What are the schools like in Garner, NC?

Garner 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 Garner?

The median household income in Garner, NC is $77,171 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Garner, NC?

Garner has an average high temperature of 51.9°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Garner, NC affordable or expensive?

Garner's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Garner is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $288,900 and the median rent is $1,371 per month.

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

Garner has a violent crime rate of 356.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4507.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Garner, NC a Good Place to Live?

Garner is a small city of 31,684 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $77,171 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Garner stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Garner is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Garner 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

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

Metric	Garner, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$288,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,371	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,171	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Garner's violent crime rate is 356.8 per 100,000 residents — 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

356.8 /100k

Property Crime

4507.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Garner 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	Garner, 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	45.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Garner sees average highs of 51.9°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 50.7 inches of annual precipitation and 4.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Garner, NC
Average High — January	51.9°F
Average High — July	87.5°F
Annual Precipitation	50.7"
Annual Snowfall	4.5"

Demographics

Metric	Garner, NC	National Avg
Population	31,684	—
Median Age	37.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	62.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	24.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	20.8%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Knightdale, NC 9 mi Raleigh, NC 10 mi Clayton, NC 10 mi Fuquay-Varina, NC 11 mi Holly Springs, NC 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Garner

Garner, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27529

Garner vs Other Cities

Garner, NC vs Knightdale, NC Garner, NC vs Raleigh, NC Garner, NC vs Clayton, NC Garner, NC vs Fuquay-Varina, NC Garner, NC vs Holly Springs, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Garner, NC affordable or expensive?

Garner's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Garner roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $288,900 and median rent is $1,371/month.

What is the crime rate in Garner, NC?

Garner's violent crime rate is 356.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4507.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Garner?

Public schools in Garner 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. 45.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Garner, NC a good place to live?

Garner, NC has a population of 31,684, a median household income of $77,171, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. 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 Garner?

Garner averages 51.9°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.7 inches with about 4.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Garner?

Garner, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27529.

What is the population of Garner?

The population of Garner, North Carolina is 31,684 with a median age of 37.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Garner?

Key numbers for living in Garner: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $288,900, median household income $77,171, crime index 142 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Garner side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.