Don't be shocked if you see more NJ, NY license plates. Data shows residents from there lead relocation to Wake County

Wake County is one of the fastest growing areas in the country.

"We’re one of the strongest, most vibrant local economies in the country," said Michael Haley, the executive director for Wake County Economic Development.

Recently released Census data reveals migration patterns for those who are now deciding to call the county home. A question on the American Community Survey asks residents where they lived the year before, showing what annual movement is like among the country.

At a county level, the most people who are moving to Wake are neighbors from Durham. In the top ten though, there are only three counties in the state. Cobb County, Georgia ranks second followed by Kings County, New York, Somerset County, New Jersey and Fairfax County, Virginia.

Several of the counties outside of the state that are in the top 10 have significantly higher median household incomes than Wake County.

The same can be said for states, as an entirety. When we look at net migration into Wake County, we see the most people are coming from New Jersey, New York, other North Carolina counties, Virginia and California. Residents in all of those other states have higher incomes on average, data shows. With a transition to remote work, that means that people are bringing that wealth to the area.

"The growth that we’ve experienced has been decades worth so it isn’t short term," Haley said. "It really is part of who we are and what our story is and what it will continue to be because we’re attracting talent, growing companies, starting new companies. I think that ability to do those things means that there's a staying power to that growth."

Haley notes that there are some challenges with our growth patterns like what we’ve been seeing with the housing market. But he feels our region is unique in the way that we have the ability to build so we can change our population does too.

"Our future is limitless and it really is a community of what’s next," he said.