Housing

Wake Forest’s housing market sits between Raleigh-metro and the broader NC market — consistently more expensive than the state median, slightly above the Raleigh city median, and closely tracking the wider Wake County median.

• Median home sale price: $470,000 — up 2.3% YoY (Redfin, April 2026)
• Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI): $514,537 for ZIP 27587 (Zillow, 2026)
• Median rent — all units: $2,095/month (Zumper, May 2026)
• Median rent — 2BR: ~$1,544/month
• Median rent — 3BR: $1,800–$2,100/month (limited inventory in this size)
• Comparison: Raleigh city median sale price $420K; NC state median $376,757; Wake County median $468K

Utilities

Monthly utility costs vary widely by home size and household habits — these are typical ranges to plan against.

Electricity — Duke Energy Progress

Wake Forest is in Duke Energy Progress territory. A residential customer using 1,000 kWh/month pays approximately $162/month at current rates (October 2025 step). A 1,500 sq ft home in NC typically uses 1,100–1,300 kWh/month, with summer and winter peaks pushing bills above $200.

Water & Sewer — City of Raleigh

Wake Forest residents are billed for water and sewer by the City of Raleigh, not the Town of Wake Forest. As of July 1, 2025:

• Tier 1 (0–4 CCF): $3.00 per CCF (1 CCF = 748 gallons)
• Tier 2 (5–20 CCF): $5.23 per CCF
• Tier 3 (21+ CCF): $6.73 per CCF
• The FY 2025–26 rate increase added an average $1.91/month for a typical residential customer

Raleigh utility bill explained →

Trash & Recycling — Town of Wake Forest

• FY 2025–26 (current): $24.00/month — 96-gallon trash cart plus 96-gallon recycling cart, weekly pickup
• FY 2026–27 (proposed): $25.00/month (a $1/month increase)

See our full Trash & Recycling guide for pickup days, glass drop-off, and bulk item pickup.

Natural Gas — Enbridge Gas NC

Homes with gas service are billed by Enbridge Gas NC (formerly PSNC). The utility filed for a 12.37% rate increase in September 2025, which would add approximately $6.30/month to the average residential bill once approved. Statewide residential gas bills typically run $70–$90/month with strong seasonal variation.

Internet

• Spectrum: $30–$50/month introductory; speeds 100–1,000 Mbps; covers ~90% of Wake Forest
• AT&T Fiber: $40–$140/month; speeds 300–5,000 Mbps where built out
• Ting Internet (fiber): ~$89/month for symmetrical 1 Gbps; partial Wake Forest coverage

Compare providers by address →

Taxes

Income Tax — North Carolina

• Tax year 2026 rate: 3.99% flat (reduced from 4.25% in 2025)
• Tax year 2027 rate: 3.49% scheduled (revenue trigger confirmed met per March 2026 NC Consensus Revenue Forecast)
• No municipal income tax.

NCDOR tax rate schedules →

Sales Tax — Combined Rate in Wake Forest

• NC state: 4.75%
• Wake County local: 2.00%
• Transit/special district: 0.50%
• Combined rate at the register: 7.25% (with some prepared food and short-term rentals reaching 7.5%)

Property Tax

Property tax for in-town Wake Forest residents combines the Town rate and the Wake County rate.

• Town of Wake Forest: $0.42 per $100 assessed value — held flat in the FY 2026–27 proposed budget
• Wake County (FY 2026–27): $0.5371 per $100 — up 2 cents from $0.5171, adopted June 1, 2026
• Combined rate: $0.9571 per $100
• Downtown Municipal Service District: $0.13 per $100 (drops from $0.14 in FY 2026–27)
• Example bill: A $470,000 assessed home pays approximately $4,498/year in combined property taxes (FY 2026–27)

See the dedicated Property Tax page for the full breakdown, payment options, and senior/disabled exemptions.

Vehicle Property Tax

Wake County assesses vehicle property tax annually at the combined county rate on the NADA retail value of the vehicle. There’s also a flat $30/year municipal vehicle fee. Wake County Tax Administration →

No NC inheritance or estate tax.

