27539 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
27523
27539
Opportunity
93 · Top 1%
vs93 · Top 1%
Growth
82 · Top 3%
vs82 · Top 3%
Climate
77 · Top 24%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 45%
vs72 · Top 32%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 48%
vs90 · Top 32%
Schools
86 · Top 6%
vs80 · Top 14%
Access
96 · Top 36%
vs94 · Top 44%
Economic stability
72 · Top 27%
vs88 · Top 2%
Measured values
| Metric | 27523 | 27539 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,269 | 25,878 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $135,625 | $145,947 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $65,208 | $58,937 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 526/sq mi | 835/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $659,300 | $565,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,939 | $1,885 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.3% | 83.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% | 2.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.5% | 0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.4% | 64.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 2.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,630 | 1,630 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 23.1 | 23.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 13.4% | 13.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 29.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.1 | 37.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.75 | 16.16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 66.9% | 58.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 69.4% | 66.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 15.4% | 30.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 27523 — Apex, NC · 27539 — Apex, NC · How this is calculated: methodology