Forsyth County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Forsyth County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Forsyth County Below averageWealthier than 75% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Forsyth County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,537 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,352 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.6% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Forsyth County is about 7% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Forsyth County (4.8%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Forsyth County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Forsyth County, North Carolina grew by 42.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,537 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Forsyth County
| Metric | Forsyth County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.550 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,793 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,816 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.8% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Forsyth County, it is 0.550, about the same as North Carolina's 0.547, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 17% more than women's income in Forsyth County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $314,195 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Forsyth County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 13% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $441 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Forsyth County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.5% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 9,758 people are unemployed in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Forsyth County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Forsyth County, North Carolina has fallen from 8.7% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2020.
Forsyth County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Forsyth County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 389,752 residents against a local median of 45,181. Nothing separates Forsyth County, NC sharply from the counties around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 10% above the local median at 5.0% against 4.6%. Forsyth County, NC has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsyth County, NC | 389,752 | $67,537 #3/6 | 4.8%/yr #5/6 | 5.0% #5/6 | 0.550 #5/6 |
| Stokes County, NC | 45,181 | $63,303 | 5.1%/yr | 3.1% | 0.511 |
| Davidson County, NC | 173,005 | $65,085 | 4.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.530 |
| Davie County, NC | 44,122 | $75,112 | 4.8%/yr | 4.7% | 0.526 |
| Yadkin County, NC | 37,554 | $62,598 | 6.1%/yr | 5.3% | 0.517 |
| Guilford County, NC | 547,431 | $68,970 | 4.9%/yr | 4.6% | 0.557 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Forsyth County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Forsyth County, North Carolina?
Forsyth County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,537, about 7% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Forsyth County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Forsyth County, North Carolina rose 42%, from $47,520 to $67,537. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +42% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Forsyth County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Forsyth County, North Carolina was $65,697, up 7% from $61,199 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Forsyth County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Forsyth County, North Carolina was $53,827. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $67,537.
What is the Gini coefficient in Forsyth County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Forsyth County is 0.550. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Forsyth County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Forsyth County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 13% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $441 since 2009.
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