Cost of Living in Wake Forest, NC

An Overview of Cost of Living in Wake Forest, NC

Knowing the cost of living in Wake Forest allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Wake Forest stands at 116, marking it 16% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Wake Forest cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 56.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Wake Forest?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 23 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Wake Forest. The feedback revealed that 70% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 30% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Wake Forest Affordable?

Is Wake Forest affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Wake Forest, the median home price is 70.1% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 25.4% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Wake Forest boasting a median household income of $100,162, 81.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Wake Forest?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Wake Forest, the housing index is 56.7% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Wake Forest, the healthcare costs are 11.5% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Wake Forest cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.