What are the schools like in Knightdale, NC?

Knightdale 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 Knightdale?

The median household income in Knightdale, NC is $79,364 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Knightdale, NC?

Knightdale has an average high temperature of 52.0°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Knightdale, NC affordable or expensive?

Knightdale's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Knightdale is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $305,500 and the median rent is $1,409 per month.

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

Knightdale has a violent crime rate of 194.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2923.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Knightdale, NC a Good Place to Live?

Knightdale is a small city of 19,127 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $79,364 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Knightdale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Knightdale 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

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

Metric	Knightdale, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$305,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,409	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,364	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Knightdale's violent crime rate is 194.6 per 100,000 residents — 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

194.6 /100k

Property Crime

2923.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Knightdale 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	Knightdale, 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	42.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Knightdale sees average highs of 52.0°F in January and 89.0°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Knightdale, NC
Average High — January	52.0°F
Average High — July	89.0°F
Annual Precipitation	45.0"
Annual Snowfall	3.3"

Demographics

Metric	Knightdale, NC	National Avg
Population	19,127	—
Median Age	35.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	37.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	47.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.7%	6.3%
Under 18	26.4%	22.2%
65 and over	10.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wendell, NC 8 mi Raleigh, NC 9 mi Rolesville, NC 9 mi Garner, NC 9 mi Clayton, NC 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Knightdale

Knightdale, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27545

Knightdale vs Other Cities

Knightdale, NC vs Wendell, NC Knightdale, NC vs Raleigh, NC Knightdale, NC vs Rolesville, NC Knightdale, NC vs Garner, NC Knightdale, NC vs Clayton, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Knightdale, NC affordable or expensive?

Knightdale's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Knightdale roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $305,500 and median rent is $1,409/month.

What is the crime rate in Knightdale, NC?

Knightdale's violent crime rate is 194.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2923.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Knightdale?

Public schools in Knightdale 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. 42.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Knightdale, NC a good place to live?

Knightdale, NC has a population of 19,127, a median household income of $79,364, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. 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 Knightdale?

Knightdale averages 52.0°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches with about 3.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Knightdale?

Knightdale, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27545.

What is the population of Knightdale?

The population of Knightdale, North Carolina is 19,127 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Knightdale?

Key numbers for living in Knightdale: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $305,500, median household income $79,364, crime index 86 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Knightdale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.