1st Advantage Mortgage30% of Alamance County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $65,651 (ACS 2020-24). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- First look: Alamance County, NC
- How Alamance County ranks in North Carolina
- Where Alamance County households live
- Alamance County income bands
- Work, industries and travel time in Alamance County
- Alamance County and the counties next door
- Burlington and the rest of Alamance County
- What the numbers mean for Alamance County borrowers
- Who lives in Alamance County, in numbers
- What a median Alamance County budget can carry
- Four steps for Alamance County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- More guides for Alamance County
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Alamance County, NC
Roughly 176,893 residents live in Alamance County, North Carolina, 16th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 423 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 418 per square mile. Alamance County counts toward the Burlington, NC metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Burlington, NC include it. Largest place: Burlington, about 59,610 residents (34% of Alamance County); 14 Census places in all.
How Alamance County ranks in North Carolina
Out of every North Carolina county, Alamance County is most unusual on these measures.
- Alamance County ranks 16th highest of 100 North Carolina counties for population: 176,893, against 10,730,404 statewide. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
- The housing vacancy rate: 9% in Alamance County. Only 17 of 100 North Carolina counties are lower. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
- On the share of mobile homes, Alamance County sits near the bottom of North Carolina at 11.5%, 20th lowest of 100. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
Where Alamance County households live
Alamance County rent at the median: $1,064 a month, utilities in ($1,228 in North Carolina). By the Census definition, 47% of Alamance County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $241,500, about 3.7 times the median household income. Homeowners 65%, renters 35%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Housing | Alamance County | North Carolina statewide | Alamance County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | -2.3 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | -2.2 pts |
| Median home value | $241,500 | $288,900 | 16% lower |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | -1.6 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,064/mo | $1,228/mo | 13% lower |
| Mobile homes | 11.5% | 11.0% | +0.5 pts |
Alamance County income bands
Median household income in Alamance County: $65,651 (9% below North Carolina, $72,388). Only 36 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Band | Alamance County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.0% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -4.2 pts |
Six-figure households (30%) outnumber those under $35,000 (25%) in Alamance County. Alamance County counts about 23,617 residents below the poverty line, 13.4% of the population. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Alamance County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Alamance County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 27% locally and 23% for North Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Only 4.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Alamance County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.4 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Alamance County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Alamance County's, from 16 to 32 miles away. Richest neighbor: Chatham County, $94,317. Poorest: Rockingham County, $57,053. Alamance County: $65,651.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | - | $65,651 | $1,064/mo | 65% |
| Orange County, NC | 16 mi | $90,089 | $1,496/mo | 64% |
| Guilford County, NC | 22 mi | $68,642 | $1,163/mo | 60% |
| Caswell County, NC | 24 mi | $59,755 | $727/mo | 75% |
| Chatham County, NC | 25 mi | $94,317 | $1,180/mo | 81% |
| Durham County, NC | 29 mi | $82,316 | $1,508/mo | 55% |
| Rockingham County, NC | 32 mi | $57,053 | $810/mo | 72% |
Burlington and the rest of Alamance County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Alamance County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 134,711 residents, leaving about 24% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $44,736, Swepsonville over Green Level. Rent is cheapest in Glen Raven ($743) and steepest in Elon ($2,080). Burlington and every other Alamance County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | city | 59,610 | $56,880 | $1,051 | 4 mi |
| Mebane | city | 19,538 | $83,174 | $1,283 | 7 mi |
| Graham | city | 18,048 | $56,239 | $1,071 | 1 mi |
| Elon | town | 11,032 | $84,773 | $2,080 | 7 mi |
| Gibsonville | town | 9,467 | $95,861 | $1,034 | 9 mi |
| Glen Raven | CDP | 3,506 | $63,173 | $743 | 7 mi |
| Green Level | town | 3,230 | $55,823 | $891 | 6 mi |
| Haw River | town | 2,824 | $61,058 | $1,258 | 4 mi |
| Swepsonville | town | 2,517 | $100,559 | $1,191 | 3 mi |
| Saxapahaw | CDP | 1,301 | $59,000 | $753 | 7 mi |
| Alamance | village | 1,267 | $99,375 | $1,156 | 5 mi |
| Woodlawn | CDP | 1,085 | $72,734 | $841 | 8 mi |
| Ossipee | town | 795 | $70,417 | $1,094 | 11 mi |
| Altamahaw | CDP | 491 | $57,120 | n/a | 12 mi |
What the numbers mean for Alamance County borrowers
What the Alamance County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Who lives in Alamance County, in numbers
29% of Alamance County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Alamance County | Difference from North Carolina | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | -6.9 pts | +6.6 pts |
| Work from home | 11.3% | -5.0 pts | +2.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.0% | +1.2 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | -0.6 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | +0.3 pts | +0.7 pts |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | +0.3 pts | +2.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | +0.3 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Median age | 38.9 | -0.2 yrs | -2.6 yrs |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
What a median Alamance County budget can carry
Alamance County's $65,651 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $65,651 a year is $5,471 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,064 uses 19%
- $906: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
A household below the $65,651 median has less room than this, often none.
Four steps for Alamance County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Alamance County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Before sharing details with a lender, a Alamance County resident can confirm its license with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The North Carolina page has statewide figures to set beside Alamance County's.
More guides for Alamance County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Alamance County?
$65,651 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 37th of 100 in the state.
What do renters pay in Alamance County?
$1,064 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Is Altamahaw covered?
Yes. Altamahaw is one of 14 Census places in Alamance County, and this guide covers all of them.
Can Alamance County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Alamance County?
Look it up with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.