Raleigh, North Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Raleigh, North Carolina is 470,763 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 41st-largest city in the United States and the 2nd-largest in North Carolina. The median household income is $82,424, the median home value is $377,800, and the median age is 34.7.

The population has grown 23.0% since 2010 (406,353 → 499,825).

470,763

Population

3119

People / sq mi

$82,424

Median Income

$377,800

Median Home Value

Raleigh covers 150.9 sq mi of land at 3119 people per square mile.

About Raleigh, NC

Raleigh is a city in North Carolina with a population of 470,763. It ranks #2 among cities in North Carolina by population. The median age is 34.7, younger than the national median. The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

The median household income in Raleigh is $82,424, above the US median of $74,580. 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $377,800, with monthly rent averaging $1,468. The homeownership rate of 51.2% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Raleigh reflects 52.9% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 23.4% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 23.4 minutes each way.

Raleigh city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of Raleigh city had a population of 406,353 in 2010 and 499,825 in 2024, a 23.0% growth over 14 years. The peak was 499,825 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.50%.

499,825

Population (2024)

406,353

Population (2010)

499,825

Peak (2024)

1.50%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	406,353	-	-	estimate
2011	413,958	+7,605	+1.87%	estimate
2012	423,304	+9,346	+2.26%	estimate
2013	431,391	+8,087	+1.91%	estimate
2014	439,503	+8,112	+1.88%	estimate
2015	449,546	+10,043	+2.29%	estimate
2016	459,469	+9,923	+2.21%	estimate
2017	465,776	+6,307	+1.37%	estimate
2018	469,314	+3,538	+0.76%	estimate
2019	474,069	+4,755	+1.01%	estimate
2020	465,861	-8,208	-1.73%	estimate
2021	471,377	+5,516	+1.18%	estimate
2022	475,200	+3,823	+0.81%	estimate
2023	491,078	+15,878	+3.34%	estimate
2024	499,825	+8,747	+1.78%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	53.8%
Black or African American	27.5%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.5%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Economy & Income

$82,424

Median Household Income

$49,948

Per Capita Income

6.9%

Poverty Rate

3.2%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$377,800

Median Home Value

$1,468

Median Rent

51.2%

Owner-Occupied

Education

92.5%

High School+

52.9%

Bachelor's+

Commute

1.3%

Drive Alone

65.1%

Public Transit

23.4%

Work From Home

23.4 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

38.6%

Foreign Born

81.3%

Non-English at Home

4.8%

Veterans

9.6%

With Disability

89.9%

Health Insurance

97.7%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	20.5%
Professional, Scientific & Management	20.3%
Education, Health Care & Social Services	9.0%
Information	9.0%
Manufacturing	7.0%
Construction	6.4%
Retail Trade	4.6%
Public Administration	4.5%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services	4.3%
Transportation & Warehousing	2.5%
Agriculture & Mining	0.3%

Largest cities in North Carolina

Charlotte (886,283)Greensboro (298,564)Durham (288,465)Winston-Salem (250,887)Fayetteville (209,692)Cary (176,686)Wilmington (118,578)High Point (115,263)Concord (106,518)Asheville (94,369)View all North Carolina cities →

Largest counties in North Carolina

Wake County (1,151,009)Mecklenburg County (1,130,906)Guilford County (542,987)Forsyth County (386,740)Cumberland County (336,749)

Part of North Carolina

North Carolina demographic profile All North Carolina data →

Metro areas in North Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Raleigh (1,449,594)Greensboro (779,894)Winston (683,637)Durham (594,291)Wilmington (440,578)Asheville (410,817)All US metros →

City rankings

US Cities by Population Cities With Highest Median Income Expensive US Cities by Home Value Youngest US Cities by Median Age Racially Diverse US Cities Cities With Highest Rent Educated US Cities Cities With Highest Work From Home Rates Cheapest US Cities by Median Home Value Cities With Lowest Rent All rankings →

Common questions about Raleigh, NC

What is the population of Raleigh city, NC?What is the median household income in Raleigh city, NC?What is the median home value in Raleigh city, NC?What are the demographics of Raleigh city, NC?What is the cost of living in Raleigh city, NC?Is Raleigh city, NC growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Raleigh, North Carolina has a population of 470,763 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 41st-largest city in the United States and the 2nd-largest in North Carolina.

The median household income in Raleigh, North Carolina is $82,424, with 6.9% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Raleigh, North Carolina is $377,800, with median monthly rent at $1,468 and a homeownership rate of 51.2%.

The median age in Raleigh, North Carolina is 34.7 years. The population is 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

The population has grown 23.0% since 2010 (406,353 → 499,825).