PlainZIP

Raleigh, NC · standard

ZIP Code 27603

Wake County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

47,033
352/sq mi
$90,484
Median income
$383,200
Median home value
50.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Raleigh pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 26%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 22%
home value, US ZIPs
352
people per sq mi
61%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27603 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 27603 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, with 47,033 residents across 133.7 square miles, a density of 352 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 27603 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,484 (31% above the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $50,497. Local economic indicators show a 12.5% poverty rate alongside 4.2% unemployment. Median home value sits at $383,200 (48% above the state average), median rent at $1,547 a month, and owner-occupancy at 61.4%.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 50.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.6, and the average commute is 28 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Wake County, letting you compare 27603 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 27603

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Raleigh, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27603.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 27603, Raleigh, 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

47,033

Population

133.7

Area (sq mi)

352

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 27603?

35.6

Median Age

50.7%

Male

49.3%

Female

10.2%

Foreign-Born

White 62.3%
African American 18.0%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 11.7%
Hispanic or Latino 14.8%

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?

$90,484

Median Household Income

+31% vs state

$50,497

Per Capita Income

12.5%

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Unemployment Rate

27.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 27603 ranks nationally

Raleigh, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$90,484 Top 26% higher than 74% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 68.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 50.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

24,238

Total Housing Units

21,942

Occupied Units

2,296

Vacant Units

2.39

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 61.4%
Renter 38.6%

$383,200

Median Home Value

+48% vs state

$1,547

Median Rent

2000

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

+6.3%

YoY Change (2024)

266

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+166%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 27603 have increased 6.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +166% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.6% 168
2021 +14.6% 193
2022 +22.8% 237
2023 +5.6% 250
2024 +6.3% 266

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 1,853 business establishments in ZIP 27603, employing approximately 26,039 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,655,506,000.

1,853

Businesses

26,039

Employees

$1.7B

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 280 15.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 280 15.1%
Retail trade 219 11.8%
Accommodation and food services 186 10.0%
Other services (except public administration) 173 9.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 118 6.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 115 6.2%
Wholesale trade 103 5.6%
Health care and social assistance 81 4.4%
Finance and insurance 65 3.5%
Transportation and warehousing 57 3.1%
Manufacturing 45 2.4%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 44 2.4%
Information 41 2.2%
Educational services 25 1.4%
Utilities 10 0.5%
Management of companies and enterprises 9 0.5%

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 27603 vs 27529 →

ZIP 27603 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27603 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 27603 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 27603 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
27529 Garner, NC 42,128 4.6 mi
27592 Willow Spring, NC 15,244 7.3 mi
27606 Raleigh, NC 43,210 6.2 mi
27605 Raleigh, NC 4,495 8.8 mi
27601 Raleigh, NC 9,450 7.8 mi
27608 Raleigh, NC 10,429 10.1 mi
27518 Cary, NC 19,630 7.8 mi
27610 Raleigh, NC 65,648 8.6 mi
27607 Raleigh, NC 25,188 10.9 mi
27511 Cary, NC 32,029 9.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wake County

27610 standard
Raleigh, NC
Pop: 65,648
27587 standard
Wake Forest, NC
Pop: 53,078
27606 standard
Raleigh, NC
Pop: 43,210
27613 standard
Raleigh, NC
Pop: 42,690
27616 standard
Raleigh, NC
Pop: 42,294
27604 standard
Raleigh, NC
Pop: 42,204

Related Areas

Wake County Raleigh, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 27603 in? ▼
ZIP code 27603 (Raleigh) 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 27603? ▼
ZIP code 27603 in Raleigh, NC has a population of 47,033 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27603? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 27603 is $90,484, which is 19% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27603? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 27603 is $383,200, which is 38% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27603? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 27603 is White at 62.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27603? ▼
ZIP code 27603 has 1,853 business establishments employing approximately 26,039 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27603? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27603 are: Construction (280), Professional, scientific, and technical services (280), Retail trade (219). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27603? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27603 increased by 6.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 166%. 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 27603? ▼
In ZIP code 27603, 68.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.7% 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 27603? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27603 is 27.8 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 27603? ▼
In ZIP code 27603, approximately 61.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 38.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27603? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27603 is 12.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.