Census ACS · #42 MSA
Raleigh Metro Area
The Raleigh-Cary, Nc Metropolitan Statistical Area has 1,449,594 residents. The median household income is $96,066 and the median home value is $381,000.
1,449,594
Population
684
People / sq mi
$96,066
Median Income
$381,000
Median Home Value
The Raleigh CBSA covers 2,118 sq mi of land at 684.3 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 60.7% |
| Black or African American | 19.1% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% |
Economy & Income
$96,066
Median Household Income
$49,462
Per Capita Income
5.5%
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Raleigh metro's price level is 98.2 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 1.8% lower the US average. The local median income of $96,066 has the buying power of $97,870 in average-priced US metros.
98.2
Price Level (US = 100)
$97,870
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$96,066
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$381,000
Median Home Value
$1,459
Median Rent
67.0%
Homeownership
Education
92.9%
High School+
50.2%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.6%
Drive Alone
23.4%
Work From Home
26.9 min
Avg Commute
40.1%
Foreign Born
Raleigh spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in North Carolina
Largest counties in North Carolina
Part of North Carolina
Other metros
Metro areas in North Carolina
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Raleigh-Cary, Nc Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 1,449,594 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #42 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Raleigh metro area is $96,066, with a per capita income of $49,462.
The Raleigh-Cary, Nc CBSA spans the state of North Carolina.
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More from North Carolina
Data for the Raleigh-Cary, Nc CBSA (39580) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Raleigh is defined demographically by education — 50.2% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree, above the national average. With 1,449,594 residents, Raleigh is a metro area in NC.
Households here are among the highest-earning of all US metro areas: median income is $96,066, above the US median of $78,538. Poverty is among the lowest of comparable US metro areas, at 5.5% — below the national 12.4%. A typical home is worth $381,000, with typical rent around $1,459.
Raleigh is among the best-educated US metro areas: 50.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree, above the national 35.0%.
The education numbers are the throughline: a college-heavy population in Raleigh usually coincides with higher incomes and a workforce concentrated in professional and information industries.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.