HomeNorth CarolinaGuilford County
Guilford County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Guilford County, North Carolina has a population of 547,940 across 646 square miles, up 3.3 percent since the 2020 census base. 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.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Guilford County
How many people live in Guilford County
- Population547,940
- 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-equivalents130th
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 an affordable ownership market 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 growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.25 percent
- Census 2020 base population541,242
- 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
The county has grown 3.25 percent since the 2020 census base. Migration contributed more to 2024 change than births over deaths, so demand here follows people arriving rather than families forming.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Guilford County
Where people moving to Guilford County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving14,687
- People arriving, from those returns25,496
- Adjusted gross income arriving$882.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$60,050
- Largest single originGuilford County Non-migrants (194,862 households)
- Largest single destination (194,862 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford County Non-migrants | 194,862 | 386,900 | $17.17 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 3,413 | 6,128 | $237.4 m |
| Other flows - South | 1,584 | 2,808 | $106.7 m |
| 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 |
| Other flows - Northeast | 712 | 1,244 | $44.3 m |
| Davidson County | 701 | 1,268 | $29.6 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Guilford County Non-migrants, 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 the Guilford County economy runs on
- 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 North Carolina counties4th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents125th
- 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
Who employs people in Guilford County
- Covered employment, annual average287,996
- Establishments reporting17,452
- Average annual pay$61,546
- Average weekly wage$1,184
- Sector 62, employment38,504
- Sector 62, average annual pay$63,341
- Sector 44-45, employment31,848
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$41,654
- Sector 31-33, employment31,087
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$77,474
- Sector 72, employment26,857
- Sector 72, average annual pay$24,297
- Sector 56, employment23,170
- Sector 48-49, employment18,376
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 38,504 | 1,686 | $63,341 |
| Sector 44-45 | 31,848 | 2,067 | $41,654 |
| Sector 31-33 | 31,087 | 686 | $77,474 |
| Sector 72 | 26,857 | 1,388 | $24,297 |
| Sector 56 | 23,170 | 1,284 | $44,738 |
| Sector 48-49 | 18,376 | 631 | $55,509 |
| Sector 42 | 18,054 | 1,279 | $82,736 |
| Sector 23 | 14,110 | 1,502 | $76,979 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 38,504 jobs, 13.4 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Guilford County
What businesses operate 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.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Guilford County
What is being built in Guilford County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20243,843
- Declared construction value permitted$830.4 m
- Single family units authorised1,440
- Multifamily units authorised2,403
- Multifamily share of units62.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$216,094
- Units authorised per 1,000 households17.5
Multifamily is 62.5 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Guilford County
How much SBA lending happens in Guilford County
- 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$27,600
- 90th percentile approval$1,800,000
- 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)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals82.8 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$405.7 m
The average approval of $739,977 sits well above the median of $350,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually 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
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.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Guilford County
Which parts of Guilford County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending17
- Greensboro, approvals274
- HIGH POINT, approvals88
- GIBSONVILLE, approvals9
- OAK RIDGE, approvals9
- Whitsett, approvals9
- Summerfield, approvals8
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | 274 | $214,154,100 |
| HIGH POINT | 88 | $62,066,400 |
| GIBSONVILLE | 9 | $3,176,400 |
| OAK RIDGE | 9 | $8,419,200 |
| Whitsett | 9 | $2,474,700 |
| Summerfield | 8 | $3,157,100 |
| MC LEANSVILLE | 5 | $2,220,300 |
| KERNERSVILLE | 4 | $4,761,400 |
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 big 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
What hazards affect Guilford County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP13
- 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 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
The EPA places the county in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
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.
- Population547,940
- 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?
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 growing?
The population has grown 3.25 percent since the 2020 census base. 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 there 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 the average wage in Guilford County?
Average annual pay is $61,546, or $1,184 a week, across 287,996 covered jobs. 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 totalling $316.7 m since FY2020, across 81 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 89 504 approvals worth $88.9 m. 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.
What is being built in Guilford County?
3,843 housing units were authorised 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 Guilford County Non-migrants, with 194,862 households. Arriving households report an average income of $60,050 against null 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?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.