Guilford County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Guilford County, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Guilford County, North Carolina has a population of 547,940, the 3rd most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $68,642 and the median home value is $259,900. The poverty rate is 14.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Guilford County Quick Facts

Population 547,940

Median Household Income $68,642

Median Home Value $259,900

Poverty Rate 14.6%

Unemployment Rate 4.6%

Median Age 37.5 years

Homeownership Rate 60.0%

Affordability Ratio 3.8x

Bachelor's Degree+ 39.0%

High School Graduation 90.8%

Cities/Places 15

Population 547,940 3rd of 100

Median Income $68,642 5% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.6%

Unemployment 4.6%

How Guilford 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	542,987	547,940	+0.9%
Median household income	$66,027	$68,642	+4.0%
Median home value	$234,900	$259,900	+10.6%

Median Household Income

Guilford

$68,642

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Guilford

$259,900

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.5%

$25K-$50K 20.6%

$50K-$100K 29.7%

$100K+ 33.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.8%

$10K-$15K

4.0%

$15K-$20K

3.0%

$20K-$25K

3.6%

$25K-$30K

3.7%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

4.3%

$40K-$45K

4.8%

$45K-$50K

3.8%

$50K-$60K

7.1%

$60K-$75K

9.6%

$75K-$100K

13.0%

$100K-$125K

9.5%

$125K-$150K

6.9%

$150K-$200K

7.6%

$200K+

9.1%

Employment

4.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

64.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 60.0%

Renter 40.0%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.8x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,163/mo 20.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.0%

18-34

25.1%

35-54

24.8%

55-74

21.7%

75+

6.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

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 Guilford County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Greensboro	301,198	$61,515	17.0%	$244,800
High Point	116,245	$64,561	15.7%	$235,800
Burlington	59,610	$56,880	16.4%	$199,200
Kernersville	27,830	$71,918	12.6%	$290,700
Archdale	12,087	$64,757	5.2%	$198,000
Summerfield	11,116	$160,275	7.1%	$521,900
Gibsonville	9,467	$95,861	5.8%	$298,000
Oak Ridge	7,744	$155,385	3.6%	$529,300
Stokesdale	6,004	$121,071	5.6%	$379,100
Pleasant Garden	5,060	$88,204	9.7%	$223,500
Forest Oaks	4,293	$107,604	20.4%	$349,300
Jamestown	3,708	$104,844	2.5%	$326,800
Sedalia	772	$69,712	6.1%	$206,500
McLeansville	688	$27,161	24.2%	$207,400
Whitsett	569	$83,393	2.8%	$213,000

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Guilford County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 547,940. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 15 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Guilford County is 37.5 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Guilford County is $68,642. This is 5% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $259,900. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 60.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Guilford County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 46.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 33.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (33.5% vs 20.0%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.4% vs 3.3%).

Education

39.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 90.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Guilford 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 Guilford County, North Carolina?

Guilford County has a population of 547,940, making it the 3rd most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Guilford County?

The median household income in Guilford County is $68,642 with a poverty rate of 14.6%.

How many cities are in Guilford County, North Carolina?

Guilford County contains 15 Census-designated places.