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What’s within a radius

What’s within 5, 10, 25, and 50 miles of Raleigh, NC

About 2.88 million people live within 50 miles of the center of Raleigh, and 596,000 within 10 miles. The 50-mile circle takes in 112 cities, towns and CDPs and reaches 25 counties in North Carolina.

By the All Map Tools Team

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5 mi (8.0 km)
128,000 30,800–362,000
10 mi (16 km)
596,000 328,000–968,000
25 mi (40 km)
1.73 million 1.55–2.03 million
50 mi (80 km)
2.88 million 2.63–3.12 million

30 minutes by car

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The circles

RadiusPeopleLow–highCities, towns and CDPsZIP codesArea
5 mi (8.0 km)128,00030,800–362,0001779 mi²
10 mi (16 km)596,000328,000–968,000319314 mi²
25 mi (40 km)1.73 million1.55–2.03 million27521,963 mi²
50 mi (80 km)2.88 million2.63–3.12 million1121417,854 mi²

Circle by circle

Within 5 miles (8.0 km)

About 128,000 people (30,800–362,000). Only one Census place (city, town or CDP) has its center inside, and so do 7 ZIP codes.

There is no other Census place within 5 miles.

Just past 5 miles

  1. Garner 41,562 5.9 mi S

Within 10 miles (16 km)

About 596,000 people (328,000–968,000), 468,000 more than within 5 miles. 3 Census places (cities, towns and CDPs) have their center inside, and so do 19 ZIP codes.

Biggest places between 5 and 10 miles

  1. Garner 41,562 5.9 mi S
  2. Knightdale 23,144 8.1 mi E

Just past 10 miles

  1. Cary 183,582 10.4 mi W
  2. Morrisville 32,466 12.1 mi W

Within 25 miles (40 km)

About 1.73 million people (1.55–2.03 million), 1.14 million more than within 10 miles. 27 Census places (cities, towns and CDPs) have their center inside, and so do 52 ZIP codes.

Biggest places between 10 and 25 miles

  1. Durham 305,561 20.3 mi NW
  2. Cary 183,582 10.4 mi W
  3. Apex 80,419 13.9 mi W
  4. Wake Forest 58,147 15.0 mi NE
  5. Holly Springs 50,288 14.2 mi SW
  6. Fuquay-Varina 48,536 13.6 mi SW

Just past 25 miles

  1. Chapel Hill 63,565 25.0 mi NW
  2. Carrboro 20,962 27.3 mi NW
  3. Butner 8,112 25.6 mi N

Within 50 miles (80 km)

About 2.88 million people (2.63–3.12 million), 1.14 million more than within 25 miles. 112 Census places (cities, towns and CDPs) have their center inside, and so do 141 ZIP codes.

Biggest places between 25 and 50 miles

  1. Chapel Hill 63,565 25.0 mi NW
  2. Rocky Mount 55,120 48.5 mi E
  3. Wilson 49,572 39.9 mi E
  4. Goldsboro 35,012 46.3 mi SE
  5. Sanford 34,138 35.8 mi SW
  6. Mebane 21,952 41.7 mi NW

Just past 50 miles

  1. Fayetteville 209,120 51.1 mi S
  2. Burlington 61,496 51.0 mi NW
  3. Pinehurst 18,670 61.7 mi SW

Counties the circles reach

The 5-mile circle reaches one county; the 50-mile circle, 25, all in North Carolina.

Within 5 mi
Wake County
Within 10 mi, also
Johnston County
Within 25 mi, also
Nash County, Durham County, Orange County, Harnett County, Chatham County, Granville County, and Franklin County
Within 50 mi, also
Greene County, Vance County, Moore County, Caswell County, Person County, Warren County, Hoke County, Wilson County, Cumberland County, Alamance County, Lee County, Halifax County, Wayne County, Duplin County, Sampson County, and Edgecombe County

How far 30 minutes by car gets you

Driving for 30 minutes from the center, at typical road speeds and with no traffic, covers 892 mi² (2,310 km²): the same area as a circle 17 mi in radius. The farthest point is 28 mi away, to the south.

That area takes in 100% of the 5-mile circle, 100% of the 10-mile circle, 45% of the 25-mile circle, and 11% of the 50-mile circle. About 1.17 million people live in it, against 1.73 million within 25 miles.

Drive time map

Questions

How many people live within 10 miles of Raleigh?

About 596,000 people (328,000–968,000), from the population of each ZIP code area in the Census ACS 2020–2024. Within 5 miles it’s 128,000, and within 50 miles, 2.88 million.

Which cities are within 50 miles of Raleigh?

112 Census places (cities, towns and CDPs) have their center inside, and so do 141 ZIP codes. The biggest: Durham (305,561), 20 mi northwest, Cary (183,582), 10 mi west, Apex (80,419), 14 mi west, Chapel Hill (63,565), 25 mi northwest, Wake Forest (58,147), 15 mi northeast, Rocky Mount (55,120), 49 mi east, Holly Springs (50,288), 14 mi southwest, and Wilson (49,572), 40 mi east.

Which counties are within 50 miles of Raleigh?

The 50-mile circle reaches 25 counties: Wake County, Johnston County, Nash County, Durham County, Orange County, Harnett County, Chatham County, Granville County, Franklin County, Greene County, Vance County, Moore County, Caswell County, Person County, Warren County, Hoke County, Wilson County, Cumberland County, Alamance County, Lee County, Halifax County, Wayne County, Duplin County, Sampson County, and Edgecombe County.

How far can you drive from Raleigh in 30 minutes?

Up to 28 mi from the center (to the south), at typical road speeds and with no traffic. The 30-minute area measures 892 mi² and about 1.17 million people live in it.

Is Fayetteville within 50 miles of Raleigh?

No: it’s 51 mi (82 km) south of the center of Raleigh in a straight line, 1.1 mi beyond the 50-mile circle.

How big is a 50-mile radius around Raleigh?

The circle covers 7,854 mi² (20,341 km²). With about 2.88 million people inside, that’s 366 per square mile.

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