Raleigh, NC
A full relocation analysis for Raleigh, NC — what living here would actually mean for your household, with every figure sourced.
Overview
City
VerifiedSource: US Census Geocoder / OpenStreetMap
Wake County
VerifiedSource: Geocoder address components
431,746
Source: OpenStreetMap population tag (2025)
35.780, -78.639
VerifiedSource: OpenStreetMap / Nominatim
Cost of living & housing costs
The Census Bureau and HUD don't publish these medians for Raleigh, NC yet, so MoveWiserr links you straight to the publisher rather than showing an outdated number.
Not published for Raleigh, NC yet: Median household income, Median gross rent, Median home value.
Jobs & labor market
Pulled live from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics for Wake County, with the release date shown beside each figure.
31 programs
Source: HUD + state Housing Finance Agency program directory · Jul 2026
Not published for Wake County yet: Unemployment rate, Civilian labor force.
MoveWiserr Fit Score
How well Raleigh, NC matches what matters to you.
Priorities set to Not scored are switched off and are left out of the Fit Score — they are never counted as a zero.
Housing
Search current homes in Raleigh, NC — set your rent-or-buy intent, budget, bedrooms, bathrooms and property type in the housing module, then open live listings from trusted housing sources with your search carried across.
Cost, schools, healthcare, transit, weather & taxes
MoveWiserr never repeats a number it can't source. Here's exactly what we hold for Raleigh, NC and where to get the rest from the official publisher.
Cost of living
MoveWiserr doesn't have Census ACS cost-of-living figures loaded for this location, so no median rent or household income is shown here rather than an estimate.
Look it up on data.census.govSchools
School ratings and district boundaries come from state departments of education and aren't licensed into MoveWiserr yet. The Fit Score below does show how many schools are mapped nearby and how far the closest one is.
Find the district (NCES)Healthcare
Hospital quality ratings come from CMS. MoveWiserr shows real hospital and clinic locations from OpenStreetMap in the Fit Score below, but does not rate them.
Compare hospitals (CMS)Transit
Mapped stops and stations feed the transit score below. Route-level schedules and fares belong to the local transit agency.
Find a transit agencyWeather & natural-hazard risk
FEMA publishes a per-county National Risk Index. MoveWiserr does not restate those figures, so check the county directly.
FEMA National Risk IndexTaxes
Property millage rates and local surtaxes are set county by county and change annually — always read them from the county property appraiser rather than a cached figure.
State tax agencies (IRS)What MoveWiserr can tell you today
- • Exact location, county and ZIP coverage from official geocoders.
- • How many hospitals, schools, grocers and transit stops are actually mapped nearby.
- • Walking and driving time estimates to the closest of each.
- • A Fit Score weighted by the priorities you set, with a per-category breakdown.
- • Direct links to the official programs and agencies that serve this area.
What to verify elsewhere
- • Median rent, home values and incomes — data.census.gov.
- • School ratings and attendance zones — the district and state DOE.
- • Property tax millage — the county property appraiser.
- • Flood and hazard risk — FEMA's National Risk Index.
- • Current listings — a connected housing data provider.
Homebuyer assistance
First-time buyer programs, down-payment and closing-cost help that serve North Carolina. Eligibility and funding change constantly, so every card links to the official program page — apply and confirm there.
North Carolina First-Time Homebuyer & Down Payment Assistance
OpenNorth Carolina's state Housing Finance Agency offers first-time buyer mortgages, down-payment help, and homebuyer grants. Find the North Carolina agency and its current programs through the official directory below.
- Who it's for:
- Usually first-time buyer (no home owned in 3 years), income limits, and a homebuyer-education course.
- Income limit:
- Program-specific (often ≤ 80–120% AMI)
- Where:
- North Carolina
FHA First-Time Homebuyer Loans
OpenGovernment-insured mortgages with down payments as low as 3.5% and flexible credit requirements — popular with first-time buyers.
- Who it's for:
- Credit score generally 580+ for 3.5% down; property must meet FHA standards and be a primary residence.
- Income limit:
- No income cap; loan limits vary by county
- Where:
- Nationwide
VA Home Loan Guaranty
OpenZero-down, no-PMI mortgages backed by the VA for eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses.
- Who it's for:
- Meet VA service requirements and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE); primary residence only.
- Income limit:
- No income cap; residual-income guidelines apply
- Where:
- Nationwide
USDA Rural Development Housing (Section 502)
OpenZero-down mortgages and direct loans for low- and moderate-income buyers in eligible rural and small-town areas.
- Who it's for:
- Income within USDA limits and property in a USDA-eligible rural area; primary residence.
- Income limit:
- ≤ 115% of area median (Guaranteed); ≤ 80% (Direct)
- Where:
- Nationwide
Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Grants
OpenThousands of state and local programs offer grants or low-interest second loans to cover down payment and closing costs for eligible buyers.
- Who it's for:
- Usually first-time buyer (no home owned in 3 years), income limits, and a homebuyer-education course.
- Income limit:
- Program-specific (often ≤ 80–120% AMI)
- Where:
- Nationwide
MoveWiserr never determines eligibility. Program rules, funding and waitlists are set by the administering agency — always confirm on the official page before you rely on a program.
Official resources
HUD — U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development
Official SourceFederal housing programs, rental help, and homeownership.
Find Your Local Public Housing Authority
Official SourceSection 8 / Housing Choice Voucher offices by state.
State Housing Finance Agencies (NCSHA)
Official SourceFirst-time buyer and down-payment assistance by state.
HUD Fair Housing — File a Complaint
Official SourceReport housing discrimination and know your rights.
USA.gov
Official SourceThe official guide to government services.
State Governments Directory
Official SourceSecretary of State, licensing, and local agencies.
Register to Vote (vote.gov)
Official SourceUpdate your voter registration after you move.
IRS
Official SourceFederal taxes, address changes, and refunds.
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Geography resolved from OpenStreetMap / Nominatim. Proximity data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Figures on this page were re-checked against their official publishers on 9/29/2026.