Bars in Wake County, NC — Market Data (2023)
134 bars operate in Wake County, NC, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 1.126 establishments per 10,000 residents, 7.7% below the national average of 1.2193 per 10,000 residents for bars. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 134 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 1.126 |
| Employment | 1,896 |
| Annual payroll | $46,862,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 14.1 |
| County population (2023) | 1,190,275 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower bars density than Wake County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Suffolk County, NY: 1.123 per 10,000 residents (171 establishments)
- Harris County, TX: 1.094 per 10,000 residents (529 establishments)
- San Diego County, CA: 1.064 per 10,000 residents (348 establishments)
- Alameda County, CA: 1.017 per 10,000 residents (165 establishments)
See the full Bars by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Other industries in Wake County, NC
Establishment counts and density for other tracked business types in Wake County, NC, 2023 CBP.
- Full-Service Restaurants: 1,021 (8.578/10k)
- Limited-Service Restaurants: 984 (8.267/10k)
- Doctors Offices: 618 (5.192/10k)
- Dentists: 562 (4.722/10k)
- Home Remodelers: 503 (4.226/10k)
- Landscaping Companies: 464 (3.898/10k)
- Hair Salons: 422 (3.545/10k)
- Child Day Care Centers: 322 (2.705/10k)
- Coffee Shops: 303 (2.546/10k)
- Auto Repair Shops: 282 (2.369/10k)
- Gyms and Fitness Centers: 251 (2.109/10k)
- Grocery Stores: 230 (1.932/10k)
- Chiropractors: 169 (1.42/10k)
- Veterinary Clinics: 164 (1.378/10k)
- Sports and Recreation Instruction: 150 (1.26/10k)
- Pet Grooming and Boarding: 126 (1.059/10k)
- Auto Body Shops: 109 (0.916/10k)
- Optometrists: 102 (0.857/10k)
- Self-Storage Facilities: 92 (0.773/10k)
- Car Washes: 81 (0.681/10k)
- Family Clothing Stores: 80 (0.672/10k)
- Nail Salons: 76 (0.639/10k)
- Tax Preparation Services: 75 (0.63/10k)
- Dry Cleaners: 59 (0.496/10k)
- Bakeries: 50 (0.42/10k)
- Barbershops: 45 (0.378/10k)
- Funeral Homes: 30 (0.252/10k)
- Florists: 29 (0.244/10k)
- Weight Loss Centers: 17 (0.143/10k)
Frequently asked questions
How many bars are there in Wake County, NC?
134 bars operate in Wake County, NC, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the bars market in Wake County, NC saturated compared to the national average?
Wake County, NC has 1.126 bars per 10,000 residents, which is 7.7% below the national average of 1.2193 per 10,000 residents. That means fewer competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a bar business in Wake County, NC?
The average bar business in Wake County, NC has about 14.1 employees (1,896 total employment ÷ 134 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for bars?
Yes — Suffolk County, NY has a lower density (1.123 per 10,000 residents) than Wake County, NC, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.