What are the schools like in Apex, NC?

Apex is served primarily by Wake County Schools. The district operates 122 elementary schools, 40 middle schools, and 36 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.3:1.

What is the median household income in Apex?

The median household income in Apex, NC is $129,688 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Apex, NC?

Apex has an average high temperature of 50.9°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.8 inches.

Apex, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Apex, NC affordable or expensive?

Apex's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Apex is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $458,200 and the median rent is $1,668 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Apex, NC?

Apex has a violent crime rate of 54.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1143.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Apex, NC a Good Place to Live?

Apex is a mid-sized city of 65,541 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $129,688 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Apex stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Apex is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Apex city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.0

Apex's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Apex costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Apex, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$458,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,668	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$129,688	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Apex's violent crime rate is 54.5 per 100,000 residents — 86% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

54.5 /100k

Property Crime

1143.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Apex is served primarily by Wake County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Apex, NC	National Avg
School District	Wake County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	122	—
Middle Schools	40	—
High Schools	36	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	65.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Apex sees average highs of 50.9°F in January and 89.0°F in July, with 48.3 inches of annual precipitation and 4.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Apex, NC
Average High — January	50.9°F
Average High — July	89.0°F
Annual Precipitation	48.3"
Annual Snowfall	4.8"

Demographics

Metric	Apex, NC	National Avg
Population	65,541	—
Median Age	35.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.9%	18.9%
Asian	14.8%	6.3%
Under 18	29.1%	22.2%
65 and over	8.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cary, NC 5 mi Holly Springs, NC 5 mi Morrisville, NC 8 mi Fuquay-Varina, NC 10 mi Governors Village, NC 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Apex

Apex, NC is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

27502 27539 27523 27562

Apex vs Other Cities

Apex, NC vs Cary, NC Apex, NC vs Holly Springs, NC Apex, NC vs Morrisville, NC Apex, NC vs Fuquay-Varina, NC Apex, NC vs Governors Village, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Apex, NC affordable or expensive?

Apex's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Apex roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $458,200 and median rent is $1,668/month.

What is the crime rate in Apex, NC?

Apex's violent crime rate is 54.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1143.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Apex?

Public schools in Apex are operated by Wake County Schools. The district has 122 elementary, 40 middle, and 36 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 65.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Apex, NC a good place to live?

Apex, NC has a population of 65,541, a median household income of $129,688, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Apex?

Apex averages 50.9°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.3 inches with about 4.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Apex?

Apex, NC is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 27502, 27539, 27523, 27562.

What is the population of Apex?

The population of Apex, North Carolina is 65,541 with a median age of 35.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Apex?

Key numbers for living in Apex: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $458,200, median household income $129,688, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Apex side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.