The Town FilesHigh Point, North Carolina
City in Guilford County · population 114,059 (2020 Census) · spans 4 counties
- 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.
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.
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.
| Housing | High Point | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,116 | $969 |
| Median household income | $64,561 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in High Point
| People | High Point | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 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.
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.
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
Guilford County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-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%.
Public schools in High Point
27 public schools with 14,428 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Guilford High | 9-12 | 1,585 | 17.6 |
| Phoenix Academy - Primary Elem Upper (charter) | K-12 | 1,508 | 20.4 |
| Southwest Guilford Middle | 6-8 | 1,031 | 17.2 |
| High Point Central High | 9-12 | 1,007 | 12.9 |
| Southwest Elementary | K-5 | 767 | 15.3 |
| T Wingate Andrews High | 9-12 | 725 | 15.1 |
| Florence Elementary | PK-5 | 599 | 14.3 |
| Penn-Griffin Schools | 6-12 | 543 | 13.2 |
| Oak View Elementary | PK-5 | 524 | 15.9 |
| Ferndale Middle | 6-8 | 517 | 14.4 |
| Montlieu Academy of Technology | PK-5 | 513 | 18.3 |
| Union Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 499 | 15.1 |
Towns near High Point
- Jamestown, NC3.3 mi · 3,668 people · home $326,800
- Archdale, NC6.2 mi · 11,907 people · home $198,000
- Trinity, NC7.9 mi · 7,006 people · home $216,600
- Thomasville, NC9.1 mi · 27,183 people · home $179,300
- Kernersville, NC9.4 mi · 26,449 people · home $290,700
- Wallburg, NC9.9 mi · 3,051 people · home $343,700
- Greensboro, NC11.9 mi · 299,035 people · home $244,800
- Oak Ridge, NC12.7 mi · 7,474 people · home $529,300
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.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)