Apex, NC vs Wake Forest, NC

Wake Forest is moderately more affordable than Apex, with a 14.4% lower cost of living index. Apex scores 131 compared to 114 for Wake Forest, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Apex can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Apex is $1,784/month compared to $1,458/month in Wake Forest — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wake Forest is more affordable at $435,000 median vs $514,800.

Median household income in Apex is $138,442 compared to $120,777 in Wake Forest (+14.6%). While Apex is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Apex spend roughly 15.5% of their income on rent, more than the 14.5% in Wake Forest.