Apex, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27502
Wake County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 30,831
- 420/sq mi High-density area
- $143,922
- Median income Above-median income area
- $550,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 68.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Apex pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 5%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 420
- people per sq mi
- 82%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27502 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 27502 (Apex, NC) rose +6.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 285.8 in 2023 to 304.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27502 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Apex, Wake County, North Carolina, with 30,831 residents across 73.4 square miles, a density of 420 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27502 skews affluent, with a median household income of $143,922 (108% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $60,734. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.3% and unemployment is 2.4%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $550,900 (112% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 81.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,909.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 68.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.8, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wake County, so 27502 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 27502
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Apex, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27502.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
264 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
162 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
133 establishments
- Construction
Construction
114 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
113 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 27502, Apex, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
30,831
Population
73.4
Area (sq mi)
420
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27502?
37.8
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
16.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$143,922
Median Household Income
+108% vs state ZIP avg
$60,734
Per Capita Income
2.3%
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Unemployment Rate
25.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27502 ranks nationally
Apex, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$143,922 Top 5% higher than 95% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,190housing units
18,190
Total Housing Units
17,368
Occupied Units
822
Vacant Units
2.78
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$550,900
Median Home Value
+112% vs state ZIP avg
$1,909
Median Rent
2005
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.5%
YoY Change (2024)
304
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+204%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27502 have increased 6.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +204% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.2% | 187 |
| 2021 | +12.8% | 211 |
| 2022 | +22.6% | 258 |
| 2023 | +10.6% | 286 |
| 2024 | +6.5% | 304 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,281 business establishments in ZIP 27502, employing approximately 12,627 people with a combined annual payroll of $593,829,000.
1,281
Businesses
12,627
Employees
$593.8M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 264 | 20.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 162 | 12.7% |
| Retail trade | 133 | 10.4% |
| Construction | 114 | 8.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 113 | 8.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 98 | 7.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 90 | 7.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 69 | 5.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 60 | 4.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 37 | 2.9% |
| Information | 32 | 2.5% |
| Educational services | 32 | 2.5% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 23 | 1.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17 | 1.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 27502 vs 27523 →
ZIP 27502 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27513
Cary (27513)
40,755 residents
- 27519
Cary (27519)
39,178 residents
- 27511
Cary (27511)
32,029 residents
- 27502
Apex (27502)
30,831 residents
- 27540
Holly Springs (27540)
29,363 residents
- 27517
Chapel Hill (27517)
23,346 residents
- 27560
Morrisville (27560)
22,623 residents
- 27518
Cary (27518)
19,630 residents
- 27539
Apex (27539)
18,692 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27502 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27502 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27562
New Hill (27562)
$172,955 median income
- 27519
Cary (27519)
$165,586 median income
- 27539
Apex (27539)
$145,947 median income
- 27502
Apex (27502)
$143,922 median income
- 27523
Apex (27523)
$135,625 median income
- 27540
Holly Springs (27540)
$128,989 median income
- 27517
Chapel Hill (27517)
$128,683 median income
- 27518
Cary (27518)
$123,488 median income
- 27513
Cary (27513)
$121,989 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27502 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27523 | Apex, NC | 9,552 | 4.4 mi |
| 27519 | Cary, NC | 39,178 | 6.2 mi |
| 27539 | Apex, NC | 18,692 | 6.4 mi |
| 27518 | Cary, NC | 19,630 | 8.0 mi |
| 27562 | New Hill, NC | 1,938 | 6.8 mi |
| 27540 | Holly Springs, NC | 29,363 | 7.9 mi |
| 27511 | Cary, NC | 32,029 | 7.9 mi |
| 27513 | Cary, NC | 40,755 | 8.5 mi |
| 27560 | Morrisville, NC | 22,623 | 10.8 mi |
| 27517 | Chapel Hill, NC | 23,346 | 10.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27502, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (30,831 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Wake County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 27502 in?
ZIP code 27502 (Apex) is located in Wake County, North Carolina. Wake County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wake-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27502?
ZIP code 27502 in Apex, NC has a population of 30,831 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27502?
The median household income in ZIP 27502 is $143,922, which is 89% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27502?
The median home value in ZIP 27502 is $550,900, which is 98% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27502?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27502 is White at 67.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27502?
ZIP code 27502 has 1,281 business establishments employing approximately 12,627 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27502?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27502 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (264), Health care and social assistance (162), Retail trade (133). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27502?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27502 increased by 6.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 204%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 27502?
In ZIP code 27502, 78.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 68.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 27502?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27502 is 25.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27502?
In ZIP code 27502, approximately 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27502?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27502 is 2.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 27502's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27502 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Apex, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.