Apex, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27539
Wake County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,692
- 229/sq mi High-density area
- $145,947
- Median income Above-median income area
- $565,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 64.0%
- 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 4%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 229
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27539 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 27539 (Apex, NC) rose +3.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 262.3 in 2023 to 270.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27539 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Apex, Wake County, North Carolina, home to 18,692 residents across 81.7 square miles, a density of 229 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27539 skews affluent, with a median household income of $145,947 (111% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $58,937. The poverty rate is 2.5%, with unemployment at 4.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $565,600 (118% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 83.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,885.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 64.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.7, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wake County, so 27539 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 27539
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Apex, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27539.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
105 establishments
- Construction
Construction
99 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 41
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
41 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 37
Other services (except public administration)
37 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 31
Real estate and rental and leasing
31 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 27539, 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
18,692
Population
81.7
Area (sq mi)
229
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27539?
37.7
Median Age
51.0%
Male
49.0%
Female
9.0%
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?
$145,947
Median Household Income
+111% vs state ZIP avg
$58,937
Per Capita Income
2.5%
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
28.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27539 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Apex, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$145,947 Top 2% higher than 98% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina 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
9,068housing units
9,068
Total Housing Units
8,709
Occupied Units
359
Vacant Units
2.97
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$565,600
Median Home Value
+118% vs state ZIP avg
$1,885
Median Rent
2004
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
+3.0%
YoY Change (2024)
270
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+170%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27539 have increased 3.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +170% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.9% | 169 |
| 2021 | +15.3% | 195 |
| 2022 | +23.9% | 241 |
| 2023 | +8.7% | 262 |
| 2024 | +3.0% | 270 |
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 482 business establishments in ZIP 27539, employing approximately 5,391 people with a combined annual payroll of $334,340,000.
482
Businesses
5,391
Employees
$334.3M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 105 | 21.8% |
| Construction | 99 | 20.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 41 | 8.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 7.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 31 | 6.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 30 | 6.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 28 | 5.8% |
| Retail trade | 28 | 5.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 18 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 16 | 3.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 2.7% |
| Educational services | 11 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 2.1% |
| Information | 8 | 1.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 1.2% |
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 27539 vs 27518 →
ZIP 27539 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27606
Raleigh (27606)
43,210 residents
- 27513
Cary (27513)
40,755 residents
- 27519
Cary (27519)
39,178 residents
- 27526
Fuquay Varina (27526)
38,894 residents
- 27511
Cary (27511)
32,029 residents
- 27502
Apex (27502)
30,831 residents
- 27540
Holly Springs (27540)
29,363 residents
- 27607
Raleigh (27607)
25,188 residents
- 27518
Cary (27518)
19,630 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27539 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27539 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 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
- 27518
Cary (27518)
$123,488 median income
- 27513
Cary (27513)
$121,989 median income
- 27526
Fuquay Varina (27526)
$110,017 median income
- 27511
Cary (27511)
$107,860 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27539 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27518 | Cary, NC | 19,630 | 4.3 mi |
| 27511 | Cary, NC | 32,029 | 6.2 mi |
| 27540 | Holly Springs, NC | 29,363 | 5.4 mi |
| 27513 | Cary, NC | 40,755 | 8.7 mi |
| 27502 | Apex, NC | 30,831 | 6.4 mi |
| 27526 | Fuquay Varina, NC | 38,894 | 9.4 mi |
| 27606 | Raleigh, NC | 43,210 | 7.0 mi |
| 27519 | Cary, NC | 39,178 | 9.9 mi |
| 27607 | Raleigh, NC | 25,188 | 10.7 mi |
| 27523 | Apex, NC | 9,552 | 10.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27539, 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 (18,692 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 27539 in?
ZIP code 27539 (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 27539?
ZIP code 27539 in Apex, NC has a population of 18,692 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27539?
The median household income in ZIP 27539 is $145,947, which is 91% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27539?
The median home value in ZIP 27539 is $565,600, which is 103% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27539?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27539 is White at 72.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27539?
ZIP code 27539 has 482 business establishments employing approximately 5,391 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27539?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27539 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (105), Construction (99), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (41). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27539?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27539 increased by 3.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 170%. 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 27539?
In ZIP code 27539, 74.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 64.0% 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 27539?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27539 is 28.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27539?
In ZIP code 27539, approximately 83.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27539?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27539 is 2.5% 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 27539's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27539 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.