Wendell receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Wendell
Garner
Opportunity
84 · Top 4%
vs83 · Top 4%
Growth
75 · Top 11%
vs79 · Top 6%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs69 · Top 37%
Housing affordability
94 · Top 21%
vs70 · Bottom 34%
Schools
34 · Bottom 27%
vs35 · Bottom 29%
Access
87 · Bottom 34%
vs93 · Top 46%
Economic stability
83 · Top 3%
vs63 · Top 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Wendell | Garner | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,064 | 34,473 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $95,787 | $78,756 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,514 | $44,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,387/sq mi | 1,747/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $330,500 | $355,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,457 | $1,549 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.2% | 63.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.5% | 0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 46.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.2% | 8.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,079 | 1,158 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 82.6 | 33.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -22.5% | -20.4% | 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 | 25 mi | 16 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 28.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 37.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.28 | 15.46 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 28.7% | 33.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.9% | 38.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 84.8% | 81.8% | 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: Wendell, NC · Garner, NC · How this is calculated: methodology