1st Advantage MortgageSurry County households have a median income of $55,656 and median rent of $761 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Surry County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Surry County
- Income in Surry County compared with North Carolina
- How Surry County residents earn a living
- The counties around Surry County
- Towns and communities in Surry County
- Budget math at the Surry County median
- Who lives in Surry County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Surry County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Surry County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Surry County
- Frequently asked questions
Surry County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Surry County's population at 71,425; only 37 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 533 square miles, that is close to 134 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 8 Census places inside Surry County, Mount Airy leads by population with about 10,633; 4 of the 8 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Surry County
Renters in Surry County pay a median of $761 a month, 38% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $177,600, about 3.2 times the median household income. 73% of Surry County households own their home and 27% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Cost | Surry County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $761/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $177,600 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.0% | 11.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Surry County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Income in Surry County compared with North Carolina
The median household income in Surry County is $55,656; statewide it is $72,388, so Surry County runs 23% below North Carolina as a whole. Only 70 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Surry County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.9% | +10.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | -0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -6.3 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.8%, 4 points higher than the state's 13.0%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Surry County median.
How Surry County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Surry County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Surry County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.6% | +6.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -4.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -2.0 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.
The counties around Surry County
Yadkin County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Patrick County, is 28 miles off. Stokes County leads the group on income ($62,969), Galax city trails ($38,675), and Surry County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Surry County resident follows North Carolina rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surry County | - | $55,656 | $761/mo | 73% |
| Yadkin County, NC | 18 mi | $62,932 | $766/mo | 77% |
| Galax city, VA | 21 mi | $38,675 | $743/mo | 56% |
| Carroll County, VA | 22 mi | $54,484 | $738/mo | 77% |
| Stokes County, NC | 23 mi | $62,969 | $775/mo | 79% |
| Alleghany County, NC | 25 mi | $47,172 | $675/mo | 74% |
| Patrick County, VA | 28 mi | $53,038 | $716/mo | 77% |
Towns and communities in Surry County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 29% of Surry County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $60,740 at the median in Elkin, $35,111 in Toast. Rent is cheapest in Dobson ($528) and steepest in Pilot Mountain ($969). This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Airy | city | 10,633 | $40,275 | $725 | 8 mi |
| Elkin | town | 4,043 | $60,740 | $807 | 14 mi |
| Dobson | town | 1,652 | $43,750 | $528 | 3 mi |
| Pilot Mountain | town | 1,483 | $49,200 | $969 | 12 mi |
| Flat Rock | CDP | 1,062 | $42,018 | $771 | 9 mi |
| Toast | CDP | 893 | $35,111 | $847 | 6 mi |
| White Plains | CDP | 795 | $44,242 | $548 | 3 mi |
| Lowgap | CDP | 264 | $60,368 | $763 | 13 mi |
Budget math at the Surry County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Surry County's medians:
- $4,638 a month: gross income for a household at the Surry County median
- Rent at the median, $761, takes 16% of that
- $909: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,233 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Surry County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Surry County, in numbers
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Surry County | All of North Carolina | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.4% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.3% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.8% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
What the numbers mean for Surry County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Surry County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 23% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who licenses lenders for Surry County residents
Consumer lenders serving Surry 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. See the North Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Surry County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Surry County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Surry County?
$55,656 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 71st of 100 in the state.
How much is rent in Surry County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $761 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Surry County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Mount Airy?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Surry County, such as Elkin, Dobson, Pilot Mountain.
Can Surry 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.