HomeNorth CarolinaGuilford County
Guilford County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Guilford County, North Carolina had an estimated 558,816 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 541,242, across 646 square miles. County output reached $46.94 bn in 2024, 14,306 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 428 7(a) approvals worth $316.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Guilford County
How many people live in Guilford County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024547,940
- Households219,718
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$68,642
- Median age37.5
- Median gross rent$1,163 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$259,900
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher39.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over363,230
- Population under 18120,573
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over87,184
- Share 65 and over15.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64340,183
- Civilian labor force282,362
- Unemployment rate4.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.1 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties3rd of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included130th of 3,222
Guilford County is the 3rd largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.0 percent against 15.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Guilford County
Is Guilford County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024558,816
- Census 2020 base population541,242
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.25 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20245,936
- Births, 20245,972
- Deaths, 20245,121
- Natural change, 2024851
- Net domestic migration, 2024101
- Net international migration, 20244,958
- Total net migration, 20245,059
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20245,300
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents818th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.25 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Guilford County
Where are people moving to Guilford County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving14,687
- People arriving, from those returns25,496
- Tax returns filed by households leaving14,671
- Net household movement16
- Adjusted gross income arriving$882.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-33.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$60,050
- Average income of a leaving household$62,376
- Largest single originForsyth County (1,299 households)
- Largest single destinationForsyth County (1,677 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forsyth County | 1,299 | 2,221 | $69.4 m |
| Alamance County | 997 | 1,823 | $56.2 m |
| Randolph County | 719 | 1,330 | $33.4 m |
| Davidson County | 701 | 1,268 | $29.6 m |
| Wake County | 629 | 1,012 | $37.6 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 545 | 808 | $35.0 m |
| Rockingham County | 437 | 828 | $24.1 m |
| Durham County | 319 | 542 | $18.5 m |
Households arriving report $2,326 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Forsyth County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Guilford County
What is the Guilford County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$46.94 bn
- County GDP, 2023$44.51 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.5 percent
- GDP change over five years35.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes4th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes125th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$85,675
Output grew 5.5 percent in the latest year and 35.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Guilford County
Employment by industry in Guilford County
- Covered employment, annual average287,996
- Establishments reporting17,452
- Average annual pay$61,546
- Average weekly wage$1,184
- Health care and social assistance, employment38,504
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,341
- Retail trade, employment31,848
- Retail trade, average annual pay$41,654
- Manufacturing, employment31,087
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$77,474
- Accommodation and food services, employment26,857
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,297
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment23,170
- Transportation and warehousing, employment18,376
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 38,504 | 1,686 | $63,341 |
| Retail trade | 31,848 | 2,067 | $41,654 |
| Manufacturing | 31,087 | 686 | $77,474 |
| Accommodation and food services | 26,857 | 1,388 | $24,297 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 23,170 | 1,284 | $44,738 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 18,376 | 631 | $55,509 |
| Wholesale trade | 18,054 | 1,279 | $82,736 |
| Construction | 14,110 | 1,502 | $76,979 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 38,504 jobs, 13.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Guilford County
How many businesses are in Guilford County?
- Establishments, all industries14,306
- Employment at those establishments265,517
- Annual payroll$15.25 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Guilford County
Building permits in Guilford County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20243,843
- Declared construction value permitted$830.4 m
- Single family units authorized1,440
- Multifamily units authorized2,403
- Multifamily share of units62.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$216,094
- Units authorized per 1,000 households17.5
Multifamily is 62.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Guilford County
SBA loans in Guilford County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded428
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$316.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$739,977
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$29,280
- 90th percentile approval$1,795,660
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)6,276
- Jobs per approval14.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active81
- Distinct industries receiving approvals163
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer20.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms87
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter316
- Franchise loans80
- Franchise share of approvals18.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (19)
- Most active lenderBank of Oak Ridge (42)
- 504 approvals recorded89
- 504 gross approval dollars$88.9 m
- Average 504 approval$999,382
- Median 504 approval$676,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval23.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved23.4
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (53)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$405.7 m
The average approval of $739,977 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 20.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Guilford County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Guilford County
Do SBA loans in Guilford County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded61
- Paid in full58
- Charged off3
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans4.9 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure288
- Status: Cancelled58
- Status: Paid in full58
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed21
Of the 61 loans that have reached a final outcome, 4.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Guilford County
SBA lending by place in Guilford County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending16
- Greensboro, approvals274
- High Point, approvals88
- Oak Ridge, approvals9
- Gibsonville, approvals9
- Whitsett, approvals9
- Summerfield, approvals8
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | 274 | $214,154,100 |
| High Point | 88 | $62,066,400 |
| Oak Ridge | 9 | $8,419,200 |
| Gibsonville | 9 | $3,176,400 |
| Whitsett | 9 | $2,474,700 |
| Summerfield | 8 | $3,157,100 |
| McLeansville | 7 | $2,320,300 |
| Kernersville | 4 | $4,761,400 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 20 | $16,180,700 |
Greensboro accounts for 274 approvals against 88 in High Point. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Guilford County
How large is Guilford County?
- Land area646 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties22nd of 100
- Width, east to west28.8 mi
- Height, north to south24.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land848
- Establishments per square mile22.15
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Guilford County
Flood risk in Guilford County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Guilford County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370111
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP11
- NFIP participation rate91.7 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Guilford County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Guilford County (community 370111), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Guilford County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 91.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Guilford County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Guilford County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024547,940
- Households219,718
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$68,642
- Median age37.5
Common questions
Guilford County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Guilford County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 558,816 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 547,940, in 219,718 households, ranking 3rd of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Guilford County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.25 percent since the 2020 census base of 541,242, to 558,816 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 5,972 births against 5,121 deaths, with net migration of 5,059. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Guilford County?
$68,642. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $259,900, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,163 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Guilford County?
14,306 establishments, employing 265,517 people with an annual payroll of $15.25 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Guilford County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 38,504 jobs, 13.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 287,996 jobs at an average annual pay of $61,546, or $1,184 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Guilford County?
428 7(a) approvals totaling $316.7 m since FY2020, across 81 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 89 504 approvals worth $88.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Guilford County get paid back?
Of the 61 loans that have reached a final outcome, 58 were paid in full and 3 charged off, a charge-off rate of 4.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Guilford County?
3,843 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $830.4 m. Multifamily was 62.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Guilford County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Guilford County come from?
The largest single origin is Forsyth County, with 1,299 households. Arriving households report an average income of $60,050 against $62,376 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Guilford County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Guilford County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Guilford County
Cities and places in Guilford.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Guilford County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | city | 301,198 | 274 | Wholly in this county |
| High Point | city | 116,245 | 88 | 94.2 percent here, 4.2 percent Davidson County |
| Burlington | city | 59,610 | None recorded | 6.9 percent here, 93.1 percent Alamance County |
| Kernersville | town | 27,830 | 4 | 7.3 percent here, 92.7 percent Forsyth County |
| Archdale | city | 12,087 | 3 | 11.6 percent here, 88.4 percent Randolph County |
| Summerfield | town | 11,116 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Gibsonville | town | 9,467 | 9 | 63.6 percent here, 36.4 percent Alamance County |
| Oak Ridge | town | 7,744 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Stokesdale | town | 6,004 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Pleasant Garden | town | 5,060 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Forest Oaks | CDP | 4,293 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jamestown | town | 3,708 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Sedalia | town | 772 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| McLeansville | CDP | 688 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Whitsett | town | 569 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
A further 8 of the county's 428 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Guilford County, the largest being Browns Summit (3), Colfax (2), Brooklyn (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.