Greensboro Metro Area, NC Local Data & Statistics

State: NC

Total population: 786,419 Household income: $65,565 Rent: $1,093

Overview

Total population

786,419

Rent

$1,093

Year built

1985

Household income

$65,565

Per capita income

$37,114

Poverty rate

14.8%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.7%

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

Total population

786,419

Adults over 25

531,868

Total households

317,045

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

$65,565

Per capita income

$37,114

Poverty rate

14.8%

Unemployment rate

4.0%

Rent over 30% of income

46.7%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,093

Year built

1985

Households that rent

36.2%

Households that own

63.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

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

Race

White

56.2%

Black

26.8%

Asian

Two or more races

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

10.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89.5%

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

88.1%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

11.9%

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

29.5%

High school graduate or GED

26.2%

Some college or associate degree

12.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

32.2%

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

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

Greensboro Metro Area

Total population786,419

Rent$1,093

Year built1985

Household income$65,565

Per capita income$37,114

Poverty rate14.8%

Unemployment rate4.0%

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	Metro AreaGreensboro Metro Area	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	786,419	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,093	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1985	1991	1980
Household income	$65,565	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,114	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.8%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.0%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Greensboro Metro Area, North Carolina and United States →

Summary for Greensboro Metro Area, NC

Greensboro metro area is located in NC.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,093, while the typical household income is $65,565. Rent in this metro area is lower than in both North Carolina and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 36.2% of households. About 46.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 14.8%, which is higher than in both North Carolina and the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 4.0%, which is higher than the North Carolina rate and similar to the national rate.

Greensboro Metro Area, NC — Rent vs Household Income

Greensboro Metro Area, NC — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Greensboro Metro Area, NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,093 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 Greensboro Metro Area, NC

Annual Household Income: $65,565

💡 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 Greensboro Metro Area, NC

Estimated Rate: 14.8%

💡 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 Greensboro Metro Area, NC

In Greensboro Metro Area, NC, households that rent: 114,917 (36.2%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	114,917	36.2%
Owner-Occupied	202,128	63.8%

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 Greensboro Metro Area, NC

In Greensboro Metro Area, NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 53,610 (46.7%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	53,610	46.7%
Other renter households	61,307	53.3%
Total renter households	114,917	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 Greensboro Metro Area, NC

Less than High School: 156,828 people (29.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 139,354 people (26.2%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 64,373 people (12.1%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 171,313 people (32.2%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 531,868

📊 Unemployment Rate in Greensboro Metro Area, NC

Estimated Rate: 4.0%

💡 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.