Comprehensive Raleigh ZIP Code Guide 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina operates through 43 ZIP codes serving 559,915 residents across 294.55 square miles, making it one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the Southeast. The city serves as North Carolina's capital while anchoring the Research Triangle Park region, creating a unique blend of government, technology, education, and healthcare sectors that drive both population growth and economic development. With median household incomes ranging from $81,000 to over $122,000 across different ZIP codes, Raleigh demonstrates significant economic diversity and opportunity. The metropolitan area has added over 2.3 million residents and continues expanding at a rate requiring 125,000-175,000 new housing units over the next 15 years, supported by major infrastructure investments including a $105.6 million federal rail grant and ongoing highway expansions.

ZIP code system spans three counties with Standard, PO Box, and Unique classifications

Raleigh's postal infrastructure includes 15 Standard ZIP codes for normal delivery, 18 PO Box ZIP codes at post office facilities, and 10 Unique ZIP codes assigned to high-volume recipients like NC State University (27695) and state government agencies. The ZIP codes range from 27601 to 27699, with some codes like 27513 and 27703 extending beyond city limits while still serving Raleigh addresses.

The city covers 148.54 square miles of land area plus 1.07 square miles of water, positioned in northeast central North Carolina at the "fall line" where Piedmont and coastal plain regions meet. Wake County contains the majority of Raleigh, with small portions extending into Durham County. The area operates in Eastern Time Zone and uses area codes 919 and 984, with CBSA code 39580 designating it as the Raleigh-Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Major ZIP codes by coverage area include 27587 (272 km²), 27529 (149 km²), and 27603 (133 km²), while population-dense areas concentrate in central ZIP codes like 27609 (North Hills), 27613, and 27614 (North Raleigh). The geographic distribution creates distinct urban, suburban, and research corridor zones that shape the region's development patterns.

Demographics reveal educated, diverse population with significant income variation

The combined ZIP code population of 559,915 residents shows remarkable diversity: 53.38% White, 22.36% Black, 12.18% Hispanic, and 4.47% Asian. However, individual ZIP codes demonstrate concentrated demographic patterns, with North Raleigh areas (27613, 27614, 27615) showing predominantly white, high-income characteristics while central and eastern ZIP codes maintain greater racial and ethnic diversity.

Educational achievement stands exceptionally high across the region, with 53.62% of adults holding bachelor's degrees or higher, well above national averages. ZIP codes 27613, 27614, and 27615 show some of the nation's highest college attendance percentages. The median age of 12.8 years across all ZIP codes reflects the presence of numerous families with children, though individual ZIP codes vary significantly.

Income disparities create distinct economic geography within Raleigh's ZIP codes. ZIP code 27614 leads with a median household income of $122,258, followed by 27613 at $119,362 and 27615 at $107,051. The overall regional median of $93,617 demonstrates consistent growth from $78,348 in 2020, reflecting the area's economic dynamism.

Household characteristics show 229,616 total households with an average size of 2.36 persons. Family households comprise 53.21% of all households, while 26.43% are single-person households. The employment landscape shows 66.45% of residents employed with only a 3.0% unemployment rate, concentrated heavily in professional and business services sectors.

Business landscape centers on professional services and technology

Raleigh hosts 18,096 business establishments employing 298,523 workers with an annual payroll of $20.12 billion. The broader Wake County contains 35,082 businesses employing 569,135 workers with $40.5 billion in total payroll, indicating Raleigh's central role in regional commerce.

Professional and Business Services dominates with 149,100 jobs (19.5% of total employment), followed by Trade, Transportation, and Utilities at 128,000 jobs, and Government at 110,900 jobs. The Research Triangle Park alone houses 300+ companies employing 55,000-60,000 workers across 7,000 acres, generating $6 billion annually in research expenditures.

Major employers anchor different ZIP codes throughout the region. Duke University and Duke Health Systems employ 43,108 people, while the State of North Carolina employs 24,083. Wake County Public School System provides 17,000 jobs, and WakeMed Health & Hospitals employs 10,307. Technology giants including IBM (11,000+ employees), GlaxoSmithKline (5,000), and Cisco Systems (5,000) concentrate primarily in Research Triangle Park ZIP codes.

High-density commercial areas cluster in specific ZIP codes. Downtown Raleigh (27601, 27602, 27603) serves as the government and financial center. North Hills (27609, 27612) functions as a mixed-use commercial hub with major retail and office towers. Research Triangle Park (27709, 27703) houses technology and research facilities. The business-to-residential mailbox ratio of 1:18 across Wake County indicates a healthy balance of commercial and residential development.

