HomeNorth CarolinaOrange County
Orange County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Orange County, North Carolina had an estimated 152,877 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 148,707, across 398 square miles. County output reached $13.07 bn in 2024, 3,491 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 103 7(a) approvals worth $54.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Orange County
How many people live in Orange County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024149,678
- Households57,342
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$90,089
- Median age36.1
- Median gross rent$1,496 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$459,500
- Home value to household income5.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher61.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree34.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over94,433
- Population under 1828,235
- Share under 1818.9 percent
- Population 65 and over24,097
- Share 65 and over16.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6497,346
- Civilian labor force77,502
- Unemployment rate3.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.8 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties21st of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included459th of 3,222
Orange County is the 21st largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 5.1 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 18.9 percent against 16.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Orange County
Is Orange County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024152,877
- Census 2020 base population148,707
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.80 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024638
- Births, 20241,205
- Deaths, 2024977
- Natural change, 2024228
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,177
- Net international migration, 20241,577
- Total net migration, 2024400
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,645
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents925th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.80 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.
Orange County
Where are people moving to Orange County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,955
- People arriving, from those returns9,879
- Tax returns filed by households leaving6,062
- Net household movement-107
- Adjusted gross income arriving$608.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-114.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$102,140
- Average income of a leaving household$119,180
- Largest single originDurham County (1,272 households)
- Largest single destinationDurham County (1,178 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham County | 1,272 | 2,231 | $117.5 m |
| Wake County | 599 | 988 | $56.9 m |
| Alamance County | 354 | 669 | $20.2 m |
| Chatham County | 197 | 344 | $29.8 m |
| Guilford County | 152 | 226 | $8.0 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 100 | 130 | $7.0 m |
| Buncombe County | 61 | 77 | $3.3 m |
| Person County | 60 | 113 | $3.8 m |
Households arriving report $17,040 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Durham 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.
Orange County
What is the Orange County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$13.07 bn
- County GDP, 2023$12.37 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.6 percent
- GDP change over five years36.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes11th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes358th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$87,312
Output grew 5.6 percent in the latest year and 36.5 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.
Orange County
Employment by industry in Orange County
- Covered employment, annual average78,431
- Establishments reporting5,494
- Average annual pay$79,229
- Average weekly wage$1,524
- Retail trade, employment6,513
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,644
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,239
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,853
- Health care and social assistance, employment6,000
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$65,470
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment4,964
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$124,810
- Other services, except public administration, employment2,242
- Construction, employment2,065
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 6,513 | 358 | $40,644 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,239 | 356 | $26,853 |
| Health care and social assistance | 6,000 | 606 | $65,470 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 4,964 | 1,242 | $124,810 |
| Other services, except public administration | 2,242 | 637 | $54,234 |
| Construction | 2,065 | 369 | $71,477 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,919 | 329 | $61,932 |
| Manufacturing | 1,897 | 109 | $71,098 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 6,513 jobs, 8.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Orange County
How many businesses are in Orange County?
- Establishments, all industries3,491
- Employment at those establishments51,807
- Annual payroll$3.14 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.3
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.
Orange County
Building permits in Orange County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024375
- Declared construction value permitted$169.0 m
- Single family units authorized325
- Multifamily units authorized50
- Multifamily share of units13.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$450,630
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.5
Single-family homes are 86.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Orange County
SBA loans in Orange County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded103
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$54.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$526,755
- Median 7(a) approval$299,800
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,186,000
- Largest single approval$3,700,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,371
- Jobs per approval13.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active37
- Distinct industries receiving approvals56
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer7.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter84
- Franchise loans28
- Franchise share of approvals27.2 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (19)
- 504 approvals recorded25
- 504 gross approval dollars$19.9 m
- Average 504 approval$795,680
- Median 504 approval$656,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval10.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.7
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (15)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$74.1 m
The average approval of $526,755 sits well above the median of $299,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 7.8 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.
Orange County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Orange County
Do SBA loans in Orange County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded14
- Paid in full13
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure61
- Status: Paid in full13
- Status: Cancelled17
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed11
- Status: Charged off1
Only 14 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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.
Orange County
SBA lending by place in Orange County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Chapel Hill, approvals67
- Hillsborough, approvals15
- Carrboro, approvals10
- Durham, approvals3
- Efland, approvals3
- Mebane, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | 67 | $35,974,900 |
| Hillsborough | 15 | $5,630,500 |
| Carrboro | 10 | $5,911,800 |
| Durham | 3 | $703,100 |
| Efland | 3 | $387,500 |
| Mebane | 2 | $4,000,000 |
| Cedar Grove | 2 | $945,000 |
| Cary | 1 | $703,000 |
Chapel Hill accounts for 67 approvals against 15 in Hillsborough. 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.
Orange County
How large is Orange County?
- Land area398 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties63rd of 100
- Width, east to west17.3 mi
- Height, north to south26.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land376
- Establishments per square mile8.77
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.
Orange County
Flood risk in Orange County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Orange County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370342
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 6
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Orange 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 Orange County (community 370342), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 6, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Orange 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 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 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 Orange 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 Orange County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024149,678
- Households57,342
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$90,089
- Median age36.1
Common questions
Orange County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Orange County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 152,877 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 149,678, in 57,342 households, ranking 21st of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Orange County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.80 percent since the 2020 census base of 148,707, to 152,877 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,205 births against 977 deaths, with net migration of 400. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Orange County?
$90,089. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $459,500, which is 5.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,496 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Orange County?
3,491 establishments, employing 51,807 people with an annual payroll of $3.14 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 Orange County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 6,513 jobs, 8.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 78,431 jobs at an average annual pay of $79,229, or $1,524 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Orange County?
103 7(a) approvals totaling $54.3 m since FY2020, across 37 lenders, with a median approval of $299,800, plus 25 504 approvals worth $19.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Orange County?
375 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $169.0 m. Multifamily was 13.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Orange 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 Orange County come from?
The largest single origin is Durham County, with 1,272 households. Arriving households report an average income of $102,140 against $119,180 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Orange 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 Orange 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.
Orange County
Cities and places in Orange.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Orange County. All 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | town | 61,607 | 67 | 93.0 percent here, 7.0 percent Durham County |
| Carrboro | town | 21,204 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Mebane | city | 19,538 | 2 | 28.1 percent here, 71.9 percent Alamance County |
| Hillsborough | town | 9,724 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Efland | CDP | 1,611 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 103 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Orange County, the largest being Durham (3), Cedar Grove (2), Cary (1). 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.