27603 and 27616 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
27603
27616
Opportunity
82 · Top 4%
vs80 · Top 6%
Growth
69 · Top 12%
vs69 · Top 12%
Climate
72 · Top 44%
vs72 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 27%
vs72 · Top 26%
Housing affordability
80 · Top 32%
vs73 · Top 44%
Access
93 · Bottom 26%
vs94 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 49%
vs72 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | 27603 | 27616 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,972 | 63,520 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,484 | $83,565 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,497 | $39,743 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,050/sq mi | 2,821/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $383,200 | $349,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,547 | $1,659 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.4% | 56.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.7% | 44.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 9.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,124 | 5,124 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 10.7 | 10.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.6% | -0.6% | 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 | 17 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 29.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.6 | 34.6 | 2024 ACS 5-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: 27603 — Raleigh, NC · 27616 — Raleigh, NC · How this is calculated: methodology