Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Wake Forest, NC

    Is Wake Forest a good place to live?

    Watch Wake Forest

    Wake Forest ranks #6 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (78/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 6.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $435,000
    +9.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,458
    per month
    Household income
    $120,777
    median
    Unemployment
    4.5%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Wake Forest

    The median home value in Wake Forest is $435,000 and median rent is $1,458 a month, against a median household income of $120,777. Homes cost about 3.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Wake Forest crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Wake Forest, NC

    Wake Forest has about 51,199 residents, 4.5% unemployment and 35% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Wake Forest with

    Wake Forest vs CharlotteWake Forest vs RaleighWake Forest vs GreensboroWake Forest vs DurhamWake Forest vs Winston-SalemWake Forest vs FayettevilleWake Forest vs CaryWake Forest vs Wilmington

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report