Groceries

Grocery costs in Wake Forest run roughly 1% above the national average (BestPlaces index of 101). Major chains serving Wake Forest include:

• Harris Teeter — Stadium Drive and Wakefield Commons (Raleigh, near town border)
• Publix — Capital Boulevard
• Food Lion — multiple locations
• Lidl — Capital Boulevard
• Aldi — Capital Boulevard corridor
• Wegmans — nearest location is N. Hills in Raleigh (~15 miles)

Transportation

Gas Prices

As of mid-May 2026, the Raleigh metro AAA average for regular unleaded was around $4.24/gallon. Live prices are at AAA NC fuel prices.

Commute Distances from Wake Forest

• To downtown Raleigh: ~17 miles, 25–35 minutes by car
• To Research Triangle Park (RTP): ~25 miles, 30–40 minutes by car
• To RDU Airport: ~25 miles, 30 minutes

Public Transit — GoTriangle WRX

The Wake Forest–Raleigh Express (WRX), operated by GoTriangle, runs morning and afternoon peak-hour express service between downtown Wake Forest, Triangle Town Center, and Raleigh Union Station, plus off-peak circulator service. Fares paid via the Umo Mobility app.

GoTriangle WRX schedule → · Town transit info →

Auto Insurance

North Carolina is consistently among the least expensive states in the country for auto insurance. Statewide averages run approximately $1,260/year for full coverage and $865/year for minimum coverage. (Bankrate, 2026)

Healthcare

Nearest Hospitals

• WakeMed Wake Forest Medical Park — 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest (in-town outpatient and urgent care)
• WakeMed North Hospital — full-service inpatient facility just south of Wake Forest, ~5–10 miles
• Duke Raleigh Hospital — 3400 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, ~17 miles south via US-1
• UNC Rex Healthcare — main campus in Raleigh, ~20 miles
• WakeMed Raleigh Campus — ~20 miles

Health Insurance — 2026 ACA Marketplace

• Average subsidy for eligible NC enrollees: $660/month (87% of NC enrollees qualified)
• Average net premium after subsidy: ~$97/month
• Average rate increase 2025 → 2026: 28.6% (enhanced subsidies expired after 2025)
• 6 insurers on the NC Marketplace in 2026 (down from 9 in 2025)

HealthCare.gov → · NC Department of Insurance →

Childcare

Childcare is one of the largest line items for Wake Forest families with young kids. Wake County center-based care runs above the NC state average.

• Center-based infant care (Wake County average): ~$15,979/year (~$1,332/month, $307/week)
• Family childcare home (Wake County): ~$11,260/year (~$938/month)
• Premium Research Triangle centers: up to $1,600/month for infants
• WCPSS Extended Day after-school programs: typically $9–$14/day depending on school
• NC statewide average daycare: ~$950/month

Major center-based providers with Wake Forest or north Wake locations include Bright Horizons, Primrose, KinderCare, and La Petite Academy — contact each center directly for current rates.

Subsidies & Resources

• NC Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP) — serves families up to 200% of federal poverty level
• Wake County: 919-212-9285 · childcaresubsidy@wake.gov
• Smart Start of Wake County — childcare quality, financial assistance navigation, family resources

Private & Independent Schools

Wake County’s public schools serve Wake Forest through WCPSS — see the Schools page for assignment, magnets, and year-round calendars. For families considering private school:

• Thales Academy Wake Forest (PreK–9, 3106 Heritage Trade Dr.) — positioned as an affordable private option; Pre-K around $5,500/year, K–5 around $6,725/year (official tuition page)
• NC private school average tuition: $9,200–$12,000/year (statewide)

An All-In Monthly Snapshot

For a representative two-adult household renting a 2-bedroom in Wake Forest with one child in center-based daycare, a typical month looks roughly like this. Numbers vary widely by household and are illustrative, not a quote.

• Rent (2BR median): ~$1,544
• Electricity: ~$160
• Water/sewer/trash: ~$80–$100
• Internet: $30–$90
• Groceries (2 adults): $700–$900
• Infant daycare: ~$1,332
• Auto insurance (one car): ~$105
• Gas (one commuter): ~$150–$200
• Healthcare (subsidized ACA plan): ~$97

Monthly subtotal before income tax and other line items: roughly $4,200–$4,650 — before any savings, recreation, kid expenses beyond daycare, or dining out. Owners replace the rent figure with mortgage + property tax + HOA; the property tax line for a median home runs roughly $375/month.

Numbers reflect the most recent available data as of June 2026. Costs change with rate cases, budget cycles, and market conditions; verify before making decisions. See the source links throughout. Spot something out of date? Send us a tip.