Raleigh, North Carolina

Research Triangle innovation hub

Southeast Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro

U.S. News & World Report (2025)

#5 Best Places to Live

Forbes (2024)

#3 Best Places for Business

WhereAtHome Score

71

C-

out of 100

Overview

Raleigh, North Carolina is a mid-sized U.S. city with an estimated population around 470,000 in 2025, known for balanced growth and economic opportunity. The median home value is roughly $435,712, reflecting a healthy but more affordable housing market relative to many national tech hubs. The Research Triangle offers exceptional employment in tech, biotech, and education sectors.

Key Highlights

  • Research Triangle Park - major tech and biotech hub
  • Three major universities: NC State, Duke (nearby), UNC (nearby)
  • Affordable relative to other tech hubs
  • Growing food and craft beer scene
  • Mild four-season climate
  • Strong job growth trajectory

Key Metrics

Population 2024

470,763

Source: Census ACS

Median Home Value 2026

$435,237

Source: Zillow ZHVI

Median Household Income 2023

$82,424

Source: Census ACS

Average Commute 2023

24.3 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

31

Source: Walk Score

Crime Level 2024

Moderate-Low

Source: FBI CDE

School Rating

2025

B+ (7.5/10)

Source: Curated

Cost of Living Index 2025

105 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

Wake County (county-level results)

62%
36%
Democrat 402,984
Republican 236,735
Leans D+25.6

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

90°F

Winter Low

30°F

Annual Rainfall

46"

Sunny Days

213

Amenities & Infrastructure

200+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

5 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

3 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

Duke Health WakeMed SAS Institute Cisco IBM

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 47.2/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 52.2/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 59.9/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 65/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 31/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 51.4/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 71

Location

Raleigh, NC (35.7796, -78.6382)
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Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

Related Reading

relocation tips

How to Compare Walkability Between Cities Using Real Walk Score Data

San Francisco scores 89. Raleigh scores 31. Here's what that gap actually measures, what it misses, and how to field-test it before you move.

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