1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Davidson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $64,172. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Davidson County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Davidson County
- Household income in Davidson County
- Davidson County housing compared with North Carolina
- Davidson County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Davidson County
- Debt-to-income at Davidson County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Davidson County
- Davidson County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Davidson County
- Four steps for Davidson County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Davidson County by the numbers
Roughly 172,954 residents live in Davidson County, North Carolina, 17th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. It covers 553 square miles of land, or about 313 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Winston-Salem, NC metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Davidson County, Thomasville leads by population with about 27,321; 5 of the 9 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Davidson County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Manufacturing stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Davidson County. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Davidson County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.2% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -4.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Davidson County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Davidson County
Half of Davidson County households take in less than $64,172 a year and half take in more, 11% below the North Carolina median of $72,388. That places it 41st among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Band | Davidson County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.6% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -4.0 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.8%, the same as the state's 13.0%. For a borrower in Davidson County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Davidson County housing compared with North Carolina
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $901 in Davidson County versus $1,228 statewide. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $219,100, a typical Davidson County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 74% of homes. The median year built is 1985.
| Measure | Davidson County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $901/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $219,100 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
Because most Davidson County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Davidson County towns compared
9 Census places fall mainly inside Davidson County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 65,843 residents, leaving about 62% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,128 in Lexington to $91,307 in Southmont. Rent is cheapest in Tyro ($746) and steepest in Lexington ($893). None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomasville | city | 27,321 | $60,935 | $879 | 9 mi |
| Lexington | city | 19,690 | $43,128 | $893 | 4 mi |
| Midway | town | 4,897 | $83,446 | $778 | 12 mi |
| Tyro | CDP | 3,833 | $58,364 | $746 | 9 mi |
| Welcome | CDP | 3,521 | $63,353 | $836 | 8 mi |
| Wallburg | town | 3,150 | $88,406 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Southmont | CDP | 1,525 | $91,307 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Denton | town | 1,506 | $50,847 | $842 | 12 mi |
| Yadkin College | CDP | 400 | $110,219 | n/a | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Davidson County
Rowan County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Stanly County, is 34 miles off. Income ranges from $60,704 in Stanly County to $75,057 in Davie County; 4 of these neighbors top Davidson County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | - | $64,172 | $901/mo | 74% |
| Rowan County, NC | 21 mi | $65,725 | $1,013/mo | 72% |
| Davie County, NC | 21 mi | $75,057 | $867/mo | 82% |
| Randolph County, NC | 23 mi | $61,022 | $887/mo | 73% |
| Forsyth County, NC | 23 mi | $67,165 | $1,098/mo | 64% |
| Guilford County, NC | 31 mi | $68,642 | $1,163/mo | 60% |
| Stanly County, NC | 34 mi | $60,704 | $861/mo | 74% |
Debt-to-income at Davidson County's medians
How much room does a median Davidson County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,348 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($901)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,299 total minus rent leaves $1,398
If your rent is above $901, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Davidson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Davidson County borrowers.
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Consolidating cards in Davidson County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Davidson County households compared
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 9.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Davidson County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Davidson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Licensing and complaints for Davidson County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Davidson County, check the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Four steps for Davidson County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Davidson County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A North Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Davidson County earn?
The median is $64,172; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Davidson County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $901 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Davidson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Davidson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Thomasville, Lexington, Midway, Tyro, Welcome and 4 more.
Are Davidson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.