East Wake Counts – Wendell

Community doesn't just happen. We only feel a part of a community when we share a story or identity. That link may be a simple as sharing a place, with its streets, parks and stores, or it may be sharing a history, culture, values, dreams or experiences. We invite you to engage in this community by joining in planning, dreaming and experiencing all that Hopkins has to offer.

What's Happening In Your Community

Local Engagement Opportunities

Find opportunities to get involved on the Engagement Hub

On-Demand Transportation

There’s a new, easy way to catch a ride Northeast Wake County! GoWake SmartRide NE offers low-cost rideshare options for the residents of Zebulon, Wendell, Rolesville and the unincorporated areas in between. Learn how it works here.

In Your Backyard

New Nature Preserves - Learn more about the two new preserves, Little River and Buffalo Creek, planned for your area here

Robertson Millpond Preserve – Stroll, paddle and fish at this refuge for nature lovers. The area is significant for its rich cultural and environment history.

Turnipseed Nature Preserve – This preserve offers nature exploration through wetlands and past granite rock outcroppings. Future projects are planned for this preserve including additional trails and interpretive displays on the history and wildlife in the area.

Sandy Pines Preserve – Located near Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon, this preserve opened to the public in 2021.

Lake Myra County Park – Approved as part of the 2018 Parks, Greenways, Recreation and Open Space bond, and the planning process could begin in early 2023. If you have questions or suggestions for the project, please contact us.

Visit our Parks & Trails page!

Wendell Community Narrative

The American Community Survey published by the Census Bureau gives us a good look at social, economic, housing, and demographic data. We can target that data to a single geographic area in order to learn more about the people who live there. 

Below are some of the key findings for Wendell from the American Community Survey. You can find the full report here.

Population

Wendell Population 2015-2019

In 2015-2019Wendell town, North Carolina had a total population of 7,308 – 3,957 (54.1 percent) females and 3,351 (45.9 percent) males. The median age was 34.3 years. An estimated 26.9 percent of the population was under 18 years, 35.2 percent was 18 to 44 years, 28.1 percent was 45 to 64 years, and 9.9 percent was 65 years and older.

Race and Hispanic Origin

For people reporting one race alone, 59.5 percent were White; 27.9 percent were Black or African American; 0.0 percent were American Indian and Alaska Native; 0.5 percent were Asian; 0.0 percent were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 11.1 percent were some other race. An estimated 1.0 percent reported two or more races. An estimated 14.2 percent of the people in Wendell town, North Carolina were Hispanic. An estimated 57.0 percent of the people in Wendell town, North Carolina were White non-Hispanic. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Disability

In Wendell town, North Carolina, among the civilian noninstitutionalized population in 2015-201916.7 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 6.9 percent of people under 18 years old, to 16.0 percent of people 18 to 64 years old, and to 47.9 percent of those 65 and over.

 

Housing Inventory

Wendell Housing Inventory 2015-2019

In 2015-2019Wendell town, North Carolina had a total of 2,828 housing units. Of these housing units, 85.3 percent were single-family houses either not attached to any other structure or attached to one or more structures (commonly referred to as “townhouses” or “row houses”). 14.3 percent of the housing units were located in multi-unit structures, or those buildings that contained two or more apartments. 0.4 percent were mobile homes, while any remaining housing units were classified as “other,” which included boats, recreational vehicles, vans, etc.

Financial Characteristics

Wendell Cost Burden 2015-2019
Housing Costs

Households that pay thirty percent or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened. In 2015-2019, cost-burdened households in Wendell town, North Carolina accounted for 20.3 percent of owners with a mortgage, 15.2 percent of owners without a mortgage, and 50.8 percent of renters.

 

Income

The median income of households in Wendell town, North Carolina was $59,236. An estimated 5.2 percent of households had income below $10,000 a year and 3.5 percent had income over $200,000 or more.

Wendell Income by Gender 2015-2019

Education

Wendell Education Breakdown Chart 2015-2019

In 2015-201989.8 percent of people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school and 33.1 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. An estimated 10.2 percent did not complete high school.

The total school enrollment in Wendell town, North Carolina was 1,954 in 2015-2019. Nursery school enrollment was 89 and kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment was 1,430. College or graduate school enrollment was 435.

Census

The 2020 Census ended on Oct. 15. Thank you to everyone who participated. 

Data from the census will be used to determine:

  • More than $675 billion in federal funding for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs, including Title 1 funding, school lunches and Microtransit
  • Congressional representation
  • Electoral districts, which are redrawn based on where populations have increased or decreased
  • Where businesses open new stores, restaurants, factories and offices; where to expand operations; where to recruit employees; and which products and services to offer.

How did we measure up in the 2020 Census?   

Wendell Self-Response Rates
Wendell's 2000-2020 Self-Response Rate

What’s the impact of not being counted?

  • In some areas, the self-response rate was 12 points lower than in 2010. Each person not counted represents over $1,600 in lost funding for our community every year.
  • Higher self-response rates mean fewer people are likely to be missed or counted inaccurately. It also means the community will have a better chance at receiving its fair share of services and political representation.
  • Low self-response rates often result in an undercount of historically underrepresented communities.

You can find more census data here