Raleigh, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27609
Wake County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 32,964
- 1,139/sq mi High-density area
- $83,065
- Median income Near-median income area
- $471,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 63.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Raleigh pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 34%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 15%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,139
- people per sq mi
- 50%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27609 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 27609 (Raleigh, NC) rose +1.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 322.0 in 2023 to 325.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27609 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, with 32,964 residents across 28.9 square miles, a density of 1,139 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27609 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $83,065 (20% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $67,068. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 6.9% and unemployment is 1.6%. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $471,200 (82% above the average North Carolina ZIP), with only 49.8% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,474.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 63.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.7, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wake County, so 27609 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 27609
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Raleigh, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27609.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
414 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
367 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
201 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
184 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
182 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 27609, 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
32,964
Population
28.9
Area (sq mi)
1,139
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27609?
37.7
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
11.6%
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?
$83,065
Median Household Income
+20% vs state ZIP avg
$67,068
Per Capita Income
6.9%
Poverty Rate
1.6%
Unemployment Rate
21.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27609 ranks nationally
Raleigh, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$83,065 Top 34% higher than 66% 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
20,140housing units
20,140
Total Housing Units
17,592
Occupied Units
2,548
Vacant Units
2.01
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$471,200
Median Home Value
+82% vs state ZIP avg
$1,474
Median Rent
1982
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
+1.0%
YoY Change (2024)
325
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+225%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27609 have increased 1.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +225% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.4% | 215 |
| 2021 | +13.9% | 245 |
| 2022 | +20.1% | 294 |
| 2023 | +9.7% | 322 |
| 2024 | +1.0% | 325 |
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 2,191 business establishments in ZIP 27609, employing approximately 42,100 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,210,442,000.
2,191
Businesses
42,100
Employees
$3.2B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 414 | 18.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 367 | 16.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 201 | 9.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 184 | 8.4% |
| Retail trade | 182 | 8.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 160 | 7.3% |
| Construction | 157 | 7.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 148 | 6.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 123 | 5.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 73 | 3.3% |
| Information | 51 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 38 | 1.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28 | 1.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 25 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 20 | 0.9% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 0.8% |
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 27609 vs 27608 →
ZIP 27609 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27613
Raleigh (27613)
42,690 residents
- 27616
Raleigh (27616)
42,294 residents
- 27604
Raleigh (27604)
42,204 residents
- 27615
Raleigh (27615)
42,166 residents
- 27612
Raleigh (27612)
35,028 residents
- 27609
Raleigh (27609)
32,964 residents
- 27614
Raleigh (27614)
31,516 residents
- 27607
Raleigh (27607)
25,188 residents
- 27608 10,429
Raleigh (27608)
10,429 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27609 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27609 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27608
Raleigh (27608)
$162,188 median income
- 27614
Raleigh (27614)
$128,834 median income
- 27613
Raleigh (27613)
$123,966 median income
- 27615
Raleigh (27615)
$112,754 median income
- 27607
Raleigh (27607)
$96,775 median income
- 27612
Raleigh (27612)
$95,988 median income
- 27616
Raleigh (27616)
$83,565 median income
- 27609
Raleigh (27609)
$83,065 median income
- 27601
Raleigh (27601)
$71,350 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27609 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27608 | Raleigh, NC | 10,429 | 2.5 mi |
| 27615 | Raleigh, NC | 42,166 | 3.8 mi |
| 27601 | Raleigh, NC | 9,450 | 4.8 mi |
| 27605 | Raleigh, NC | 4,495 | 3.8 mi |
| 27612 | Raleigh, NC | 35,028 | 4.4 mi |
| 27604 | Raleigh, NC | 42,204 | 4.5 mi |
| 27614 | Raleigh, NC | 31,516 | 7.2 mi |
| 27607 | Raleigh, NC | 25,188 | 5.4 mi |
| 27616 | Raleigh, NC | 42,294 | 5.6 mi |
| 27613 | Raleigh, NC | 42,690 | 7.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27609, 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 (32,964 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 27609 in?
ZIP code 27609 (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 27609?
ZIP code 27609 in Raleigh, NC has a population of 32,964 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27609?
The median household income in ZIP 27609 is $83,065, which is 9% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27609?
The median home value in ZIP 27609 is $471,200, which is 69% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27609?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27609 is White at 67.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27609?
ZIP code 27609 has 2,191 business establishments employing approximately 42,100 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27609?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27609 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (414), Health care and social assistance (367), Finance and insurance (201). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27609?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27609 increased by 1.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 225%. 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 27609?
In ZIP code 27609, 74.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 63.4% 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 27609?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27609 is 21.1 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 27609?
In ZIP code 27609, approximately 49.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27609?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27609 is 6.9% 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 27609's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27609 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Raleigh, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.