Forsyth County, NC

County

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2020 Population

378,499

0.881% 1-year growth

US Senator

Richard Burr

Republican Party

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

38.4

0% 1-year change

2020 Poverty Rate

15.8%

6.01% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$53,583

3.91% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$163,800

2.82% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

176,149

2.04% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Forsyth County, NC had a population of 378k people with a median age of 38.4 and a median household income of $53,583. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Forsyth County, NC grew from 375,195 to 378,499, a 0.881% increase and its median household income grew from $51,569 to $53,583, a 3.91% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Forsyth County, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (56.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (25.4%), White (Hispanic) (8.06%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.36%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.35%).

None of the households in Forsyth County, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

94.8% of the residents in Forsyth County, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Forsyth County, NC are Wake Forest University (2,700 degrees awarded in 2020), Forsyth Technical Community College (2,225 degrees), and Winston-Salem State University (1,214 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Forsyth County, NC was $163,800, and the homeownership rate was 62.3%.

Most people in Forsyth County, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Forsyth County, NC was 2 cars per household.

Forsyth County, NC borders Davidson County, NC, Davie County, NC, Guilford County, NC, Rockingham County, NC, Stokes County, NC, Surry County, NC, and Yadkin County, NC.

About the photo: Falls at Reynolda House Path

Photo by Susan Smith

Population & Diversity

Forsyth County, NC is home to a population of 378k people, from which 94.8% are citizens. As of 2020, 8.52% of Forsyth County, NC residents were born outside of the country (32.2k people).

In 2020, there were 2.21 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (212k people) in Forsyth County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 96.1k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 30.5k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94.8%

2020 Citizenship

94.5%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 94.8% of Forsyth County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Forsyth County, NC was 94.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Forsyth County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Forsyth County, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
212k ± 1.2k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
96.1k ± 1.2k
White (Hispanic)
30.5k ± 1.81k

13%

Hispanic Population

49.3k people

13% of the people in Forsyth County, NC are hispanic (49.3k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Forsyth County, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
224,275 ± 11,501 people
India
74,765 ± 6,689 people
Honduras
37,815 ± 4,766 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 224,275 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 74,765 and Honduras with 37,815.

Foreign-Born Population

8.52%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

32.2k people

8.64%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

32.4k people

As of 2020, 8.52% of Forsyth County, NC residents (32.2k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Forsyth County, NC was 8.64%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Forsyth County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
7,123 ± 523
Gulf War (2001-)
3,282 ± 526
Gulf War (1990s)
3,274 ± 441

Forsyth County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.17 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Forsyth County, NC employs 176k people. The largest industries in Forsyth County, NC are Health Care & Social Assistance (30,797 people), Manufacturing (21,939 people), and Retail Trade (20,854 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($87,188), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($64,079), and Finance & Insurance ($58,473).

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.32 times higher than the average income of females, which is $49,357. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

176k

2020 Value

± 3,498

2.04%

1 Year growth

± 2.59%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Forsyth County, NC grew at a rate of 2.04%, from 173k employees to 176k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Forsyth County, NC, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (20,612 people), Management Occupations (18,459 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (16,678 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Forsyth County, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

176k

2020 Value

± 3,498

2.04%

1 Year growth

± 2.59%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Forsyth County, NC grew at a rate of 2.04%, from 173k employees to 176k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Forsyth County, NC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (30,797 people), Manufacturing (21,939 people), and Retail Trade (20,854 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Forsyth County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Forsyth County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$39,508

Median earning men ± $1,207

$31,988

Median earning women ± $581

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($70,635), Public Administration ($53,085), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($47,936).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($45,276), Public Administration ($44,865), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($37,390).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

3,006
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
2,289
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
2,128
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$5.89M
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
$3.36M
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
$3.3M
Manufacturing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $53.9B, followed by Machinery ($49B) and Pharmaceuticals ($48.7B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound North Carolina products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for North Carolina.

$488B

2020 Value in North Carolina

$926B

Projected 2050 Value in North Carolina

89.6% growth

In 2020, total outbound North Carolina trade was $488B. This is expected to increase 89.6% to $926B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound North Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Most Common Trade Partners

South Carolina
$35.1B
Virginia
$27B
Georgia
$18.5B

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was South Carolina with $35.1B, followed by Virginia with $27B and Georgia and $18.5B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that North Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Forsyth County, NC went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 56.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (42.3%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.887%).

Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (56.2%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (42.3%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.887%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Forsyth County, NC for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senators Elections

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Richard Burr

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2005

Thom Tillis

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives Elections

US Representatives from North Carolina

North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for North Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Forsyth County, NC awarded 6,914 degrees. The student population of Forsyth County, NC in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 9,130 male students and 15,250 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Forsyth County, NC are White (3,913 and 60%), followed by Black or African American (1,527 and 23.4%), Hispanic or Latino (538 and 8.25%), and Asian (205 and 3.14%).

