Research Triangle anchor where in-migration reshapes every election cycle
Raleigh-Cary has absorbed one of the fastest-growing educated workforces in the South, driven by tech and life-sciences expansion around Research Triangle Park, producing presidential margins that have tightened measurably over the past three cycles.
| County | Pop. | Margin | Dem | Rep | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake | 1.2M | D+25.4 | 402,984 | 236,735 | 653,580 | 19.9% |
| Wake | 999K | D+25.4 | 402,984 | 236,735 | 653,580 | 19.9% |
| Wake | 829K | D+25.4 | 402,984 | 236,735 | 653,580 | 19.9% |
| Wake | 628K | D+25.4 | 402,984 | 236,735 | 653,580 | 19.9% |
| Johnston | 234K | R+21.5 | 48,116 | 74,878 | 124,678 | 3.8% |
| Johnston | 182K | R+21.5 | 48,116 | 74,878 | 124,678 | 3.8% |
| Johnston | 157K | R+21.5 | 48,116 | 74,878 | 124,678 | 3.8% |
| Johnston | 122K | R+21.5 | 48,116 | 74,878 | 124,678 | 3.8% |
| Franklin | 74K | R+13.5 | 18,167 | 23,938 | 42,667 | 1.3% |
| Franklin | 63K | R+13.5 | 18,167 | 23,938 | 42,667 | 1.3% |
| Franklin | 57K | R+13.5 | 18,167 | 23,938 | 42,667 | 1.3% |
| Franklin | 47K | R+13.5 | 18,167 | 23,938 | 42,667 | 1.3% |
| Group | Raleigh-Cary, NC | National |
|---|---|---|
▶White (Non-Hispanic)(13) | 62.9% | 57.4% |
▶Black / African American(16) | 19.5% | 12.2% |
▶Hispanic / Latino(19) | 9.8% | 19.3% |
▶Asian(6) | 5.0% | 6.0% |
Multiracial / Other | 2.4% | 4.0% |
▶Middle Eastern / North African(10) | 1.1% | 0.9% |
▶Native American / Alaska Native(2) | 0.4% | 0.9% |
Catholic-Evangelical edge: -18.7pp (vs national 4.5pp). A strongly Evangelical-leaning religious profile, which nationally correlates with Republican-leaning rural and exurban communities.
| Tradition | % Pop | % Adherents | US Pop | US Adherents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.3% | 39.5% | — | — | |
| 11.7% | 25.3% | — | — | |
| 7.0% | 15.1% | — | — | |
| 6.4% | 13.8% | — | — | |
| 2.6% | 5.7% | — | — | |
LDS (Mormon) | 1.2% | 2.5% | — | — |
| 0.3% | 0.6% | — | — | |
Non-religiousPopulation | 53.5% | — | — | — |
Who lives in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area? 4,570,941 residents across 12 counties.
45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — 12pp above the national average. Places with similar education levels vote D+16 on average nationally.
Scale, voting-age share, and this geography's footprint inside the national electorate.
Income, attainment, and ownership indicators that often shape coalition structure and turnout behavior.
Age structure, language use, and nativity signals that explain how this geography differs from state and nation.
| Offices | Margin A | Margin B | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| President vs Governor | D+16.3 | D+36.3 | 20.0pp |