1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of Stokes County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $62,969. 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
- Stokes County at a glance
- What Stokes County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Stokes County
- Stokes County housing compared with North Carolina
- Towns and communities in Stokes County
- The counties around Stokes County
- Room for a loan payment in Stokes County
- Stokes County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Stokes County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Stokes County residents
- Four steps for Stokes County borrowers
- More guides for Stokes County
- Frequently asked questions
Stokes County at a glance
With an estimated 45,139 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Stokes County ranks 55th of 100 in North Carolina for population. Land area is 449 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 100 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Winston-Salem, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). King is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 7,408 people (16% of the county total).
What Stokes County households earn
At $62,969, the typical Stokes County household income is 4% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 42 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Band | Stokes County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 53.0% | +11.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.9% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -6.8 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 13.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.418 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Stokes County
The biggest employer of Stokes County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). Manufacturing stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 83% drive to work alone and 25% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Stokes County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.4% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -4.0 pts |
| Other services | 8.4% | +3.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.5% | +2.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Stokes County housing compared with North Carolina
A typical Stokes County rental runs $775 a month including utilities, which is 37% below North Carolina. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $196,700, a typical Stokes County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 79%. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Stokes County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $775/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $196,700 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.7% | 11.0% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Towns and communities in Stokes County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Stokes County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 10,260 residents, leaving about 77% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. King has the highest median household income on the list ($57,817) and Pinnacle the lowest ($23,750), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Walnut Cove ($674) and steepest in King ($895). Live in one of these Stokes County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | city | 7,408 | $57,817 | $895 | 10 mi |
| Walnut Cove | town | 2,115 | $44,815 | $674 | 10 mi |
| Pinnacle | CDP | 540 | $23,750 | $814 | 10 mi |
| Danbury | town | 197 | $72,250 | $1,167 | 3 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Stokes County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Stokes County's, from 18 to 27 miles away. Forsyth County leads the group on income ($67,165), Henry County trails ($50,760), and Stokes County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Stokes County resident follows North Carolina rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stokes County | - | $62,969 | $775/mo | 79% |
| Forsyth County, NC | 18 mi | $67,165 | $1,098/mo | 64% |
| Patrick County, VA | 19 mi | $53,038 | $716/mo | 77% |
| Henry County, VA | 22 mi | $50,760 | $728/mo | 75% |
| Surry County, NC | 23 mi | $55,656 | $761/mo | 73% |
| Rockingham County, NC | 27 mi | $57,053 | $810/mo | 72% |
| Yadkin County, NC | 27 mi | $62,932 | $766/mo | 77% |
Room for a loan payment in Stokes County
Stokes County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,247 gross per month ($62,969 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $775 uses 15%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,062 left for all other debt payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,586 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $775, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Stokes County households compared
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.6%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| People and households | Stokes County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Stokes County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
What the numbers mean for Stokes County borrowers
Where the Stokes County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 25% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Stokes County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 25% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Who licenses lenders for Stokes County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Stokes 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 guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Stokes County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Stokes County:
- Price the Stokes County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Stokes County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stokes County a high-income county?
Its $62,969 median ranks 43rd of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Stokes County rent compare with North Carolina?
$775 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 37% below.
What are the biggest places in Stokes County?
By population: King, Walnut Cove, Pinnacle, Danbury. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Stokes County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Stokes County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.