The growth story
One number defines Wendell right now: the town has more than doubled in size since 2020. The 2020 Census counted 9,793 residents. Census Bureau estimates put Wendell near 19,700 by 2025 — an increase of about 101%, making it one of the fastest-growing towns in North Carolina. The engine is the Wendell Falls master-planned community on the town's west side.
Population growth since 2020
From the 2020 Census count to 2025 estimates — more than doubled in five years. Driven overwhelmingly by Wendell Falls and surrounding new construction in eastern Wake County.
2010: 5,845 · 2020: 9,793 · 2024: 16,845 · 2025: 19,687. The 2010→2020 jump was already +68%; since 2020 the town has more than doubled again.
Population more than doubling since 2020 touches everything else on this page — the tax base, school assignments, road capacity, and the arrival of fixed-route transit. When you read the rest of these figures, read them as a snapshot of a town in the middle of a fast transition.
Town vitals
The basics. Wendell sits in eastern Wake County (ZIP 27591), was incorporated in 1903, and covers a compact land area — which is part of why its density has climbed so quickly as new neighborhoods fill in.
Income & housing
Household incomes in Wendell run above the North Carolina median, and home prices have risen with the wave of new construction — though they remain below the inner Triangle thanks to the town's location on the east side of Wake County.
A ~$380K median means Wendell still undercuts much of the inner Triangle — one of the main reasons buyers move east. But prices have climbed sharply alongside the population, so the "affordable Wake County town" framing is fading year by year.
Taxes & the rate
For FY2025–26 the Town held its property-tax rate flat at $0.42 per $100 of assessed value. That's the Town portion only — Wake County bills its own rate separately on top.
When you compare towns, watch the dataset. For cross-town comparisons we use the NCDOR 2024–25 rate table so every town lines up on the same year. Wendell's adopted FY26 rate is $0.42 per $100, held flat from the prior year.
The FY26 budget
The Town of Wendell adopted a total budget of roughly $58.6 million for fiscal year 2025–26. A growing town carries a growing budget — the figure reflects staffing, services, and capital needed to keep up with new residents and infrastructure.
Total adopted budget — FY2025–26
Funds town operations, public safety, public works, parks, planning, and capital projects across a town that has roughly doubled in population since 2020. The property-tax rate was held flat at $0.42 per $100 to support this budget. Source: Town of Wendell adopted FY26 budget.
A ~$58.6M budget for a town of ~19,700 is what rapid growth looks like in dollars: more residents to serve, more roads and utilities to maintain, and the early build-out of services a larger town needs. Detailed line-item breakdowns are published in the Town's adopted budget document.
Wendell Falls
Almost every other number on this page traces back to one development. Wendell Falls — developed by Newland/Brookfield — is the master-planned community driving the town's growth, with thousands of homes entitled and hundreds of acres set aside as parks and open space.
The schools
Wendell students are served by the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). Base assignments below are the typical traditional-calendar schools, but WCPSS uses magnet/choice programs and year-round vs. traditional calendars — so always confirm your specific address with the official WCPSS lookup. Charter and private options exist regionally.
| Level | School (base assignment) |
|---|---|
| Elementary | Wendell Creative Arts & Sciences Magnet Elementary — 3355 Wendell Blvd |
| Elementary | Lake Myra Elementary — 1300 Elk Falls Dr (inside Wendell Falls) |
| Middle | Wendell Middle — 3409 NC-97 |
| Middle | Neuse River Middle (alternate assignment) |
| High | East Wake High — 5101 Rolesville Rd |
Assignments change with growth, new schools, and reassignment cycles. Use the official WCPSS address lookup as the source of truth for any specific Wendell address before making a decision. See our Schools guide for the full picture.
Transit & commute
A milestone for a town this size: in November 2025 Wendell got all-day, hourly fixed-route bus service. Most residents still drive, but the options below are real and funded by the Wake Transit Plan.
At Raleigh Union Station, the ZWX connects to Amtrak and other GoTriangle / GoRaleigh routes. For the full breakdown of drive times and the bus, see our Commute guide and Getting Around page.
Built by Wendell Digital
This page gathers Wendell's headline figures in one place from the Census, the Town of Wendell, NCDOR, and GoTriangle — so residents and people considering a move can find them fast. We're a Wendell-based digital studio that builds websites and runs marketing for local small businesses. Built by people who live here.
Sources & further reading
- U.S. Census Bureau — Wendell QuickFacts (2020 Census & ACS)
- Town of Wendell — Adopted Budget, FY2025–26
- NC Department of Revenue — County & Municipal Tax Rates 2024–25
- GoTriangle — Route ZWX (Zebulon/Wendell–Raleigh Express)
- Wake County Public School System — Address lookup & assignment
- Wendell Falls — Master-planned community