The Town FilesOak Ridge, North Carolina
Town in Guilford County · population 7,474 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $529,300
- Household income
- $155,385
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 44.2
Oak Ridge is a town of 7,474 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $529,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 99% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 96% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge is worth $529,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $155,385, which is more affordable than 66% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $3,009 a month. 92.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oak Ridge | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $529,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $3,009 | $969 |
| Median household income | $155,385 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 92.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oak Ridge
| People | Oak Ridge | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.8% | — |
| Work from home | 29.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Oak Ridge
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oak Ridge since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 28, 2010 about 9.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 28, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 18, 2000.
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 Oak Ridge itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Oak Ridge
1 public school with 688 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 688 | 15.6 |
Towns near Oak Ridge
- Stokesdale, NC3.8 mi · 5,924 people · home $379,100
- Summerfield, NC5.5 mi · 10,951 people · home $521,900
- Kernersville, NC6.9 mi · 26,449 people · home $290,700
- Walkertown, NC10.0 mi · 5,692 people · home $236,900
- Greensboro, NC10.9 mi · 299,035 people · home $244,800
- Jamestown, NC12.6 mi · 3,668 people · home $326,800
- High Point, NC12.7 mi · 114,059 people · home $235,800
- Wallburg, NC14.8 mi · 3,051 people · home $343,700
Oak Ridge questions
Is Oak Ridge, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oak Ridge scores better for retirees than 61% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 49%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Oak Ridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Oak Ridge is valued at $529,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $155,385, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $3,009 a month.
What is the weather like in Oak Ridge?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.1 inches of snow.
Does Oak Ridge get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oak Ridge 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)