Average wages in the Raleigh-Cary MSA reached $32.70 per hour in 2024, above the national average, with management positions averaging $69.21 per hour and computer/mathematical roles at $54.53 per hour. The unemployment rate of 3.2% reflects a tight labor market driving continued wage growth.

Educational infrastructure serves 235,000 students across all levels

North Carolina State University anchors higher education with over 40,000 students across multiple ZIP codes, primarily 27695 but extending to 27606 and 27607. The university's acceptance rate of 41.6% and 44,043 applications for 2024-25 demonstrate strong demand. Centennial Campus focuses specifically on research and technology partnerships.

Meredith College (27607) serves 1,600 undergraduate women and 275 graduate students on a 225-acre campus with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Shaw University (27601) enrolls 2,565 students on a 24-acre downtown campus, maintaining significance as North Carolina's first historically black college and university. William Peace University (27604) and Saint Augustine's University (27610) provide additional private higher education options.

Wake Technical Community College operates as North Carolina's largest community college with over 74,000 annual students across multiple campuses. The Southern Wake Campus (27603) serves as the main 139-acre facility, while the Scott Northern Wake Campus (27616) offers the nation's first all-LEED certified college campus. Additional campuses in ZIP codes 27610, 27560, 27609, and 27597 provide specialized programs in health sciences, information technology, public safety, and workforce development.

Wake County Public School System educates 159,995-161,000 students across 198 schools (119 elementary, 38 middle, 31 high schools, 10 special schools) with 19,736 total personnel. The system maintains demographic diversity of 42.9% White, 21.9% Black, 19.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 11.6% Asian students with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio.

Charter schools complement traditional public education across multiple ZIP codes. Raleigh Charter High School (27605) ranks #2 statewide for high schools with 560 students achieving an average ACT score of 27. Additional charter schools operate in ZIP codes 27604, 27610, 27615, 27616, and 27571, providing educational choice throughout the region.

Housing market shows strong demand with healthcare employment concentration

Raleigh's housing market demonstrates robust activity with a median home price of $431,344-$468,000 in 2025, representing 6.1-6.4% year-over-year growth. Properties spend 32-53 days on market, indicating a somewhat competitive to cool market temperature compared to previous years' rapid appreciation.

ZIP code variations create distinct housing markets within Raleigh. ZIP code 27608 (Five Points/Glenwood) commands the highest median home value at $911,000, primarily featuring 1940s and 2000s construction. North Raleigh ZIP code 27614 averages $530,100 for homes built mainly in the 1990s, while ZIP code 27603 (South Raleigh) shows more moderate pricing at $347,000.

Rental market rates range from $1,400-$1,888 for median rent, with studio apartments averaging $1,291-$1,709 monthly and three-bedroom units reaching $2,010-$2,042. The most affordable neighborhoods include King Charles ($1,060 for one-bedroom), Southwest Raleigh ($1,074), and Atlantic ($1,079), while premium areas like Warehouse District command $2,113 for one-bedroom apartments.

Major development projects completing in 2025 include Rockway Development near Dix Park with 300+ apartments, The Weld by SLI Capital, Union West with 400 apartments over the bus station, and Highline Glenwood featuring Raleigh's tallest residential tower at 37 stories. The $3 billion Veridea development in Apex will add 3,000 residential units with 200,000 square feet of retail space.

Healthcare infrastructure centers around major medical facilities employing thousands. WakeMed Raleigh Campus (27610) operates as a Level I Trauma Center with 919 beds and over 8,000 employees. Duke Raleigh Hospital (27607) and UNC REX Hospital (27607) provide comprehensive services with combined employment exceeding 14,400 staff members. Healthcare jobs available total 6,980+ positions across the region, with major concentrations in ZIP codes 27610 and 27607.

Insurance coverage shows 67.63% with private insurance, 23.59% with public coverage, and 8.78% uninsured across all ZIP codes. The region maintains seven emergency departments and over 230 physician practices and specialty clinics distributed throughout the ZIP code system.

Transportation network supports growth with technology sector leadership

Interstate highways provide comprehensive access throughout Raleigh's ZIP code system. I-40 serves as the primary east-west corridor with planned expansion from three to four lanes, while I-440 (Raleigh Beltline) creates an inner loop serving central ZIP codes 27603, 27605, 27607, and 27608. I-540 (Outer Loop) connects North Raleigh areas with completion planned for Southeast Wake County. The Triangle Expressway (NC 147) provides North Carolina's first modern toll road connecting to Research Triangle Park.

