Essential workers are being priced out of some housing.

Right here in Raleigh and across the Triangle, essential workers—nurses, teachers, firefighters, and first responders—are being priced out of the very communities they serve. What was once a challenge can eventually become a community crisis.

The numbers are staggering: the median U.S. household income of around $79,000 only qualifies for 28% of homes on the market. Locally, rising home prices in Wake County, Raleigh, Durham, and surrounding areas are pushing even middle-income families out of reach. More than 13.5 million households nationwide live in “workforce housing” (intended for those earning 60–120% of area median income), but even these options are falling short across North Carolina.

When essential workers can’t afford to live close to the hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods they support, the entire system begins to weaken. This isn’t just a housing problem—it’s a community stability problem. I've heard examples of school administrators living in Johnston County, however, working in Wake County. Or Police Officers working in Raleigh but don't live in Raleigh. 

💡The good news is that change is possible. New zoning discussions, public–private partnerships, and workforce housing programs are designed to create affordable options without forcing families out of the area. 

✨ At the end of the day, growth depends on ensuring that the very people who teach our children, protect our streets, and care for our health can afford to stay rooted here. When we fight for workforce housing, we fight for stronger, more resilient communities. There are programs that can help. Reach out to us and let us get you connected. 

To Learn more about housing affordability, visit here