Income needed to buy a home
Wake County, NC
$156,137
a year in household income to buy the typical Wake County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$474,337
Down payment (10%)$47,434
Loan$426,903
Principal and interest (7.40%)$2,956/mo
Property tax (0.69% a year)$272/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$237/mo
Mortgage insurance$178/mo
Total monthly cost$3,643/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Far off
The typical household here earns $105,768 a year, 68% of what it takes.
In North Carolina
Wake County ranks #95 of 100 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in North Carolina
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Bertie County | $65,550 | $21,406 |
| Northampton County | $108,391 | $36,039 |
| Washington County | $111,892 | $37,810 |
| Hertford County | $119,111 | $39,952 |
| Halifax County | $119,661 | $40,269 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.