GoRaleigh operates 37 bus routes serving 1,401 bus stops with coverage from Fuquay-Varina to Zebulon. High-frequency routes cover major corridors, while the R-Line downtown circulator operates on 15-minute frequencies. Future developments include Bus Rapid Transit for Western and Southern corridors and Transit-Oriented Development zoning throughout the system.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves 15.5 million passengers annually with record-breaking 7% growth in 2025. Located 10 miles from downtown ZIP codes, the airport offers 80+ nonstop destinations including new international routes to Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. ZIP codes 27513 and 27560 provide closest proximity, while downtown codes 27603, 27605, and 27607 maintain moderate 10-15 mile distances.

Rail transportation includes Amtrak services from Raleigh Union Station (27603) and Cary Station (27511) with Silver Star, Carolinian, and Piedmont routes serving 10+ east coast destinations. The recent $105.6 million CRISI grant supports improvements to Carolinian and Piedmont services, while the planned $1.1 billion S-Line high-speed rail project will connect Raleigh to Richmond.

Technology ecosystem drives Research Triangle Park leadership nationally

Research Triangle Park spans 7,000 acres across ZIP codes 27709, 27560, and 27513, housing 250+ businesses employing 65,000 workers with $6 billion in combined annual research expenditures. Major tenants include IBM, SAS Institute, Cisco Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, and Red Hat, creating North America's largest research park.

The startup ecosystem thrives through multiple support organizations. First Flight Venture Center has launched 400+ companies with $20 billion combined market capitalization, operating as the nation's largest incubator. The Wright Village provides co-incubation for underrepresented entrepreneurs, while Frontier RTP offers free coworking space across multiple buildings. RIoT Accelerator focuses specifically on Internet of Things technology development through 12-week programs.

Downtown ZIP codes 27603, 27605, and 27607 house technology companies including Red Hat (open-source software), Citrix Systems, and various fintech firms. North Raleigh ZIP codes 27614 and 27617 contain Bandwidth (communications software), Credit Suisse technology operations, and multiple mid-sized technology firms. The Research Corridor in ZIP codes 27513 and 27560 includes Lenovo operations, NetApp, and EMC Corporation facilities.

Coworking infrastructure includes 40+ spaces regionwide with over 2 million square feet available at $36 per square foot for Class A office space. WeWork's downtown location spans 81,032 square feet with capacity for 1,380 members, supporting the growing entrepreneurial community.

Innovation support programs include the Triangle Innovation Hub, Innovate Raleigh year-round networking events, and NC State's CIE (Centennial Campus) university-affiliated programs. These initiatives create comprehensive support for technology development from startup through large enterprise operations.

Future development projects position region for continued expansion

Major development projects completing in 2025 demonstrate Raleigh's growth trajectory. New Raleigh City Hall will rise 17 stories as a municipal tower completing in 2026, while Highline Glenwood becomes Raleigh's tallest building at 37 stories. Union West adds 400 apartments over the GoTriangle bus hub, creating transit-oriented development in the downtown core.

Infrastructure improvement projects include I-40 expansion to four lanes, Complete 540 project connecting Apex to Knightdale, and major interchange redesigns for Dawson Street, McDowell Street, and Western Boulevard. These transportation investments support continued population and economic growth throughout the ZIP code system.

Population projections show Wake County growing 5.3% since 2020, ranking among the top 10 fastest-growing U.S. regions. Daily population increases of 20 residents require an estimated 125,000-175,000 new housing units over the next 10-15 years. Housing permits totaled 9,472 in 2024, with 1,494 specifically in Raleigh, indicating robust construction activity.

Wake County Economic Development tracks 30+ active projects representing 8,000+ potential jobs and $5.6 billion in investment potential. Industry focus areas include advanced manufacturing, life sciences/biotechnology, information technology, financial services, and clean technology. Recent major announcements include Apple's consideration of a $1 billion east coast hub and Google's engineering hub in Durham.

Demographic shifts show 52% of growth coming from residents 55+ between 2020-2023, while median household income reaches $120,777 in areas like Wake Forest (71% above state average). These trends indicate both continued economic opportunity and evolving housing needs throughout Raleigh's ZIP code system.

Conclusion

Raleigh's 43 ZIP codes create a comprehensive framework supporting one of America's most dynamic metropolitan areas in 2025. The combination of world-class educational institutions, technology leadership through Research Triangle Park, diverse economic opportunities, and strategic infrastructure investments positions the region for sustained growth. With population expanding toward 600,000 residents and major development projects reshaping the urban landscape, Raleigh's ZIP code system provides essential geographic organization for managing this expansion while maintaining economic competitiveness and quality of life. The integration of government, education, technology, and healthcare sectors across these ZIP codes creates unique advantages that distinguish Raleigh as a leading southeastern metropolitan center and national innovation hub.