The Raleigh metro is home to 1,449,594 people (up 11.3% over five years), with a median household income of $96,066. Typical rent of $1,669/month works out to 20.8% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Raleigh's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 20.1% |
| Professional & management | 19.9% |
| Retail trade | 9.8% |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 7.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 20.8% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Raleigh market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,669/month suggests a household income around $67,000/year. The metro's median household income is $96,066.
By workforce share: Education & health care (20.1%), Professional & management (19.9%), Retail trade (9.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).