27539 and 27502 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
27539
27502
Opportunity
93 · Top 1%
vs93 · Top 1%
Growth
82 · Top 3%
vs82 · Top 3%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 32%
vs69 · Top 36%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs91 · Top 31%
Schools
80 · Top 14%
vs84 · Top 9%
Access
94 · Top 44%
vs95 · Top 38%
Economic stability
88 · Top 2%
vs88 · Top 2%
Measured values
| Metric | 27539 | 27502 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,878 | 48,530 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $145,947 | $143,922 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $58,937 | $60,734 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 835/sq mi | 1,713/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $565,600 | $550,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,885 | $1,909 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 83.1% | 81.6% | 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 | 64.0% | 68.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.5% | 2.3% | 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 | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 26.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 37.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.16 | 17.73 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 58.0% | 68.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 66.4% | 75.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 30.0% | 15.2% | 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: 27539 — Apex, NC · 27502 — Apex, NC · How this is calculated: methodology