Wake Forest

Historic buildings used today as shops and businesses
Art is everywhere in Downtown Wake Forest.
White Street Brewing Company is a popular destination for Wake Forest residents.
Wake Forest's H.L. Miller Park offers a scenic respite for Waker Forest locals.
Park signage for E. Carroll Joyner Park.

Wake Forest, NC Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,394

Population

55,700

Renter Mix

28% Rent

A historic and charming community just outside of Raleigh

Suburb Commuter History Affordable

Wake Forest, located in North Carolina's Triangle region, combines historic character with suburban convenience. Originally home to Wake Forest University, this growing town preserves its educational legacy through Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which occupies the original campus. Current rental trends show average monthly rates of $1,412 for one-bedroom units and $1,681 for two-bedroom homes, with a slight decrease in prices over the past year.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area offers 12,000 acres of water and 26,000 acres of woodlands for hiking, boating, and fishing. The Downtown Wake Forest Historic District features locally-owned shops and eateries in beautifully preserved buildings. E. Carroll Joyner Park hosts community gatherings throughout the year, including the Wake Forest Dance Festival. Housing options include apartments and single-family homes in areas like the Heritage district and Wake Forest neighborhood. Located near Capital Boulevard (US-1), residents enjoy easy access to downtown Raleigh while experiencing a distinct small-town atmosphere.

Explore the City

White Street Brewing Company is a popular destination for Wake Forest residents.

Wake Forest's H.L. Miller Park offers a scenic respite for Waker Forest locals.

Park signage for E. Carroll Joyner Park.

Wake Forest has a vibrant downtown area with a rich history.

Wake Forest has a wide variety of of walkable neighborhoods.

White Street Brewing Co. is a popular destination for Falls Lake residents.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$107,806

Average: $127,571

Education

22,076

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

29,601

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

40 Years

Largest Age Group

45-54 Years

Approximately 15% of Residents

Under 20

27%

Over 65

16%

Housing Distribution

Wake Forest has more homeowners than renters.

Renters
28%
Non-Renters
72%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
37%
Other Education
63%

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Wake Forest, NC is $1,398 for one bedroom, $1,696 for two bedrooms, and $2,090 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Wake Forest has increased by 0.2% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,398/month
816 Sq Ft
House
$2,308/month
1,900 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,963/month
1,653 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Wake Forest, NC

Getting Around

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability

30 / 100

Minimal Public Transit

Transit

10 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

Franklin Academy

Public

Grades K-12

1,651 Students

Envision Science Academy

Public

Grades K-8

741 Students

Heritage Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

622 Students

Jones Dairy Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

582 Students

Richland Creek Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

489 Students

Franklin Academy

Public

Grades K-12

1,651 Students

Envision Science Academy

Public

Grades K-8

741 Students

Heritage Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

997 Students

Endeavor Charter

Public

Grades K-8

767 Students

Wake Forest Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

968 Students

Franklin Academy

Public

Grades K-12

1,651 Students

Wake Forest High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,101 Students

Heritage High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,811 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • North Wake Landfill District Park
  • Durant Nature Park
  • Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park
  • Blue Jay Point County Park
  • Blue Jay Center for Environmental Education

Airports

  • Raleigh-Durham International

Top Apartments in Wake Forest

Houses for Rent in Wake Forest

Property Management Companies in Wake Forest, NC

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.