This page delivers traffic analytics for Wake County, North Carolina. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Wake County, North Carolina among 2,034 road miles divided in 53,008 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 203 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
9,171
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
6.2%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.9 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
24.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.3 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$111,267
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 9,171 vehicles per day in Wake County, North Carolina that results in 26,545,028 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈9.7 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 16 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 31.9 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the North Carolina state averages: Wake sees 45% higher average daily traffic volume than the state average (9,171 vehicles per day against 6,332), suggesting more demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. In total volume terms, its road network carries 26,545,028 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈9.7 billion per year), about 9.7% of North Carolina's statewide total. The average trip takes 31.9 minutes, 1% lower than the state level. Congestion runs 34% higher than the state level, at a ratio of 24.8% - more pronounced congestion - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. Wake carries more traffic than 94% of counties in North Carolina. Its average travel time of 31.9 minutes is longer than 48% of counties in North Carolina.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
22,394
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
8.2%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
36.2 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
41.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.3 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$105,218
A significant volume of traffic in Wake County, North Carolina utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 22,394 vehicles per day, 171% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 8,265 vehicles per day. That average covers 443 highway road miles divided in 3,399 segments (average segment length 688 ft), together carrying 13,233,506 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈4.8 billion per year). No more than 2 other counties in North Carolina move more traffic on their highways. Trucks constitute 8.2% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Highway truck concentration here runs 32% lower than the state average, at 8.2% - positioning Wake as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. By truck concentration, highways here outrank 21% of counties in North Carolina. By raw truck volume, Wake carries more highway trucks than 81% of counties in North Carolina.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
8,265
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
4.3%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.6 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
23.7%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$116,041
The non-highway road network in Wake County, North Carolina supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 8,265 vehicles per day, 63% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 22,394 vehicles per day. That average covers 1,591 non-highway road miles divided in 49,609 segments (average segment length 169 ft), together carrying 13,311,522 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈4.9 billion per year). Trucks constitute 4.3% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 48% lower than on highways. Non-highway congestion (23.7%) runs 34% higher than the state average, pointing to slower local traffic flow. 48% of counties in North Carolina see shorter overall travel times than Wake. Wake also has the highest average driver income in North Carolina among trip origins - $111,267. The driver population here skews older than 9% of counties in North Carolina.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and PM peak 4:00 PM–6:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 76% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 20% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
August–October is the high season, with volumes +4% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -9% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Wake County, North Carolina, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +4% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Wake
North Carolina
Average
Difference
Traffic
9,171
6,332
+44.8%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
6.2%
8.7%
-28.4%
Truck % (Highway)
8.2%
12.1%
-31.7%
Avg. Travel Time
31.9 min
32.3 min
-1.2%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 9,171 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - Wake has the highest average driver income of any county in North Carolina, at $111,267.
The average travel time for drivers is 31.9 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Approximately 19% of highway traffic and 9% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Wake County, North Carolina. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Trucks account for approximately 6.2% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 8.2% on highways.
Weekday peaks occur between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM in the morning and between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM in the evening - about 76% above the daily average.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
