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Wake County

NC · Pop. 1,151,009 · Urban County

42/100Homestead Score

Wake County is an urban county in North Carolina, spanning 835 square miles with 1,151,009 residents at a density of 1378.5 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, soybeans, wheat. A median home price of $423,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.71% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 223-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.6°F and average winter lows of 31.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 46 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Duke Raleigh Hospital is 3.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.71%
Growing Season: 223 days
Broadband: 97.9%
Density: 1378.5/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 223-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.71% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 97.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Duke Raleigh Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.2% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A median home price of $423,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 1378.5 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Wake County, NC is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
42/100
Median home price
$423k
Property tax
0.71%
Growing season
223 days (zone 8a)
Annual rainfall
46"
Broadband
97.9%
Nearest hospital
Duke Raleigh Hospital, 3.2 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.71%
Median Household Income$101,763
Poverty Rate7.9%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$423K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8a
Growing Season223 days
Annual Rainfall46 inches
Avg Summer High88.6°F
Avg Winter Low31.7°F
Top CropsHay, Soybeans, Wheat

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire6/10
Tornado10/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalDuke Raleigh Hospital (3.2 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities8

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage97.9%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Wake County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Wake County?
Wake County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 223-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.6°F, and average winter lows of 31.7°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, wheat.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $423,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.71%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 97.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Duke Raleigh Hospital is 3.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 8 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.