City profile
Wake Forest, NC
Wake County · Population 52,844
Wake Forest is a city in Wake County, NC with about 52,844 residents and a typical home value near $474,000. It is 15 miles from Raleigh, NC, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Mild & temperate
Winter avg
42°F
Summer avg
79°F
Sunny days / yr
215
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$474,500
Typical monthly housing
$2,913
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
109
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.85%
- State income tax (top)
- 4.25%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 7.00%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 96/100
Top hazards: Hail, Riverine flooding, Heat wave
Nearest major airport
16 mi to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 62% Democratic / 36% Republican
Community
Population
52,844
Black population
19.7%
County
Wake County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸NC is gaining retirees — a sign of strong retiree services and community
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hurricanes (coast), inland flooding
Highlights
- About 52,844 residents
- Typical home value about $474,000
- 15 miles from Raleigh, NC
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.