FairUpdated SEP 1, 2026

Apex, NC

ZIP 27502· Wake County· Raleigh-Cary, NC· 47,436 residents· Median income $137,088· Leaning Buyer

27502 · Apex, NC has a HavenScore of 58 — downside-risk signals are quiet here, which steadies the score.

At the ZIP's typical value, the estimated monthly payment takes 30% of the local median income (Zillow, US Census ACS) and runs $1,343 a month more than the median rent (Zillow ZORI). The buyer/seller gauge leans narrowly toward buyers, and has for 7 months. Typical values were flat over the last 90 days (Zillow ZHVI).

Saved ZIPs on Haven get an email when the score moves 5+ points as monthly data lands, when the market gauge flips between buyers and sellers, when its valuation read moves against the model value, or when distress jumps in a week.

Zillow ZHVI peaked at $595,426 in Aug 2024; the latest value is -3.9% from that peak, 23 months on. Since January 2019 it is +59.5%. The sharpest 12-month move was -4.8%, ending Jun 2023.

Median price
$572,245
-2.08% past 12 mo
Est. monthly payment
$3,478/ mo
20% down · 30-yr fixed · 6.71% · incl. tax + insurance
CompareShare card
57
HavenScore: higher than 85% of scored ZIPs.
▲ +1 / 90d#6/47 in NCBuyer Score
Rank

Ranked #1,999 of 13,130 nationally · #1,108 of 6,756 mid-size ZIPs

Switch perspective

Buyer view active — Leans harder on affordability and downside risk.

Score inputs below recompute for this view

Affordability
49/100
Growth
56/100
Risk
70/100
Momentum
57/100
Livability
77/100
Score · trailing 12 mo
48 → 58
+10 points
30-day
0
90-day
+1
1-yr
+10

Snapshot

Numbers at a glance, with a year of history under each

Median price
$572,245
down-2.1% 12 mo
Typical home value across the middle tier of homes here — a smoothed Zillow index, steadier than individual sale prices.
Median price: higher than 79% of scored ZIPs.
Twelve-month trend shown as a sparkline; the newest value is $572,245.
Median rent
$2,135
up+1.8% 12 mo
Typical monthly rent (Zillow ZORI, with HUD fair-market rent filling in for smaller markets).
Median rent: higher than 66% of scored ZIPs.
Twelve-month trend shown as a sparkline; the newest value is $2,135.
Price-to-income
4.2×
Median home value divided by median household income. Under 4× has historically been comfortable; over 5× stretches most budgets.
Price-to-income: higher than 44% of scored ZIPs.
Est. monthly payment
$3,478
At the median value with 20% down, a 30-year fixed at 6.71%, plus property tax and insurance.
Est. monthly payment: higher than 24% of scored ZIPs.
Active listings
171
Homes listed for sale right now (Realtor.com). Rising inventory usually favors buyers; falling inventory favors sellers.
Active listings: higher than 90% of scored ZIPs.
Twelve-month trend shown as a sparkline; the newest value is 171.
Days on market
50
How long the typical listing sits before going under contract. Shorter means a tighter market; longer means more room to negotiate.
Days on market: higher than 48% of scored ZIPs.
Twelve-month trend shown as a sparkline; the newest value is 50.
Price cuts
+36.90%
Share of active listings that have lowered their asking price. Rising cuts usually precede softening values.
Twelve-month trend shown as a sparkline; the newest value is +36.90%.
Median income
$137,088
Median household income here, from the latest US Census American Community Survey.
Population
47,436
Current resident estimate. Growth is a demand tailwind; decline is a structural risk.
Twelve-month trend shown as a sparkline; the newest value is 47,436.
Overvaluation
+71.60%
How far today's values sit above the long-run price trend. Positive means stretched; negative means discounted versus trend.
Vacancy
4.6%
Below-average. Share of housing units that are vacant in this ZIP, from the latest US Census ACS 5-year tables.
Owner-occupied
81%
of homes. Share of occupied housing units owned by their occupants (vs. rented), from the US Census ACS.
Denial rate
20.5%
Average. Share of mortgage applications denied in this ZIP, from the latest CFPB / FFIEC HMDA disclosures.
Lending activity
29,187
originations. Mortgage originations recorded in this ZIP in the most recent HMDA reporting year. Higher counts = more active lending market.
Net migration
+4.6%
net inflow. Net migration as a share of population, from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data. Positive = more people moving in than out.
Income inflow
$79k
average. Average gross income of households moving INTO this ZIP, from IRS SOI data. Higher = ZIP attracting higher-income households.

