Raleigh NC
North Carolina · Pop. 481,031
Raleigh, NC: median household income of $85,395, median rent of $1,572/mo, 4.4% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$85,395
per year
Median Rent
$1,572
per month
Median Home
$416k
home value
Unemployment
4.4%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
11.9%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
23 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Raleigh, NC Reality Check"
In Raleigh, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $85,395 and median rent is $1,572/month. 51% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $415,800 — that's 4.9× the median income. 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. Employment picture: 4.40% unemployment — a healthy job market. Poverty rate: 11.9%. Average commute: 23 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 37.7/100k avg monthly rate (8645 reported); Property crime: 185/100k avg monthly rate (42442 reported). Raleigh was founded in 1770 — that's 256 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 146.2 sq miles at 3,291 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 315 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 67/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Weather
/100Average high 71.7°F, low 53.7°F. 38 days per year above 90°F. 53.8 inches of annual precipitation.
Safety
/100Violent crime: 37.7/100k avg monthly rate (8645 reported); Property crime: 185/100k avg monthly rate (42442 reported).