City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

High Point, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for High Point - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

115,263
Residents
$61,228
Median income
$212,400
Median home
$1,330
Median rent (state)

High Point - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, High Point lands in the 37th percentile for household income and the 17th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

37th
percentile, household income
46th
percentile, home value
48th
percentile, median rent
17th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: High Point, NC

North Carolina's High Point is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 115,263 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in High Point brings in $61,228 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.9%. Typical homes in High Point are valued around $212,400, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. 33.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,310 residential building permits were authorized in High Point (Building Boom), up 222% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. High Point's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2910.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,330 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

115,263 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$61,228 /yr

Poverty 9.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does High Point compare to other US cities?

Where High Point sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 46% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% pricier than other cities
Safety 17% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, High Point ranks #107 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares High Point against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher sits close to the middle of North Carolina's city distribution

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, High Point ranks #199 - the 73rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares High Point only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#321 of 700
54th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#211 of 746
70th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#303 of 708
57th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#362 of 746
51st percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#199 of 746
73rd percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

37thIncome percentile
17thSafety percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income · 17th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

High Point's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

High Point's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
High Point's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How High Point's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$212,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 54% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. High Point $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - High Point, NC High Point, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not High Point, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution High Point, NC median $61,228/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
High Point, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for High Point, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 33.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
115,263
Median Income
$61,228
Median Home Value
$212,400
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor force participation
58.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
33.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2910.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
454.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2456.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
26
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
114,000 residents116,000 residents118,000 residents120,000 residents122,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 114,722 residents 120,571 residents ▲ +5.1%
High Point's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
1,310
housing units authorized
Single-Family
243
detached homes
Multifamily
1,067
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 407
2020 512
2021 524
2022 666
2023 477
2024 1,310

Permit volume increased 222% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.0%
Carpool
10.1%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
8.6%
Other
2.2%

Based on 52,315 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county High Point sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,330/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Wilmington
118,578 people
Concord
106,518 people
Asheville
94,369 people
Greenville
88,540 people
Gastonia
81,632 people
Jacksonville
73,507 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to High Point's 115,263 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Richmond, CA
115,396 people
Manchester, NH
115,415 people
Westminster, CO
115,546 people
League City, TX
114,885 people
Lowell, MA
114,799 people
Antioch, CA
115,759 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to High Point's $61,228 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Inverness Highlands South, FL
$61,224 median income
Roseville, MI
$61,222 median income
Holly, MI
$61,221 median income
Dalton, GA
$61,236 median income
Florence-Graham, CA
$61,216 median income
Morrow, GA
$61,215 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - High Point, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition High Point, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 46.1% 32.7% 8.2% 8.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.3% White 46.1% Black or African American 32.7% Asian 8.2% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.4% Two or more races 8.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How High Point compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
High Point (this city) 115,263 $61,228
Wilmington 118,578 $63,900
Concord 106,518 $84,752
Asheville 94,369 $67,221
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about High Point, NC?

What is the population of High Point, NC? +

The population of High Point, NC stands at 115,263 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in High Point, NC? +

In High Point, the typical household earns $61,228 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in High Point? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for High Point; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is High Point, NC safe? +

High Point has a total crime rate of 2910.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in High Point, NC? +

A typical home in High Point is worth $212,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.