What are the schools like in Raleigh, NC?

Raleigh 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 Raleigh?

The median household income in Raleigh, NC is $78,631 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Raleigh, NC?

Raleigh has an average high temperature of 51.7°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Raleigh, NC affordable or expensive?

Raleigh's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Raleigh is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $347,000 and the median rent is $1,371 per month.

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

Raleigh has a violent crime rate of 488.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2819.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Raleigh, NC a Good Place to Live?

Raleigh is a large city of 465,517 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $78,631 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Raleigh is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Raleigh 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

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

Metric	Raleigh, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$347,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,371	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$78,631	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Raleigh's violent crime rate is 488.8 per 100,000 residents — 29% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

488.8 /100k

Property Crime

2819.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Raleigh 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	Raleigh, 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	52.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Raleigh sees average highs of 51.7°F in January and 90.6°F in July, with 49.1 inches of annual precipitation and 4.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Raleigh, NC
Average High — January	51.7°F
Average High — July	90.6°F
Annual Precipitation	49.1"
Annual Snowfall	4.5"

Demographics

Metric	Raleigh, NC	National Avg
Population	465,517	—
Median Age	34.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	55.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	28.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.4%	18.9%
Asian	4.5%	6.3%
Under 18	20.0%	22.2%
65 and over	11.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Knightdale, NC 9 mi Garner, NC 10 mi Cary, NC 11 mi Morrisville, NC 11 mi Rolesville, NC 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Raleigh

Raleigh, NC is covered by 17 ZIP codes:

27610 27612 27607 27616 27615 27604 27609 27606 27617 27603 27614 27613 27608 27601 27605 27695 27697

Raleigh vs Other Cities

Raleigh, NC vs Knightdale, NC Raleigh, NC vs Garner, NC Raleigh, NC vs Cary, NC Raleigh, NC vs Morrisville, NC Raleigh, NC vs Rolesville, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Raleigh, NC affordable or expensive?

Raleigh's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Raleigh roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $347,000 and median rent is $1,371/month.

What is the crime rate in Raleigh, NC?

Raleigh's violent crime rate is 488.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2819.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Raleigh?

Public schools in Raleigh 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. 52.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Raleigh, NC a good place to live?

Raleigh, NC has a population of 465,517, a median household income of $78,631, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 Raleigh?

Raleigh averages 51.7°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.1 inches with about 4.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is covered by 17 ZIP codes: 27610, 27612, 27607, 27616, 27615, 27604, 27609, 27606, 27617, 27603, 27614, 27613, 27608, 27601, 27605, 27695, 27697.

What is the population of Raleigh?

The population of Raleigh, North Carolina is 465,517 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Raleigh?

Key numbers for living in Raleigh: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $347,000, median household income $78,631, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Raleigh side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.