras
37,815 ± 4,766 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 224,275 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 74,765 and Honduras with 37,815.

Foreign-Born Population

12.8%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

60.2k people

13.4%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

62.4k people

As of 2020, 12.8% of Raleigh, NC residents (60.2k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Raleigh, NC was 13.4%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Raleigh, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
5,286 ± 511
Gulf War (2001-)
4,858 ± 871
Gulf War (1990s)
3,928 ± 513

Raleigh, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.09 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Raleigh, NC employs 259k people. The largest industries in Raleigh, NC are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (38,152 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (30,921 people), and Retail Trade (25,201 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($93,015), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($83,173), and Utilities ($75,665).

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.32 times higher than the average income of females, which is $49,357. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

259k

2020 Value

± 5,046

1.59%

1 Year growth

± 2.52%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Raleigh, NC grew at a rate of 1.59%, from 255k employees to 259k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Raleigh, NC, are Management Occupations (32,021 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (29,184 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (27,953 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Raleigh, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

259k

2020 Value

± 5,046

1.59%

1 Year growth

± 2.52%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Raleigh, NC grew at a rate of 1.59%, from 255k employees to 259k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Raleigh, NC, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (38,152 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (30,921 people), and Retail Trade (25,201 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Raleigh, NC, though some of these residents may live in Raleigh, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$46,616

Median earning men ± $1,469

$39,131

Median earning women ± $1,337

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($76,211), Information ($67,159), and Public Administration ($63,638).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($93,235), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($54,236), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($54,169).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $53.9B, followed by Machinery ($49B) and Pharmaceuticals ($48.7B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound North Carolina products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for North Carolina.

$488B

2020 Value in North Carolina

$926B

Projected 2050 Value in North Carolina

89.6% growth

In 2020, total outbound North Carolina trade was $488B. This is expected to increase 89.6% to $926B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound North Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Most Common Trade Partners

South Carolina
$35.1B
Virginia
$27B
Georgia
$18.5B

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was South Carolina with $35.1B, followed by Virginia with $27B and Georgia and $18.5B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that North Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Senators Elections

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Richard Burr

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2005

Thom Tillis

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives Elections

US Representatives from North Carolina

North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for North Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Raleigh, NC awarded 13,446 degrees. The student population of Raleigh, NC in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 21,728 male students and 22,065 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Raleigh, NC are White (7,550 and 63.2%), followed by Black or African American (1,895 and 15.9%), Hispanic or Latino (831 and 6.96%), and Asian (749 and 6.27%).

The largest universities in Raleigh, NC by number of degrees awarded are North Carolina State University at Raleigh (10,090 and 75%), MyComputerCareer.edu-Raleigh (1,813 and 13.5%), and Meredith College (638 and 4.74%).

The most popular majors in Raleigh, NC are Computer Systems Networking & Telecommunications (1,869 and 13.9%), General Business Administration & Management (1,091 and 8.11%), and Computer Science (562 and 4.18%).

The median tuition costs in Raleigh, NC are $21,879 for private four year colleges, and $6,535 and $26,654 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Raleigh, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 53.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 23.8%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 43,793 (49.6% men and 50.4% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 43,793 students enrolled in Raleigh, NC, 49.6% men and 50.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 25,579 records, of which 51% were women and 49% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Psychology
327 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
759 degree-majors awarded
General Biological Sciences
407 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Raleigh, NC was General Psychology with 327 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Raleigh, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
10,090 degrees awarded
MyComputerCareer.edu-Raleigh
1,813 degrees awarded
Meredith College
638 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was North Carolina State University at Raleigh with 10,090 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 7,024 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Raleigh, NC, which is 1.09 times more than the 6,422 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 7,550 degrees mean that there were 3.98 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,895 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($21,879) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($2,586) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,082) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Measure

In 2020, 0.849% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.733% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were High School or Equivalent (2.14M), Some college (1.89M), and Bachelors Degree (1.54M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Raleigh, NC was $266,900 in 2020, which is 1.16 times larger than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $248,300 to $266,900, a 7.49% increase. The homeownership rate in Raleigh, NC is 51.5%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Raleigh, NC have an average commute time of 24.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Raleigh, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Raleigh, NC is $69,720. In 2020, the place with the highest median household income in Raleigh, NC was Census Tract 517 with a value of $232,670, followed by Census Tract 537.21 and Census Tract 538.08, with respective values of $154,722 and $153,902.

Housing

Property

$266,900

Median Property Value 2020

±$5,140

$96,520

Median Property Taxes

±$2,584

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Raleigh, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Raleigh, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

51.5%

Homeownership

2020

67.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 51.5% of the housing units in Raleigh, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 51.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Raleigh, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 517
Census Tract 537.21
Census Tract 538.08

In 2020, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Raleigh, NC was Census Tract 517 with a value of $232,670, followed by Census Tract 537.21 and Census Tract 538.08, with respective values of $154,722 and $153,902.

The following map shows all of the places in Raleigh, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$69,720

Median Household Income

± $1,600

188k

Number of Households

± 4,059

In 2020, the median household income of the 188k households in Raleigh, NC grew to $69,720 from the previous year's value of $67,266.

The following chart displays the households in Raleigh, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Raleigh, NC is from North Carolina.

0.47

2020 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.472

2019 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2020, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.395% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (75.3%)
Worked At Home (12.1%)
Carpooled (7.43%)

In 2020, 75.3% of workers in Raleigh, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (12.1%) and those who carpooled to work (7.43%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

24.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Raleigh, NC have a shorter commute time (24.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.85% of the workforce in Raleigh, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Raleigh, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Raleigh, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Raleigh, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

11.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Raleigh, NC (53.1k out of 450k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 18 - 24, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Raleigh, NC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

89.9% of the population of Raleigh, NC has health coverage, with 55.1% on employee plans, 11.7% on Medicaid, 8.02% on Medicare, 14% on non-group plans, and 1.14% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in North Carolina was $7,264 in 2014. This is a 3.37% increase from the previous year ($7,027).

Primary care physicians in Wake County, NC see 1177 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.339% decrease from the previous year (1181 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1397 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 319 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for North Carolina. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in North Carolina, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Wake County, NC.

1,177 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Wake County, NC

Primary care physicians in Wake County, NC see an average of 1,177 patients per year. This represents a 0.339% decrease from the previous year (1,181 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Wake County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of North Carolina across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.7% under 18 years, 29.1% between 18 and 34 years, 37.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 10.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.8% were men and 53.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

10.1%

Uninsured

55.1%

Employer Coverage

11.7%

Medicaid

8.02%

Medicare

14%

Non-Group

1.14%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Raleigh, NC declined by 1.08% from 10.2% to 10.1%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Raleigh, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.