What Does the Average Home Buyer Get in the Triangle? A Data-Driven Look at $350K–$550K

With a median sale price around $450,000 in Wake County, the Triangle remains one of the most competitive markets in the Southeast. We pulled actual county sales records to show exactly what single-family buyers are getting at three price points — and where to find the best value.

If you’re a homebuyer in the Raleigh-Durham area, you’ve probably wondered: what does “average” actually look like? The answer depends on exactly where you’re looking and how much house you need. We pulled thousands of recent single-family home sales from Wake and Durham county records to break it down.

The Big Picture

Across Wake County, the median single-family home sale price over the last six months is $456,000, with a median size of about 2,200 square feet. Durham County comes in lower at a $409,000 median, with homes around 1,785 square feet.

That puts the “average buyer” range squarely between $350,000 and $550,000. Here’s what each tier looks like on the ground.

Tier 1: $300K–$400K — The Entry Point

This is where first-time buyers and budget-conscious families land. In Wake County alone, there were over 1,770 sales in this range over the past six months.

What you get: A home in the 1,550–1,750 square foot range, often a newer-construction conventional or townhouse-style home built in the last 10–15 years. In Wake County, Raleigh leads the way with the most sales, followed by Garner, Wendell, and Fuquay-Varina — all areas with strong new-build activity that keeps inventory moving. In Durham, nearly all sales are within city limits.

Best value play: Towns like Wendell, Zebulon, and Knightdale consistently deliver more square footage per dollar than Raleigh proper at this price point.

Tier 2: $400K–$500K — The Sweet Spot

This is the heart of the market. Over 1,500 Wake County sales fell in this range, and it’s where buyers start getting noticeably more house.

What you get: A 2,000–2,200 square foot home, typically built within the last decade. This is where you start seeing dedicated office space, three-car garages, and larger lots. The jump from the $300K tier is real — you gain about 450 extra square feet in Wake County.

Where to look: Fuquay-Varina, Garner, and Knightdale offer the strongest combination of newer homes and space at this price point. Cary and Apex start appearing more frequently here, though homes there tend to be slightly smaller or older for the same money.

Tier 3: $500K–$600K — Stepping Up

Spending $100K above the median gets you into a different caliber of home. Over 1,000 Wake County sales and 166 Durham sales fell here.

What you get: A home pushing 2,500 square feet in Wake County. At this level, Cary becomes the second-most-active city after Raleigh, and you start to see more established neighborhoods with mature landscaping. The median year built actually dips slightly to 2013 — meaning buyers at this level are often choosing location and neighborhood quality over brand-new construction.

The Durham premium: Notice that Durham’s price per square foot jumps to $249 at this tier. That’s because $500K+ buyers in Durham are concentrated in sought-after areas near Duke University and Chapel Hill, where the location premium is steep.

The Takeaway: Where Your Dollar Goes Furthest

Here’s what the data tells us about getting the most for your money in the Triangle:

• Wake County delivers more square footage per dollar than Durham at every price point ($199–$213/sq ft vs. $220–$249/sq ft).
• The $400K–$500K range is the sweet spot — you get a meaningful jump in space (450+ sq ft) for a manageable increase in price.
• Newer towns east and south of Raleigh (Wendell, Knightdale, Garner, Fuquay-Varina) consistently offer the best value for new construction.
• Cary, Apex, and Chapel Hill command a premium — you’ll get less house for the money, but you’re paying for schools, walkability, and established neighborhoods.
• Every $100K bump adds roughly 250–300 square feet to the median home size in Wake County.

Ready to See What’s Out There?

Whether you’re targeting the entry-level market or stretching toward the $550K range, the Triangle has options. The key is knowing where to look for the best combination of price, size, and location for your lifestyle.

Want a personalized breakdown for a specific neighborhood or town? Get in touch — we pull this data for our clients every day.

Data source: Wake County and Durham County public property records (sales from August 2025–February 2026). Single-family residential sales only. Excludes foreclosures and sales below $100,000.