Grocery Stores in Wake County, NC — Market Data (2023)
230 grocery stores 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 1.932 establishments per 10,000 residents, 4.9% above the national average of 1.8409 per 10,000 residents for grocery stores. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 230 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 1.932 |
| Employment | 13,557 |
| Annual payroll | $365,716,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 58.9 |
| County population (2023) | 1,190,275 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower grocery stores density than Wake County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Mecklenburg County, NC: 1.925 per 10,000 residents (224 establishments)
- Franklin County, OH: 1.908 per 10,000 residents (253 establishments)
- Contra Costa County, CA: 1.905 per 10,000 residents (220 establishments)
- Santa Clara County, CA: 1.8 per 10,000 residents (338 establishments)
See the full Grocery Stores by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many grocery stores are there in Wake County, NC?
230 grocery stores operate in Wake County, NC, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the grocery stores market in Wake County, NC saturated compared to the national average?
Wake County, NC has 1.932 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, which is 4.9% above the national average of 1.8409 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a grocery store business in Wake County, NC?
The average grocery store business in Wake County, NC has about 58.9 employees (13,557 total employment ÷ 230 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for grocery stores?
Yes — Mecklenburg County, NC has a lower density (1.925 per 10,000 residents) than Wake County, NC, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.