Raleigh Housing Market: Trends & Prices (2025)
Raleigh Real Estate Market Overview
By Kenny Zhu
(Last Updated – 1/2026)
Raleigh — the City of Oaks — is one to watch on the housing market scene. With its job opportunities and quality of life, people are choosing to move there, driving up housing demand in recent years.
Raleigh is the second-most populous city in North Carolina — with a population of about 482,295 residents — and also happens to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. In 2024, Raleigh was also named the fifth-most educated city in America, with over half of its residents holding at least a bachelor’s degree.
Those who call Raleigh a college town are spot-on, as Raleigh is home to at least 10 major colleges, including North Carolina State University. The city is within an hour’s drive of both Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, making it neutral ground for Blue Devils and Tar Heels fans alike.
Raleigh, though, is known for more than just brains and basketball; it’s also a great place to find smoked “whole hog” barbecue, complete with signature vinegar and pepper-based glaze.
Home values in the area are up 0.4% over the past year, slower than the national growth rate of 2.6%, according to Zillow. Factors for this include already somewhat high home prices and a more steady supply and demand in the city.
If you’re thinking of buying property in Raleigh, you’ll want to check out our assessment of the homebuying, demographic, and market trends in the area.
Raleigh Real Estate Market Trends
While the Raleigh housing market may not be as hot as it was in 2022 to 2023, when the U.S. News & World Report ranked it the #1 hottest real estate market in the nation, it still remains a strong market with high demand and rising prices.
Raleigh’s home prices are projected to continue to rise slightly in the coming year, according to forecasting real estate trends from Norada Real Estate Investments.
Despite a decline in home sales since last year and an increase in the average amount of days listings spend on the market, the steady rise in home prices may signal a housing market that has more room to run.
Homes sold on the real estate market in Raleigh typically close around 1% below the listing price and typically spend around 45 days on the market before an offer is accepted.
$436,250
Median Sale Price
$234
Median Price Per Square Foot
45 days
Median Time on Market
Raleigh Housing Market Forecast
Prospective homebuyers may not need to be vigilant if they hope to buy a house in 2025, as data from Zillow shows that home prices are likely to only gently uptick in the coming year, if at all.
Currently, the average home in Raleigh spends around 45 days on the market before it’s snapped up, so homebuyers shopping for a house in the interim may have some breathing room.
Demographics of the Raleigh Market
Raleigh households tend to be wealthier and more educated than the United States as a whole. This is possibly due to its proximity to some of the most prestigious educational institutions in the South.
In fact, UNC, North Carolina State University, Duke University, and their affiliate health systems all rank among the top 10 employers in the greater Raleigh-Wake County metropolitan area.
As part of the Research Triangle, the city and its surrounding areas have seen major growth in professional services over recent years, including in the tech, healthcare, financial services, education, and government sectors.
In fact, Raleigh has developed a reputation as a rapidly developing tech hub in the South, ranking 6th among the top cities in the U.S. for tech professionals in 2024.
Major tech companies like International Business Machines, Red Hat Inc. (a subsidiary of IBM) and Cisco Systems all house major branches in and around Raleigh, and each location employs thousands of Raleigh residents.
Median Household Income: $82,424
Median Age: 34.6
College Educated: 52.9%
Homeowners: 51.2%
Married: 42%
Popular Raleigh Neighborhoods
The capital of the Tar Heel State isn’t just a great place for basketball, tailgating, and barbecue; it’s also an excellent place to live.
Based on key characteristics, including home values, growth in home prices, and population, we’ve isolated five popular Raleigh neighborhoods to help you on your home shopping journey.
North Raleigh
Without a doubt, North Raleigh is a popular neighborhood in the city; it encompasses a number of growing residential enclaves, including the quaint Falls River community as well as the posh North Ridge area.
North Raleigh is an excellent area for any family looking to put down roots. There’s a variety of activities, restaurants, and parks in the area for families to enjoy, including the scenic Shelley Lake Park and the 237-acre Durant Nature Preserve.
Quick Facts
Population:
76,649
Median Age:
43.1
Housing Units:
34,422
Bike Score:
52
Walk Score:
28
Transit Score:
31
Median Household Income:
$80,005
North Raleigh Housing Market
The North Raleigh neighborhood is split into several distinct residential enclaves and features homes across a variety of price points, ranging from entry level to high end.
On a relative basis, home prices in North Raleigh are somewhat more expensive than the city overall, by about 4.3%.
Median Home Price
$455,000
Median Price Per Square Ft.
