Car Washes in Wake County, NC — Market Data (2023)
81 car washes 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 0.681 establishments per 10,000 residents, 22.3% above the national average of 0.5569 per 10,000 residents for car washes. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 81 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 0.681 |
| Employment | 834 |
| Annual payroll | $18,351,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 10.3 |
| County population (2023) | 1,190,275 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower car washes density than Wake County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Los Angeles County, CA: 0.612 per 10,000 residents (591 establishments)
- Bexar County, TX: 0.604 per 10,000 residents (126 establishments)
- Collin County, TX: 0.602 per 10,000 residents (72 establishments)
- Harris County, TX: 0.596 per 10,000 residents (288 establishments)
See the full Car Washes by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many car washes are there in Wake County, NC?
81 car washes operate in Wake County, NC, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the car washes market in Wake County, NC saturated compared to the national average?
Wake County, NC has 0.681 car washes per 10,000 residents, which is 22.3% above the national average of 0.5569 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a car washe business in Wake County, NC?
The average car washe business in Wake County, NC has about 10.3 employees (834 total employment ÷ 81 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for car washes?
Yes — Los Angeles County, CA has a lower density (0.612 per 10,000 residents) than Wake County, NC, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.