Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Wake Forest, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

52,844

Median Agei

38.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

64.6%34,160

Black

19.5%10,323

Hispanic/Latino

9%4,744

Two or More

3.6%1,880

Asian

2.9%1,554

Other

0.3%157

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%21

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%5

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3%1,056

High School Diploma

9.6%3,378

Some College (<1 yr)

4.8%1,681

Some College (1+ yr)

11.1%3,916

Associate's Degree

8.4%2,962

Bachelor's Degree

35.8%12,629

Master's Degree

19.1%6,744

Professional Degree

2.6%906

Doctorate

2%721

HS or Higher

96.4%

BA or Higher

59.5%

Graduate+

23.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$474,500

Median Renti

$1,596

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

74%13,617

Renter-Occupied

26%4,786

Total Units

19,428

Homeownership

74%

Vacancy Rate

5.3%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.7%225

$50K–$100K

1.3%181

$100K–$150K

0.2%29

$150K–$200K

1.9%260

$200K–$300K

7.6%1,035

$300K–$500K

43.8%5,965

$500K–$1M

41.1%5,595

$1M+

2.4%327

Rent Distribution

Under $500

196

$500–$750

175

$750–$1,000

177

$1,000–$1,250

854

$1,250–$1,500

611

$1,500–$2,000

1,766

$2,000+

927

Year Built

2020 or later

7%1,362

2010–2019

39%7,582

2000–2009

27.3%5,313

1990–1999

12%2,326

1980–1989

6.2%1,201

1970–1979

2.9%559

1960–1969

2.1%412

1950–1959

0.9%177

1940–1949

1%197

1939 or earlier

1.5%299

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

57.6%10,600

Electricity

40.8%7,501

Bottled/LP Gas

1.1%196

No Fuel

0.4%76

Fuel Oil

0.1%15

Solar

0.1%15

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$123,802

Mean Household Incomei

$146,479

Per Capita Incomei

$51,709

Poverty Ratei

4.4%

Unemploymenti

Labor Forcei

28,456

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.6%482

$10K–$15K

0.8%153

$15K–$20K

1.7%314

$20K–$25K

1.5%285

$25K–$30K

3%547

$30K–$35K

1.1%201

$35K–$40K

1.5%267

$40K–$45K

1.6%293

$45K–$50K

1.5%278

$50K–$60K

6.9%1,274

$60K–$75K

7.4%1,368

$75K–$100K

10.9%1,999

$100K–$125K

10.7%1,960

$125K–$150K

8.9%1,642

$150K–$200K

13.3%2,439

$200K+

26.6%4,901

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

291

Residentsi

565

Avg. Tenant Renti

$383/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

25 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing142 homes81% occupied$329/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers111 homes91% occupied$449/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

202/PRAC38 homes97% occupied$389/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $123,802/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $37K/yr

91.3%

Very low income$37K–$62K/yr

8.2%

Low income$62K–$99K/yr

0.5%

Who Receives This Housing

88.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

76.2% of subsidized households are minority

15.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

37.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

5,0329.5%

By Region

Top Countries

India

565

Canada

388

Mexico

235

United Kingdom

172

Korea

162

Germany

125

Philippines

Poland

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

26,963

Avg. Commutei

30.9 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

27,199

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

2,975(7.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.3%Insured

4.7%Uninsured