Signals
Fuquay-Varina
Smithfield
Opportunity
90 · Top 1%
vs69 · Top 24%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
60 · Top 48%
vs63 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 32%
vs74 · Bottom 39%
Schools
64 · Top 34%
vs28 · Bottom 20%
Access
91 · Bottom 46%
vs83 · Bottom 26%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs25 · Bottom 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Fuquay-Varina | Smithfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,485 | 12,116 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $115,497 | $43,270 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,813 | $30,986 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,085/sq mi | 954/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $451,500 | $242,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,720 | $658 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.2% | 58.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.5% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.0% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 27.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 52.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 34.8 min | 27.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.0 | 44.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.82 | 16.36 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 47.7% | 27.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 54.1% | 40.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 34.0% | 99.0% | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fuquay-Varina
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Smithfield
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Fuquay-Varina
75
Your Score
75
Area Score
Smithfield
59
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Fuquay-Varina, NC · Smithfield, NC · How this is calculated: methodology