Place

What it is like to live here, and what could flood or burn

Place profile
WalkabilityBelow-average walkability
EPA index 7.1 of 20 · EPA Smart Location Database · Jun 2021 · above 51% of scored ZIPs
Transit accessStop within a 20-minute walk
875 m to the nearest stop · EPA Smart Location Database · Jun 2021 · above 11% of scored ZIPs
Typical commuteShorter commute than typical
17 minutes one way · US median ZIP 22 · US Census ACS · above 85% of scored ZIPs
Jobs nearbyModerate employment nearby
566 jobs per sq mi · US Census LODES · above 61% of scored ZIPs
Physical riskRelatively Moderate (FEMA)
FEMA National Risk Index composite · Dec 2025 release · above 53% of scored ZIPs

Bands are each source’s own · tick marks the national median ZIP · not blended into the score

Hazard ledger · FEMA National Risk Index

Tract-level rolled up to ZIP · not a property-level rating · no future-year projection · refreshed annually (Dec 2025 release) · county tick = median of 33 scored ZIPs in Wake County

Everyday prices · BEA Regional Price Parities

Everyday prices in the Raleigh metro run 2% below the US average (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024).

Rents in the index run 3% above the US average.

$75,000 at US-average prices buys what $73,600 buys here.

Metro-level index, US = 100 · 2024 · the Raleigh metro, not this ZIP alone

Housing cost burden · US Census ACS
Owners spending over 50% of income3%
US median ZIP 6%
Renters spending over 30% of income44%
US median ZIP 45%

What drives the score

Five pillars, each scored 0–100

Affordability

49/100

Growth momentum

56/100

Market risk

70/100

Momentum

57/100

Livability

77/100
Walkability
1–20 index · June 2021 vintage·EPA Smart Location Database
7.1
Transit access
Ranked against every scored ZIP·EPA Smart Location Database
875.4
Job density
Jobs per square mile, ranked against every scored ZIP·US Census LODES
565.6

See every input behind the pillars, with its value and source

Inside: Affordability: Price-to-income, Property tax rate, Median income · Growth momentum: 12-month price change, 12-month rent change, Population · Market risk: Overvaluation, Active listings, Price cuts · Momentum: Days on market, Buyer / seller gauge, Demand dial

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Market signals

Tailwinds and headwinds right now

Top 6 of 14 signals
Tailwinds2
  • Strong migration inflow
    +4.6% net — people moving in
  • Growing population
    +3.5% annual growth
Headwinds4
  • Declining prices
    -2.1% year-over-year
  • Heavy new construction
    12.7 permits per 1,000 residents — new supply incoming
  • Potentially overvalued
    72% above historical price-to-income
  • Widespread price cuts
    37% of listings cutting price
Buyer / seller gauge

Market conditions

Leaning Buyer

Conditions are easing in buyers' favor. The score reads more negotiation room than balanced.

-38
Strong buyerBalancedStrong seller
Trend
Heating toward seller
Gauge since Mar 2026Leaning Buyer now

Cycle read. Softening: prices -2.1% over the trailing year, with the market leaning toward buyers.

Asking vs closed
Typical value (index)
$572,245
Zillow ZHVI · Sep 2026
Median sale price
$579,000
Redfin · Sep 2026
Sale-to-list
99.0%
Redfin · Sep 2026
Sold above list
21.0%
Redfin · Sep 2026

The Zillow figure is a smoothed index of typical value, not a list price; the Redfin figures are closed sales for the month shown.

Momentum check

What's changed in the last 90 days

🔒 Haven
Locked

Median price

——
🔒 Haven
Locked

Inventory

——
🔒 Haven
Locked

Days on market

——
🔒 Haven
Locked

Price cuts

——

Change vs. prior 90 days · arrow shows direction, not whether it’s good or bad

Pulse signals unlock with Haven, plus a one-line market interpretation.

The 90-day numbers behind each tile open with Haven

Trend

Where it's been

Peak
$595,426
Aug 2024
From peak
-3.9%
23 mo ago
Since Jan 2019
+59.5%
Worst 12 mo
-4.8%
to Jun 2023
Best 12 mo
+36.5%
since 2018

Zillow ZHVI peaked at $595,426 in Aug 2024; the latest value is -3.9% from that peak, 23 months on. Since January 2019 it is +59.5%. The sharpest 12-month move was -4.8%, ending Jun 2023.

Cycle position — prices vs the model’s value estimate and the payment’s share of income vs five years ago — opens with Pro

Appreciation by window

Zillow ZHVI · rank among scored ZIPs
WindowChangePer yearUS rankNorth Carolina rank
1 yeardown-2.1%-2.1%/yrHigher than 13% nationallyHigher than 12% in North Carolina
3 yearsup+3.4%+1.1%/yrHigher than 23% nationallyHigher than 18% in North Carolina
5 yearsup+31.6%+5.6%/yrHigher than 60% nationallyHigher than 52% in North Carolina
10 yearsup+76.0%+5.8%/yrHigher than 35% nationallyHigher than 7% in North Carolina
Since 2000up+178.9%+3.9%/yr——

Starter homes vs the top tier

Zillow ZHVI tiers · Jul 2026
Bottom third (starter homes)
$428,190
up+27% 5Yup+81% 10Y
Middle third
$572,245
up+30% 5Yup+74% 10Y
Top third
$794,527
up+34% 5Yup+72% 10Y

Starter homes here rose 27% in five years while top-tier homes rose 34% (Zillow ZHVI tiers) — the top of the market outpaced the bottom.

