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Raleigh Demographics

Last Modified: February 08, 2012

Raleigh, the Capital City of North Carolina, is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, currently the second largest city in North Carolina and the seat of government for Wake County. The demographic data below, taken directly from the United States Census Bureau, introduces reference points for an exploration of Raleigh's development, past and future. Data is organized and called out below as "Gateways", as a start to an exploration of the City of Raleigh.

To further investigate Raleigh's development, there are city websites listed in the left column and, on the right, links to related data and analysis. In each "Demographic Gateway" below, there are also links to relevant websites of partner organizations. As the city grows, so does our shared understanding, arrived at through collective exploration and exchange.

Geography
Population
Housing

Geography

Land Area

City of Raleigh: 144.24 square miles, 92,311.41 square acres

Raleigh Planning Jurisdiction: 183.84 square miles, 117,658.07 square acres
The City of Raleigh provides Planning and Development services beyond the City Limits into an area defined in state law as the city's "Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction" or ETJ
Raleigh Utilities Service Area: Approximately 280 square miles, serving the municipalities of Garner, Knightdale, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon.

Wake County: 857 square miles

Reference Maps

City of Raleigh Map Gallery
Online Mapping - iMAPS
Wake County and Surrounding Area Maps

Geographic Characteristics

Elevation: 434 feet / 132 meters above sea level
Average annual high: 70.7 F / 21.5 C
Average annual low: 49.9 F / 9.9 C
Average annual precipitation: 44.19 inches / 112 cm
Average annual snowfall: 4.5 inches / 11.43 cm
9,477 acres of parks and greenways
69.5 miles of dedicated public greenways

Population

City of Raleigh: 403,892 people (April 2010 Census Count)
Wake County: 900,993 people (April 2010 Census Count)
North Carolina: 9,535,483 people (April 2010 Census Count)

For a more detailed breakdown from the April 2010 Census numbers, please see the 2010 Census Profile Data.

Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill make up the three primary cities of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. The Research Triangle region encompasses the U.S. Census Bureau's Combined Statistical Area (CSA) of Raleigh-Durham-Cary in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina.

Raleigh-Durham-Cary Combined Statistical Area: 1,749,525 people (April 2010 Census Count)
Raleigh-Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA): 1,130,490 people (April 2010 Census Count)

Race Ethnicity

White alone 53.3%
Black or African American alone 28.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.4%
Asian alone 4.3%
American Indian & Alaskan Native alone .03%
Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander alone n/a
Some other race alone 0.2%
Two or more races 1.8%

Demographic Composition

Male - 48.2%*
Female - 51.8%*
* Percent of the total City of Raleigh population of 403,892 people, per April 2010 Census count)

Total Households: 162,999, housing 384,366 people (95.2% of population)
Average Household Size: 2.36 people

Family Households*: 91,186 (55.9% of total households)
Family Households with related children under 18 years: 50,326
Average Family Size: 3.06 people
* "Family Household" as defined by the U.S. Census consist of a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption.

Group Quarters Population (such as Dormitories, Supportive Housing, Jails): 19,526 people (4.8% of total city population)

Under 18 years of age: 93,236 people (23% of total city population, 2010 Census)
62 years of age and over: 42,307 people (10.5 of total city population, 2010 Census)
Median age, across the City of Raleigh: 31.9 years

Education/Enrollment (2011-2012)

Percentage high school graduate or higher 91.7%
Percentage Bachelor's degree or higher 46.2%

Wake County Public Schools Enrollment: 146,687

Higher Education:
North Carolina State University: 34,767
Shaw University: 2,945
St. Augustine's College: 1,518
Meredith College: 2,262
Wake Technical Community College Total Enrollment: 63,157
William Peace University: 765

Wake Co. Per Capita Income (2009): $39,821
State Per Capita Income (2010): $34,977
MSA Median Family Income (2010): $77,700
(MSA= Metropolitan Statistical Area for the Raleigh-Cary Region)