Raleigh, North Carolina Income Statistics
Raleigh Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Raleigh Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Raleigh | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $86,293 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $63,848 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 18.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 15.9% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Raleigh is about 19% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Raleigh (5.1%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 18% of adults in Raleigh earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Raleigh, North Carolina grew by 63.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $86,293 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Raleigh
| Metric | Raleigh | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.539 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $76,646 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $61,913 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.2% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Raleigh, it is 0.539, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Raleigh, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $515,655 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Raleigh, North Carolina has widened from about 15% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,428 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Raleigh widened by 4.0 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Raleigh | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 26.2% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 11,283 people are unemployed in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Raleigh is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Raleigh, North Carolina has fallen from 7.6% to 4.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.1% in 2019.
Raleigh, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Raleigh, NC is the largest of the 5 cities compared here, 423,734 residents against a local median of 31,683. Where Raleigh, NC breaks from the cities next to it is median household income, sitting 28% below the local median of $119,356 at $86,293. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 4.6% against a local median of 3.7%, 24% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while median household income runs behind it, so Raleigh, NC is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The cities themselves spread $59,111 on median household income, so Raleigh, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Raleigh, NC has the 4th highest median household income of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 423,734 | $86,293 #4/5 | 5.1%/yr #2/5 | 4.6% #4/5 | 0.539 #5/5 |
| Garner, NC | 24,278 | $77,830 | 4.4%/yr | 6.8% | 0.532 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 39,088 | $108,801 | 5.7%/yr | 3.9% | 0.531 |
| Cary, NC | 159,804 | $129,912 | 4.4%/yr | 3.5% | 0.519 |
| Morrisville, NC | 22,339 | $136,940 | 3.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.499 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Raleigh, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Raleigh, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Raleigh, North Carolina?
Raleigh has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $86,293, about 19% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Raleigh, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Raleigh, North Carolina rose 63%, from $52,950 to $86,293. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +63% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Raleigh in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Raleigh, North Carolina was $83,305, up 5% from $79,584 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Raleigh in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Raleigh, North Carolina was $69,807. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $86,293.
Do many residents of Raleigh, North Carolina earn over $100,000?
Yes. 18% of adults in Raleigh, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 16% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
What is the Gini coefficient in Raleigh, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Raleigh is 0.539. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Raleigh, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Raleigh, North Carolina has widened from about 15% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,428 since 2009.
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