Guilford County, NC Local Data & Statistics

State: NC

Total population: 547,940 Household income: $68,642 Rent: $1,163

Overview

Total population

547,940

Rent

$1,163

Year built

1987

Household income

$68,642

Per capita income

$39,376

Poverty rate

14.6%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

48.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

Total population

547,940

Adults over 25

363,230

Total households

219,718

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$68,642

Per capita income

$39,376

Poverty rate

14.6%

Unemployment rate

3.8%

Rent over 30% of income

48.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,163

Year built

1987

Households that rent

40.1%

Households that own

59.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

47.6%

Black

33.8%

Asian

5.4%

Two or more races

8.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

10.1%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.1%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

13.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

28.1%

High school graduate or GED

22.4%

Some college or associate degree

10.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Guilford County, NC with: Greensboro Metro Area, NC North Carolina United States

Guilford County, NC

Total population547,940

Rent$1,163

Year built1987

Household income$68,642

Per capita income$39,376

Poverty rate14.6%

Unemployment rate3.8%

Greensboro Metro Area, NC

Total population786,419

Rent$1,093

Year built1985

Household income$65,565

Per capita income$37,114

Poverty rate14.8%

Unemployment rate4%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyGuilford County, NC	Metro AreaGreensboro Metro Area, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	547,940	786,419	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,163	$1,093	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1987	1985	1991	1980
Household income	$68,642	$65,565	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$39,376	$37,114	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.6%	14.8%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.8%	4%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Guilford County, NC

Guilford County is located in North Carolina .

Rent & Income

In Guilford County, the monthly rent is $1,163 and household income is $68,642. Rent is lower than both North Carolina and the U.S., and household income is lower than both North Carolina and the U.S. The poverty rate is 14.6%, which is higher than both North Carolina and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 40.1% of households. About 48.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 39% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.8%, which is higher than North Carolina and similar to the national rate.

Guilford County, NC — Rent vs Household Income

Guilford County, NC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Guilford County, NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,163 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Guilford County, NC

Annual Household Income: $68,642

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Guilford County, NC

Estimated Rate: 14.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Guilford County, NC

In Guilford County, NC, households that rent: 88,003 (40.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	88,003	40.1%
Owner-Occupied	131,715	59.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Guilford County, NC

In Guilford County, NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 42,622 (48.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	42,622	48.4%
Other renter households	45,381	51.6%
Total renter households	88,003	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Guilford County, NC

Less than High School: 102,110 people (28.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 81,413 people (22.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 37,945 people (10.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 141,762 people (39%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 363,230

📊 Unemployment Rate in Guilford County, NC

Estimated Rate: 3.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.