1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Forsyth County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $67,165. 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
- Forsyth County, NC: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Forsyth County
- What it costs to live in Forsyth County
- The Forsyth County job picture
- Towns and communities in Forsyth County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Forsyth County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Forsyth County
- Who lives in Forsyth County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Forsyth County
- Checklist for Forsyth County applicants
- More guides for Forsyth County
- Frequently asked questions
Forsyth County, NC: the basics
With an estimated 389,977 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Forsyth County ranks 4th of 100 in North Carolina for population. Packed into 408 square miles, that is close to 956 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Winston-Salem, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 9 Census places inside Forsyth County, Winston-Salem leads by population with about 252,037; 8 of the 9 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Forsyth County
Forsyth County households have a median income of $67,165 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 100 in North Carolina.
| Income band | Share in Forsyth County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.2% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.5% | -1.8 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.5%, 1 point higher than the state's 13.0%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.478 here. None of these numbers decides a Forsyth County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Forsyth County
Renters in Forsyth County pay a median of $1,098 a month, 11% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $250,400, a typical Forsyth County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 64% of Forsyth County households own their home and 36% rent.
| Housing | Forsyth County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,098/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $250,400 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% | 11.0% | n/a |
The Forsyth County job picture
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Forsyth County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. Education and health care stands out: 28% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Forsyth County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.8% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Forsyth County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of Forsyth County residents live in one of the 9. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,054 in Rural Hall to $100,917 in Lewisville. City guides exist for the linked Forsyth County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | city | 252,037 | $59,268 | $1,087 | 2 mi |
| Kernersville | town | 27,830 | $71,918 | $1,082 | 10 mi |
| Clemmons | village | 21,871 | $87,655 | $1,269 | 10 mi |
| Lewisville | town | 13,828 | $100,917 | $1,095 | 10 mi |
| Walkertown | town | 5,873 | $82,615 | $1,379 | 5 mi |
| Rural Hall | town | 3,466 | $51,054 | $967 | 7 mi |
| Tobaccoville | village | 2,664 | $80,263 | $976 | 9 mi |
| Germanton | CDP | 1,087 | $62,108 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Bethania | town | 443 | $87,866 | $1,617 | 5 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Forsyth County's, from 18 to 31 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Forsyth County; Davie County is highest at $75,057 and Surry County lowest at $55,656.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsyth County | - | $67,165 | $1,098/mo | 64% |
| Stokes County, NC | 18 mi | $62,969 | $775/mo | 79% |
| Davie County, NC | 21 mi | $75,057 | $867/mo | 82% |
| Yadkin County, NC | 23 mi | $62,932 | $766/mo | 77% |
| Davidson County, NC | 23 mi | $64,172 | $901/mo | 74% |
| Guilford County, NC | 26 mi | $68,642 | $1,163/mo | 60% |
| Surry County, NC | 31 mi | $55,656 | $761/mo | 73% |
What a median Forsyth County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Forsyth County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,597 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,098 uses 20%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,309 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,098, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Forsyth County
Based on the Forsyth County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Forsyth County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Forsyth County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who lives in Forsyth County, in numbers
College graduates make up 38% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.8%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Residents | Forsyth County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.8% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Forsyth County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Lender oversight for Forsyth County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Forsyth County resident can confirm its license with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Forsyth County applicants
Quick steps for Forsyth County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Forsyth County
City guides inside Forsyth County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Forsyth County household make?
About $67,165 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% below the North Carolina median.
What do renters pay in Forsyth County?
$1,098 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Does this page cover Winston-Salem?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Forsyth County, such as Kernersville, Clemmons, Lewisville.
Will a Forsyth County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming North Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Forsyth County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.