3-bedroom homes here run 41% above 2-bedrooms (Zillow ZHVI by bedroom); the NC median premium is 47%.

By home type · Zillow ZHVI mid tier
Single-family
$574,690
—
Condo / co-op
$377,100
—

Condos here are priced 34% below single-family homes (Zillow ZHVI by home type).

The historical reading — which months run highest and lowest here — opens with Haven

Rent, inventory, days on market, Zillow’s market heat, the % view and state and US reference lines open with Haven

Forecast

Where it's heading

The HavenScore Forecast Model (v1) projects this ZIP’s median value at 3-, 6-, and 12-month horizons, with 80% prediction intervals; Pro adds 24- and 36-month horizons.

Price Forecast

3-month projection · 80% range

🔒 Haven
—————
3-month shown  |  6 & 12 months with Haven →
3-month
$572,131
-0.0%
80% range $568.6K–$577.5K
6-month
🔒 Haven
12-month
🔒 Haven

Of the 3-month ranges we published since December 2025, 60% contained the actual price. Track record →

6- and 12-month projections, their 80% ranges, and what moves the forecast unlock with Haven.

Zillow's own published forecast has this ZIP's typical value rise 0.1% over the twelve months from July 2026 (Zillow Home Value Forecast).

Forecasts are the model’s projection, not a prediction. Actuals will differ.

See the 6- and 12-month price ranges for this ZIP and what moves the forecast

Haven · 14-day free trial · then from $8/mo

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Monthly cost

What you'd owe each month

Est. monthly payment
$3,478/ mo

20% down · 30-yr fixed · 6.71% · tax 0.82%

Principal$397
Interest$2,560
Property tax$391
Insurance$130
Rent vs buy
Median rent
$2,135
/ mo
Own (payment)
$3,478
/ mo
Monthly gap
+$1,343owning costs more each month

Insurance uses the average homeowners premium insurers reported for this ZIP in 2022, $1,564 a year (Treasury Federal Insurance Office).

Payment share of income

30%of the ZIP’s median income at the median value ($3,478/mo against $137,088 · Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, US Census ACS). Your own marker appears once you set an income or price in the calculator below.

Price-to-income · ZIP vs state vs US

Median home value ÷ median household income · Zillow ZHVI, US Census ACS · under 4× has historically been comfortable

Run the numbers

Your price, rate, down payment and income

Like for like: a 3-bedroom here rents for about $2,690 a month (HUD Small Area Fair Market Rent, FY2026) against a typical 3-bedroom value of $460k (Zillow ZHVI by bedroom) — a 7.0% gross rent yield.

Cost of ownership over time

Cumulative housing cost, interest paid, and equity built · 20% down · ZIP median income $137,088

See the 1-, 5-, and 30-year cost of owning here

Inside: Total housing cost · Interest paid · Principal paid · Equity built

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Equity assumes flat home value; real appreciation could push it higher · Rate 6.71%

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Comparable ZIPs

Same shape, lower entry

ZIPs the score groups near 27502 on Affordability and Growth — sorted by lowest median value. Each tile names what the lower price trades: commute (ACS), walkability band (EPA) and hazard rating (FEMA).

ZIP 27610
Raleigh
NC
55
  • Saves $254k
  • Longer commute (+4 min)
  • Similar walkability
  • Similar hazard risk
$318,163-2.70%
ZIP 27604
Raleigh
NC
52
  • Saves $228k
  • Similar commute
  • More walkable
  • Similar hazard risk
$343,918-3.15%
ZIP 27597
Zebulon
NC
56
  • Saves $228k
  • Longer commute (+11 min)
  • Less walkable
  • Similar hazard risk
$344,286-0.56%
ZIP 27616
Raleigh
NC
57
  • Saves $216k
  • Longer commute (+5 min)
  • More walkable
  • Similar hazard risk
$356,090-3.71%

Sources

Every number, traced

Every metric above is sourced from public datasets, normalized against the national ZIP distribution. Home values and rents refresh monthly; demographics refresh annually.

Zillow Research
Home values, rents, inventory, transactions
Realtor.com
Inventory, days on market, price-cut share
Redfin
Sale prices, transaction volume
US Census ACS
Income, population, vacancy, cost burden
Freddie Mac PMMS
Current 30-year fixed mortgage rates
FHFA HPI
Long-term price trends
HUD Small Area FMR
Per-ZIP fair market rents (rural fallback)
BEA & IRS
Personal income growth, net migration
Lending & accessibility
Lending and neighborhood-access signals
Research the restNo crime or school rating here — why. The primary sources:GreatSchools→NCES School Search→FBI Crime Data Explorer→

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