The Town Files

High Point, North Carolina

City in Guilford County · population 114,059 (2020 Census) · spans 4 counties

Aerial view of High Point, North Carolina
Aerial: USDA NAIP (public domain)
Median home
$235,800
Household income
$64,561
Jan low / Jul high
32° / 89°
Snow a year
2 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
19
Median age
37.7

High Point is a city of 114,059 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $235,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 94% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 92% of North Carolina towns.

Map: where High Point is in North CarolinaHigh Point

How High Point ranks

Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.

High Point lifestyle rankings vs other North Carolina townsRetirement28th pctFamilies26th pctQuiet7th pctWalkability92nd pctFirst-time buyers55th pctYoung professionals88th pctVibrancy95th pctHip & trendy82nd pctCollege town69th pctUpscale64th pctVacation homesbottomSeaside characterbottomCycling87th pctTransit94th pctDriving28th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in High Point is worth $235,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $64,561, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,116 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.

High Point vs Guilford County vs typical North Carolina townHigh PointGuilford CountyTypical North Carolina townHome value$235,800$259,900$228,900Household income$64,561$68,642$60,458Monthly rent$1,116$1,163$969
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of North Carolina towns with 500+ people.
HousingHigh PointTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$235,800$228,900
Median rent$1,116$969
Median household income$64,561$60,458
Home value ÷ income3.7×3.7×
Homeownership57.8%69.5%
Median year built19891984
Seasonal / vacation homes0.4%—

Who lives in High Point

PeopleHigh PointTypical North Carolina town
Median age37.741.1
Age 65 and over15.9%19.0%
Under 1822.0%—
Bachelor's degree or higher34.0%24.5%
Below the poverty line15.7%14.3%
Veterans6.2%—
Born outside the U.S.15.5%—
Work from home10.3%9.8%
Average commute20.7 min24.6 min
Homes with broadband91.0%89.5%

Weather in High Point

July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.

High Point monthly temperatures and precipitation30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing52°32°Jan56°34°Feb64°41°Mar74°49°Apr80°58°May87°66°Jun89°69°Jul88°68°Aug82°62°Sep73°50°Oct62°41°Nov54°34°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue3.81.33.24.10.14.03.84.44.65.14.83.33.63.80.5
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the High Pt station (2.0 mi away).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of High Point since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 28, 2010 about 2.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 18, 2021.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of High Point by decade21950s11960s71970s11980s21990s32000s22010s12020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 4, 1985.

Severe weather in Guilford County since 1996

Storm events in Guilford County since 1996 by typeHail173Flood5Tornado9High Wind4Ice Storm5Lightning9Flash Flood137Strong Wind17
NOAA Storm Events Database, Guilford County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 5 deaths recorded.

Guilford County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
August 6, 2024Tropical StormEM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
August 2, 2020HurricaneEM-3534: Hurricane Isaias

Jobs and pay in Guilford County

Guilford County had 287,996 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,546 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in High Point itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.

Largest industries in Guilford CountyHealth care & social assistan…38,504 jobs · $63,341Retail31,848 jobs · $41,654Manufacturing31,087 jobs · $77,474Hotels & restaurants26,857 jobs · $24,297Administrative & support23,170 jobs · $44,738Transportation & warehousing18,376 jobs · $55,509
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Guilford County, 2000–20230%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023Guilford 3.9%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Public schools in High Point

27 public schools with 14,428 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
Southwest Guilford High9-121,58517.6
Phoenix Academy - Primary Elem Upper (charter)K-121,50820.4
Southwest Guilford Middle6-81,03117.2
High Point Central High9-121,00712.9
Southwest ElementaryK-576715.3
T Wingate Andrews High9-1272515.1
Florence ElementaryPK-559914.3
Penn-Griffin Schools6-1254313.2
Oak View ElementaryPK-552415.9
Ferndale Middle6-851714.4
Montlieu Academy of TechnologyPK-551318.3
Union Hill ElementaryPK-549915.1

Towns near High Point

High Point questions

Is High Point, North Carolina a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, High Point scores better for retirees than 28% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 7%. 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).

How much does a house cost in High Point?

The median owner-occupied home in High Point is valued at $235,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,561, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,116 a month.

What is the weather like in High Point?

July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.

Does High Point get tornadoes?

19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of High Point since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 28, 2010. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to High Point's Census boundary (GEOID 3731400). Comparisons use the median of North Carolina towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.