$224
North Hills
Also known as “Raleigh’s Midtown,” fast-growing North Hills is located north of Raleigh’s downtown and features fine dining, live entertainment, and bustling shopping districts.
The North Hills area features a large number of luxury apartments for rent. The neighborhood is known to be generally walkable, quiet on residential streets, and close to amenities.
Recommended: Price-to-Rent Ratio in 50 CitiesQuick Facts
Population:
3,479
Median Age:
38
Housing Units:
1,927
Bike Score:
43
Walk Score:
30
Transit Score:
30
Median Household Income:
$86,414
North Hills Housing Market
Homes in North Hills typically sit on the high end of the market and many of the properties located within its residential districts fall within the category of upscale or luxury homes.
North Hill’s growth rate in home prices (31.4% since last year) more than doubles that of the state of Raleigh as a whole (14.5% compared to last year), according to February 2025 data from Redfin.
While North Hill ranks higher on the list in terms of median listing home prices in the Raleigh real estate market, there are other neighborhoods with homes in the million dollar average range, like Glenwood and Five Points East.
Median Home Price
$920,000
Median Price Per Square Foot
$345
Five Points
Situated right below North Hills, Five Points will take you “inside the beltline,” a saying locals use for neighborhoods within the I-440 loop. A historic neighborhood that was developed in the 1910s to 1920s, Five Points is so called as it includes five smaller neighborhoods: Hayes Barton, Vanguard Park, Bloomsbury, Georgetown, and Roanoke Park.
Within the Raleigh beltway, the area is known for its tree-lined streets, boutique shops, and even its breweries.
Quick Facts
Population:
8,669
Median Age:
42.3
Housing Units:
3,508
Bike Score:
66
Walk Score:
44
Transit Score:
39
Median Household Income:
$148,413
Five Points Housing Market
Homes in the Five Points neighborhood range in price; you’ll find properties from $250,000 to over a million here. A smaller neighborhood, the area features a blend of charming historic properties to some newly constructed homes.
Five Points shares many characteristics with its North Hills neighbor, including its high growth rate and above-average home prices, which stand at 35.9% and $905,000, respectively, per Redfin data from February 2025.
Five Points median home prices and growth rate since last year sit well above Raleigh real estate trends overall.
Median Home Price
$905,000
Median Price Per Square Foot
$410
Oakwood
Another historic neighborhood, Oakwood sits right on the edge of downtown Raleigh. With its Victorian-era homes and tree-lined streets, this area has a lot of character and unique architecture. North Carolina’s largest, intact nineteenth-century neighborhood, Historic Oakwood has become a coveted area, and many residents have been there for a long time.
Similar to North Hills and Five Points, home prices in Five Points are generally on the higher end, at the $1 million median price point for Oakwood, with a high growth rate compared to last year.
Quick Facts
Population:
1,708
Median Age:
35
Housing Units:
791
Bike Score:
84
Walk Score:
68
Transit Score:
65
Median Household Income:
$68,458
Oakwood Housing Market
Homes in Oakwood are generally more than double the average when it comes to the real estate market in Raleigh, NC. The area has also seen well above-average growth in home prices in February 2025 compared to last year.
Home prices in Oakwood are up a drastic 45.1% since last year, relative to the Raleigh housing price growth of 14.5%, per Redfin. However, homes in Oakwood can stay on the market for much longer than last year, at a median of 92 days currently.
Median Home Price
$1,000,000
Median Price Per Square Foot
$447
Northwest Raleigh
Northwest Raleigh is a populous neighborhood in the city that is home to the prestigious Brier Creek Country Club and borders key landmarks like William B. Umstead State Park and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Northwest Raleigh’s prime location also puts it within driving distance of both Downtown Raleigh and North Carolina State University. The area is known for its low crime rates and quality school districts.
Quick Facts
Population:
81,974
Median Age:
37.3
Housing Units:
28,556
Bike Score:
44
Walk Score:
76
Transit Score:
29
Median Household Income:
$78,719
Northwest Raleigh Housing Market
Home prices in Northwest Raleigh generally sit above the city average, at about 14% higher. Northwest Raleigh homes are also up about 11.7% in price compared to last year.
Median Home Price
$497,000
Median Price Per Square Foot
$239
SoFi Home Loans
It’s easy to see why the Raleigh real estate market has been active. There are some amazing neighborhoods to choose from, whether you’re single or have a family to look after.
If you think Raleigh could be your home sweet home, then you may need to consider your mortgage financing options.
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