Coffee Shops in Wake County, NC — Market Data (2023)
303 coffee shops 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 2.546 establishments per 10,000 residents, 1.4% above the national average of 2.5112 per 10,000 residents for coffee shops. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 303 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 2.546 |
| Employment | 4,282 |
| Annual payroll | $78,290,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 14.1 |
| County population (2023) | 1,190,275 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower coffee shops density than Wake County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Riverside County, CA: 2.536 per 10,000 residents (632 establishments)
- Harris County, TX: 2.531 per 10,000 residents (1,224 establishments)
- Cook County, IL: 2.447 per 10,000 residents (1,245 establishments)
- Miami-Dade County, FL: 2.371 per 10,000 residents (637 establishments)
See the full Coffee Shops by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many coffee shops are there in Wake County, NC?
303 coffee shops operate in Wake County, NC, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the coffee shops market in Wake County, NC saturated compared to the national average?
Wake County, NC has 2.546 coffee shops per 10,000 residents, which is 1.4% above the national average of 2.5112 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a coffee shop business in Wake County, NC?
The average coffee shop business in Wake County, NC has about 14.1 employees (4,282 total employment ÷ 303 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for coffee shops?
Yes — Riverside County, CA has a lower density (2.536 per 10,000 residents) than Wake County, NC, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.