Forsyth County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Forsyth County, North Carolina has a population of 389,977, the 4th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $67,165 and the median home value is $250,400. The poverty rate is 14.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Forsyth County Quick Facts
How Forsyth County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 386,740 | 389,977 | +0.8% |
| Median household income | $65,541 | $67,165 | +2.5% |
| Median home value | $227,800 | $250,400 | +9.9% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Forsyth County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | 252,037 | $59,268 | 17.7% | $233,800 |
| Clemmons | 21,871 | $87,655 | 6.5% | $335,800 |
| Lewisville | 13,828 | $100,917 | 10.2% | $325,400 |
| King | 7,408 | $57,817 | 7.0% | $238,200 |
| Walkertown | 5,873 | $82,615 | 10.8% | $236,900 |
| Rural Hall | 3,466 | $51,054 | 9.4% | $189,600 |
| Tobaccoville | 2,664 | $80,263 | 8.5% | $234,200 |
| Germanton | 1,087 | $62,108 | 7.4% | $237,100 |
| Bethania | 443 | $87,866 | 15.6% | $290,000 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Forsyth County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 389,977. It is the 4th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Forsyth County is 38.4 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Forsyth County is $67,165. This is 7% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.5%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $250,400. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 63.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Forsyth County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.6%.
Education
38.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.4%. Notably, 15.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Forsyth County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Forsyth County, North Carolina?
Forsyth County has a population of 389,977, making it the 4th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Forsyth County?
The median household income in Forsyth County is $67,165 with a poverty rate of 14.5%.
How many cities are in Forsyth County, North Carolina?
Forsyth County contains 9 Census-designated places.