Wake Forest had 58,147 residents on July 1, 2025, the Census Bureau estimates, up 22.2% since 2020 and 93% since 2010. Age, income and housing.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is linked to its source. Census Bureau customer line: 1-800-923-8282. Updated when the bureau publishes new figures.
Wake Forest had an estimated 58,147 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates. That makes it the fourth-largest municipality in Wake County, after Raleigh, Cary and Apex, by the bureau’s count. The town reaches into Franklin County: 55,435 of its residents lived in Wake County and 2,712 in Franklin County in the 2025 estimates. The bureau’s QuickFacts page for Wake Forest gathers the headline numbers.
Where the numbers come from
- Population counts: the 2010 census and 2020 census
- Yearly estimates: Vintage 2025 estimates, for July 1 of each year
- Age, income, housing: American Community Survey 2020-2024, five-year profile
- Town demographics page: the Planning Department’s demographics page, 919-435-9510
Growth since 2010
Wake Forest grew from 30,117 people in the 2010 census to 47,601 in 2020, up 58.1%. Since the 2020 census it has added about 10,500 more, up 22.2%. The town gained 2,349 people from 2023 to 2024 and 1,533 from 2024 to 2025, growth of 4.3% and 2.7%.
How Wake Forest compares
| Place | 2010 census | 2020 census | July 1, 2025 estimate | Change since 2020 census |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest | 30,117 | 47,601 | 58,147 | +22.2% |
| Rolesville | 3,786 | 9,475 | 12,839 | +35.5% |
| Knightdale | 11,401 | 19,435 | 23,144 | +19.1% |
| Zebulon | 4,433 | 6,903 | 11,933 | +72.9% |
| Creedmoor | 4,124 | 4,866 | 5,046 | +3.7% |
| Raleigh | 403,892 | 467,665 | 506,306 | +8.3% |
| Wake County | 900,993 | 1,129,410 | 1,257,235 | +11.3% |
| Franklin County | 60,619 | 68,573 | 82,037 | +19.6% |
Census counts come from the 2010 and 2020 censuses; estimates from the Vintage 2025 file. The neighbors listed are the Census places of more than 5,000 people within 15 miles of the town.
Who lives here
From the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates, averaged over those five years:
| Measure | Wake Forest | Wake County | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 37.3 | 39.1 |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 23.0% | 21.8% |
| 65 and older | 12.8% | 12.9% | 17.2% |
| Households | 18,403 | 460,175 | 4,282,345 |
| Average household size | 2.81 | 2.51 | 2.44 |
| Median household income | $123,802 | $105,768 | $72,388 |
| People below the poverty line | 4.5% | 8.1% | 13.0% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or more | 59.5% | 57.2% | 35.7% |
Wake Forest has a bigger share of children and larger households than the county or state, and a higher median household income than both.
Housing
| Measure | Wake Forest | Wake County | Franklin County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 19,428 | 496,047 | 31,767 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.0% | 64.1% | 78.6% |
| Median value, owner-occupied homes | $474,500 | $461,300 | $284,300 |
| Median gross rent | $1,596 | $1,623 | $1,083 |
Source: ACS 2020-2024 five-year estimates. Survey values trail today’s market; for current prices see our home prices guide.
What this means for you
- Expect more growth: the town grew 2.7% from 2024 to 2025, against 1.5% for Raleigh.
- With 26.5% of residents under 18, schools and youth sports fill fast; see our schools guide.
- The ACS figures are five-year averages and carry margins of error; check the bureau’s tables before quoting a small difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Wake Forest, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates Wake Forest had 58,147 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 47,601.
How fast is Wake Forest growing?
Wake Forest grew 58.1% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, from 30,117 to 47,601. It added 1,533 people from 2024 to 2025, up 2.7%, faster than Wake County’s 2.3%.
What county is Wake Forest in?
Mostly Wake County. Of the town’s 58,147 estimated residents in 2025, 55,435 lived in Wake County and the rest in Franklin County, the Census Bureau estimates.
What is the median household income in Wake Forest?
The median household income in Wake Forest was $123,802 in the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with $105,768 for Wake County and $72,388 for North Carolina.
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