Raleigh, NC real estate investing data

Updated 2026-11-09 · Official Census, HUD, NAIC and FHFA figures

Summary

In Wake County, the county around Raleigh, the median home value is $422,800, median rent is $1,508 a month and the effective property tax rate is 0.71%. A $250,000 purchase at that rate means about $1,775 a year in property tax. Homeowners insurance averages $1,852 a year across North Carolina.

Median home value
$422,800
Median rent / month
$1,508
Property tax rate
0.71%
Gross rent yield
4.28%

How does Raleigh compare with the rest of North Carolina?

Home values in Wake County are 106% above the median North Carolina county ($205,300). Rent is 75% above the state median ($860). The median county's property tax rate is 0.69%, against 0.71% here. Gross yield is a year of median rent divided by median home value. It leaves out all costs, so use it only to compare areas.

Raleigh fair market rent by size

HUD Fair Market Rents for Wake County
Studio$1,489
1 bedroom$1,552
2 bedrooms$1,689
3 bedrooms$2,103
4 bedrooms$2,823

Raleigh home price growth

FHFA annual price change for Wake County
Latest year1.0%
5 years, per year9.5%
10 years, per year7.5%

Is there a transfer tax in Raleigh?

$1 per $500 or fractional part of consideration or value, paid by the transferor (G.S. 105-228.30). Paid to the county register of deeds; the county keeps half of the proceeds. NC General Assembly, G.S. 105-228.30

Common questions

What is the property tax rate in Raleigh?

The effective rate in Wake County is 0.71%, based on median taxes paid and median home value in the Census ACS (2019-2023). Your bill may differ, especially if a purchase triggers a reassessment.

What is fair market rent in Raleigh?

HUD's 2027 Fair Market Rent for Wake County is $1,689 for two bedrooms and $2,103 for three. HUD sets these near the 40th percentile and includes utilities, so check them against nearby listings.

How much have home prices risen in Raleigh?

FHFA's index shows Wake County prices rising 9.5% a year over the five years to 2025 and 7.5% a year over ten. Those years were unusually strong, so a lower figure is safer in a forecast.

Where these numbers come from

All figures are for Wake County as a whole, which can differ from the city and from any one neighborhood. Values, rents and taxes are from the Census ACS 2019-2023. Fair Market Rents are HUD 2027. Insurance is the NAIC 2023 North Carolina average. Price growth is FHFA's developmental county index through 2025. Estimates only, not financial advice.

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