The largest universities in Forsyth County, NC by number of degrees awarded are Wake Forest University (2,700 and 39.1%), Forsyth Technical Community College (2,225 and 32.2%), and Winston-Salem State University (1,214 and 17.6%).

The most popular majors in Forsyth County, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (532 and 7.69%), General Business Administration & Management (420 and 6.07%), and Registered Nursing (396 and 5.73%).

The median tuition costs in Forsyth County, NC are $21,425 for private four year colleges, and $4,949 and $18,344 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Forsyth County, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 45.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 32%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 24,380 (37.4% men and 62.6% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 24,380 students enrolled in Forsyth County, NC, 37.4% men and 62.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 11,795 records, of which 58.2% were women and 41.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Political Science & Government
169 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
268 degree-majors awarded
General Biological Sciences
172 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Forsyth County, NC was General Political Science & Government with 169 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Forsyth County, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Wake Forest University
2,700 degrees awarded
Forsyth Technical Community College
2,225 degrees awarded
Winston-Salem State University
1,214 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Wake Forest University with 2,700 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 2,809 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Forsyth County, NC, which is 0.684 times less than the 4,105 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,913 degrees mean that there were 2.56 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,527 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($21,425) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,701) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Public, 2-year ($1,700) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Measure

In 2020, 0.849% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.733% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were High School or Equivalent (2.14M), Some college (1.89M), and Bachelors Degree (1.54M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Forsyth County, NC was $163,800 in 2020, which is 0.713 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $159,300 to $163,800, a 2.82% increase. The homeownership rate in Forsyth County, NC is 62.3%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Forsyth County, NC have an average commute time of 22.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Forsyth County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Forsyth County, NC is $53,583. In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Forsyth County, NC was Census Tract 25.01 with a value of $147,250, followed by Census Tract 25.02 and Census Tract 39.08, with respective values of $134,211 and $130,673.

In 2021, 16.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Forsyth County, NC. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator grew 0.21%.

Housing

Property

$163,800

Median Property Value 2020

±$2,141

$92,746

Median Property Taxes

±$2,361

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Forsyth County, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Forsyth County, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

62.3%

Homeownership

2020

68.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 62.3% of the housing units in Forsyth County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 61.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Forsyth County, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 25.01
Census Tract 25.02
Census Tract 39.08

In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Forsyth County, NC was Census Tract 25.01 with a value of $147,250, followed by Census Tract 25.02 and Census Tract 39.08, with respective values of $134,211 and $130,673.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Forsyth County, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$53,583

Median Household Income

± $1,197

147k

Number of Households

± 2,491

In 2020, the median household income of the 147k households in Forsyth County, NC grew to $53,583 from the previous year's value of $51,569.

The following chart displays the households in Forsyth County, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Forsyth County, NC is from North Carolina.

0.47

2020 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.472

2019 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2020, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.395% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (80.9%)
Carpooled (8.6%)
Worked At Home (6.64%)

In 2020, 80.9% of workers in Forsyth County, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.6%) and those who worked at home (6.64%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Forsyth County, NC have a shorter commute time (22.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.85% of the workforce in Forsyth County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Forsyth County, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Forsyth County, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Forsyth County, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2021, 16.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Forsyth County, NC. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator grew 0.21%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

15.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Forsyth County, NC (58.2k out of 368k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Forsyth County, NC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2021, 22.5% of the children was living in poverty in Forsyth County, NC. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator declined 9.9%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2021, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 576 in Forsyth County, NC. From 2014 to 2021, the indicator grew 12 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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Health

89% of the population of Forsyth County, NC has health coverage, with 47% on employee plans, 16% on Medicaid, 11.4% on Medicare, 13.1% on non-group plans, and 1.46% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in North Carolina was $7,264 in 2014. This is a 3.37% increase from the previous year ($7,027).

Primary care physicians in Forsyth County, NC see 871 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.35% decrease from the previous year (892 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1606 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 335 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.5% were men and 53.5% were women.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for North Carolina. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in North Carolina, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

871 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Forsyth County, NC

Primary care physicians in Forsyth County, NC see an average of 871 patients per year. This represents a 2.35% decrease from the previous year (892 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Forsyth County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of North Carolina across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.8% under 18 years, 21.2% between 18 and 34 years, 38.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.8% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 46.5% were men and 53.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

11%

Uninsured

47%

Employer Coverage

16%

Medicaid

11.4%

Medicare

13.1%

Non-Group

1.46%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Forsyth County, NC declined by 5.65% from 11.6% to 11%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Forsyth County, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2021, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 66 in Forsyth County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Forsyth County, NC.

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2021, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 33.5% in Forsyth County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Forsyth County, NC.

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