State rank#3 of 100
Smallest county547,940 residentsWake County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 37081
Guilford County, North Carolina
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population547,940
Household income$68,642
Unemployment4.2%
Life expectancy76.2 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Guilford County has 547,940 residents and ranks #3 by population among North Carolina county equivalents. Median household income is $68,642. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.2%. Its clearest relative strength is uninsured. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within North Carolina
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Guilford County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Guilford County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is uninsured.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $259,900 median home value and $1,163/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $68,642, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Guilford County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing uninsured, bachelor’s degree or higher, and primary care access. College attainment is 39% and life expectancy is 76.2 years.
Potential advantages
- Uninsured: 10.1%, rank #10 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 39%, rank #13 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,238 residents, rank #13 of 98 available North Carolina counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,163/mo, rank #80 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 4.2%, rank #77 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $259,900, rank #70 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within North Carolina
Rank and range use only counties in North Carolina with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$68,642
$68,642; above the state county median of $60,230.
State rank #24 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$259,900
$259,900; above the state county median of $219,700.
State rank #70 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,163/mo
$1,163/mo; above the state county median of $886/mo.
State rank #80 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.2%
4.2%; above the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #77 of 100 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
39%
39%; above the state county median of 23.5%.
State rank #13 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76.2 years
76.2 years; above the state county median of 74.2 years.
State rank #26 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
17.7%
17.7%; below the state county median of 18.9%.
State rank #33 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
10.1%
10.1%; below the state county median of 12.3%.
State rank #10 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,238 residents
1 per 1,238 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,158 residents.
State rank #13 of 98 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 283 residents
1 per 283 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 521 residents.
State rank #16 of 99 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Guilford County FAQ
Is Guilford County a good place to live?
Guilford County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing uninsured, bachelor’s degree or higher, and primary care access. College attainment is 39% and life expectancy is 76.2 years.
What should I know before moving to Guilford County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $259,900 median home value and $1,163/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $68,642, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Guilford County?
Guilford County has 547,940 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Guilford County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 37081; the parent state FIPS is 37.
What is the median household income in Guilford County?
The ACS median household income is $68,642.
How much does housing cost in Guilford County?
Housing benchmarks are $259,900 median home value and $1,163/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $68,642, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Guilford County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.2%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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