Wake Forest, NC vs Waukee, IA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Wake Forest
68.8
#1286 nationally
Waukee
77.3
#263 nationally
Waukee leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 31.7 min). Waukee leads in cost of living index (106 vs 116). Wake Forest leads in median household income ($115,159 vs $106,846).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Wake Forest, NC | Waukee, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.8 (#1286) | 77.3 (#263) |
| Population | 54,337 | 31,645 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $513,720 | $343,274 |
| Median Household Income | $115,159 | $106,846 |
| Average Commute | 31.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Walk Score | 20 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 116 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | R+4.8 |
Data coverage note: Waukee is missing data for 1 metric that Wake Forest has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D+
68.8 Score
Wake Forest, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$513,720
Population
54,337
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
20
Southeast
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C+
77.3 Score
Waukee, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$343,274
Population
31,645
Crime
Low
Median Income
$106,846
Midwest
View Waukee, IA →