Limited-Service Restaurants in Wake County, NC — Market Data (2023)
984 limited-service restaurants 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 8.267 establishments per 10,000 residents, 2.5% above the national average of 8.0644 per 10,000 residents for limited-service restaurants. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 984 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 8.267 |
| Employment | 21,922 |
| Annual payroll | $436,539,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 22.3 |
| County population (2023) | 1,190,275 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower limited-service restaurants density than Wake County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Travis County, TX: 8.262 per 10,000 residents (1,103 establishments)
- Harris County, TX: 8.186 per 10,000 residents (3,958 establishments)
- Riverside County, CA: 8.137 per 10,000 residents (2,028 establishments)
- Bexar County, TX: 8.014 per 10,000 residents (1,673 establishments)
See the full Limited-Service Restaurants 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)
- 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)
- Bars: 134 (1.126/10k)
- 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 limited-service restaurants are there in Wake County, NC?
984 limited-service restaurants operate in Wake County, NC, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the limited-service restaurants market in Wake County, NC saturated compared to the national average?
Wake County, NC has 8.267 limited-service restaurants per 10,000 residents, which is 2.5% above the national average of 8.0644 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a limited-service restaurant business in Wake County, NC?
The average limited-service restaurant business in Wake County, NC has about 22.3 employees (21,922 total employment ÷ 984 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for limited-service restaurants?
Yes — Travis County, TX has a lower density (8.262 per 10,000 residents) than Wake County, NC, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.