Guilford County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Guilford 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
Guilford County Below averageWealthier than 77% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Guilford County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,970 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,450 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.1% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Guilford County is about 5% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Guilford County (4.9%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Guilford 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 Guilford County, North Carolina grew by 49.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,970 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Guilford County
| Metric | Guilford County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.557 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,574 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,864 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.0% | 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 Guilford County, it is 0.557, higher than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than 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 23% more than women's income in Guilford County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $409,850 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Guilford County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2013, and was narrowest at 18% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,195 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Guilford County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.9% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 12,879 people are unemployed in Guilford County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Guilford County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Guilford County, North Carolina has fallen from 10.0% to 4.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2013.
Guilford County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Guilford County, NC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 547,431 residents against a local median of 173,005. Nothing separates Guilford 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, 9% below the local median at 4.6% against 5.0%. Guilford County, NC has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford County, NC | 547,431 | $68,970 #1/6 | 4.9%/yr #2/6 | 4.6% #3/6 | 0.557 #6/6 |
| Rockingham County, NC | 92,115 | $56,850 | 4.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.529 |
| Randolph County, NC | 146,354 | $60,953 | 4.4%/yr | 3.5% | 0.522 |
| Alamance County, NC | 176,834 | $66,483 | 5.6%/yr | 5.1% | 0.540 |
| Forsyth County, NC | 389,752 | $67,537 | 4.8%/yr | 5.0% | 0.550 |
| Davidson County, NC | 173,005 | $65,085 | 4.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.530 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Guilford 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 Guilford County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Guilford County, North Carolina?
Guilford 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 $68,970, about 5% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Guilford County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Guilford County, North Carolina rose 50%, from $46,111 to $68,970. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +50% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Guilford County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Guilford County, North Carolina was $66,338, up 6% from $62,876 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Guilford County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Guilford County, North Carolina was $55,307. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $68,970.
What is the Gini coefficient in Guilford County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Guilford County is 0.557. 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 Guilford County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Guilford County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2013, and was narrowest at 18% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,195 since 2009.
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