Wake County · Raleigh-Cary · population 75,977
Where Apex stands
Averaging 7.1% annual growth over 5 years. population growing 6.6% per year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 25.3 price-to-rent ratio, renting beats buying in Apex for most shorter holds. The premium you pay to own would take many years of rent savings to recoup, and that's before maintenance, taxes, and opportunity cost on the down payment.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Apex has been growing population at 6.6% per year while home values compounded +7.1% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.
Apex's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Apex
Apex is a city in Wake County, North Carolina, with an estimated population of 75,977. It anchors the Raleigh-Cary metro area. The population has grown 6.6% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Apex is $602,646 as of 2026-04, down 2.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.1% annual growth (-2.5% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Apex average $1,982 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (-0.3%). The composite momentum score is 65 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Apex (Wikipedia)
Apex is a town in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. At its southern border, Apex encompasses the community of Friendship. In 1994, the downtown area was designated a historic district, and the Apex train depot, built in 1867, is designated a Wake County landmark. The depot location marks the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad, hence the town's name. The town motto is "The Peak of Good Living".
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Wake County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Wake County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Apex
Run the numbers for Apex
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Raleigh-Cary area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Apex listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Chatham County woman killed in dog attack on Alston Road near Apex NC, family saysABC11 Raleigh-Durham · 1d ago
- Social studies teacher who promotes equity and empathy is Wake’s top educatorRaleigh News & Observer · 3h ago
- 85-year-old woman killed in possible dog attack in North CarolinaFOX8 WGHP · 15h ago
- 84-year-old woman found dead near Apex, deputies investigate possible dog attackWRAL · 1d ago
- Tree Canopy Loss in Apex Is Among the Highest in Wake County. Now the Town Is Considering New Protections.INDY Week · 1w ago
- Man arrested in Apex accused threatening President Trump now faces federal chargesCBS17.com · 2w ago
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Apex
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.