1st Advantage MortgageGuilford County households have a median income of $68,642 and median rent of $1,163 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Guilford County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Guilford County
- The Guilford County job picture
- Housing costs in Guilford County
- The communities that make up Guilford County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Guilford County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Guilford County
- More Guilford County figures
- Four steps for Guilford County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Guilford County at a glance
Roughly 547,940 residents live in Guilford County, North Carolina, 3rd by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 646 square miles, that is close to 848 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Greensboro-High Point, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Greensboro is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 301,198 people (55% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Guilford County
At $68,642, the typical Guilford County household income is 5% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 24th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Band | Guilford County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -1.3 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.6%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.0%. None of these numbers decides a Guilford County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Guilford County job picture
The biggest employer of Guilford County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward education and health care (25% against 23%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 73% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Guilford County share | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.1% | +1.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Guilford County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Guilford County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,163 in Guilford County versus $1,228 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. With a median value of $259,900, a typical Guilford County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 60% of Guilford County households own their home and 40% rent. Median construction year: 1987.
| Housing | Guilford County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,163/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $259,900 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% | 11.0% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The communities that make up Guilford County
12 Census places fall mainly inside Guilford County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 469,484 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Summerfield has the highest median household income on the list ($160,275) and McLeansville the lowest ($27,161), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,034 in Archdale to $3,009 in Oak Ridge. Names with links open a city guide. The other 10 places are covered here.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | city | 301,198 | $61,515 | $1,172 | 2 mi |
| High Point | city | 116,245 | $64,561 | $1,116 | 13 mi |
| Archdale | city | 12,087 | $64,757 | $1,034 | 15 mi |
| Summerfield | town | 11,116 | $160,275 | $1,521 | 10 mi |
| Oak Ridge | town | 7,744 | $155,385 | $3,009 | 13 mi |
| Stokesdale | town | 6,004 | $121,071 | $1,450 | 15 mi |
| Pleasant Garden | town | 5,060 | $88,204 | $1,416 | 9 mi |
| Forest Oaks | CDP | 4,293 | $107,604 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Jamestown | town | 3,708 | $104,844 | $1,153 | 10 mi |
| Sedalia | town | 772 | $69,712 | n/a | 10 mi |
| McLeansville | CDP | 688 | $27,161 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Whitsett | town | 569 | $83,393 | $1,167 | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 21 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $57,053 in Rockingham County to $67,165 in Forsyth County; none of these neighbors top Guilford County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford County | - | $68,642 | $1,163/mo | 60% |
| Rockingham County, NC | 21 mi | $57,053 | $810/mo | 72% |
| Alamance County, NC | 22 mi | $65,651 | $1,064/mo | 65% |
| Randolph County, NC | 26 mi | $61,022 | $887/mo | 73% |
| Forsyth County, NC | 26 mi | $67,165 | $1,098/mo | 64% |
| Davidson County, NC | 31 mi | $64,172 | $901/mo | 74% |
| Caswell County, NC | 33 mi | $59,755 | $727/mo | 75% |
Debt-to-income at Guilford County's medians
Here is the Guilford County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,720 gross per month ($68,642 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,163 uses 20%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,288 total minus rent leaves $1,125
Two-income households and single earners in Guilford County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Guilford County
Based on the Guilford County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Guilford County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Guilford County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Guilford County figures
Degree holders: 39% of adults over 25. 8.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Guilford County | All of North Carolina | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.0% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Guilford County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
Four steps for Guilford County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Guilford County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A North Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Consumer lenders serving Guilford County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Carolina that is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Guilford County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Guilford County household make?
About $68,642 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% below the North Carolina median.
What do renters pay in Guilford County?
$1,163 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I live in a small Guilford County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Greensboro, High Point, Archdale, Summerfield, Oak Ridge and 7 more.
Can Guilford 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.
Is there a Guilford County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.