Raleigh had 506,306 residents on July 1, 2025, the Census Bureau estimates, up 8.3% since the 2020 census and 25% since 2010. Age, income and housing figures.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is linked to its source. Census Bureau customer line: 1-800-923-8282. Updated when the bureau publishes new figures.
Raleigh had an estimated 506,306 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates. That is the first estimate to put the city above half a million. It makes Raleigh North Carolina’s second-largest city, after Charlotte, at 964,784.
Raleigh at a glance
- Population, July 1, 2025 (estimate): 506,306
- 2020 census: 467,665
- 2010 census: 403,892
- Median age: 34.7
- Median household income: $85,395
- Quick summary from the bureau: Census QuickFacts for Raleigh
Growth since 2010
The 2010 census counted 403,892 people in Raleigh and the 2020 census 467,665, growth of 15.8%. The estimates show the pace picking up after 2022: the city added about 15,000 people between July 2022 and July 2023, then about 8,500 and 7,300 in the next two years. From 2010 to 2025 the city grew about 25%.
Who lives in Raleigh
From the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, compared with Wake County and the state:
| Measure | Raleigh | Wake County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 37.3 | 39.1 |
| Households | 203,443 | 460,175 | 4,282,345 |
| Average household size | 2.27 | 2.51 | 2.44 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 and older) | 54.0% | 57.2% | 35.7% |
| Median household income | $85,395 | $105,768 | $72,388 |
| People in poverty | 11.9% | 8.1% | 13.0% |
Raleigh is younger than the county and the state, and more than half its adults hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Its households are smaller than the county’s.
Housing
| Measure | Raleigh | Wake County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 224,853 | 496,047 | 4,895,668 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 50.7% | 64.1% | 66.6% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 49.3% | 35.9% | 33.4% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $415,800 | $461,300 | $288,900 |
| Median gross rent | $1,572 | $1,623 | $1,228 |
Raleigh is close to an even split between owners and renters, unlike the county and the state. Survey home values trail the market; for current prices see our home prices guide.
Raleigh, Wake County and the neighbors
Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2025, against the April 2020 estimates base:
| Place | 2020 base | July 1, 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 1,129,356 | 1,257,235 | +11.3% |
| Raleigh | 468,102 | 506,306 | +8.2% |
| Cary | 174,787 | 183,582 | +5.0% |
| Wake Forest | 48,009 | 58,147 | +21.1% |
| Garner | 31,463 | 41,562 | +32.1% |
| Morrisville | 29,848 | 32,466 | +8.8% |
| Knightdale | 19,520 | 23,144 | +18.6% |
| Rolesville | 9,663 | 12,839 | +32.9% |
Raleigh holds about 40% of Wake County’s people. Its smaller neighbors Garner, Knightdale and Rolesville are growing several times faster in percentage terms.
What this means for you
- Raleigh is now a city of more than half a million, by the bureau’s estimate.
- Half the city’s homes are rented; the county is mostly owners.
- The next full count is the 2030 census.
More about the city: history and landmarks and Raleigh, Wake County and the neighbors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Raleigh, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates Raleigh had 506,306 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 467,665.
How fast is Raleigh growing?
Raleigh grew 15.8% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, from 403,892 to 467,665, and an estimated 8.2% more from the 2020 base to 2025.
When did Raleigh pass 500,000 people?
The Census Bureau’s estimates put Raleigh at 490,503 on July 1, 2023, and 499,017 on July 1, 2024, then 506,306 on July 1, 2025, the first estimate above 500,000.
What is the median household income in Raleigh?
The median household income in Raleigh was $85,395 in the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with $105,768 for Wake County and $72,388 for North Carolina.
What is the population of Wake County?
The Census Bureau estimates Wake County had 1,257,235 residents on July 1, 2025, up 11.3% from its 2020 base. Raleigh holds about 40% of them.
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