Town · North Carolina
Oak Ridge, North Carolina
Oak Ridge, town, in Guilford County, North Carolina. Oak Ridge had 7,896 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 7,474 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 7,744 (±36). GEOID 3748480.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,896
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,474 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,744 ±36
Median household income
$155,385
±$23,788 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$529,300
±$40,648 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$3,009
±$2,714 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Oak Ridge and what county is it in?
Oak Ridge is a town in Guilford County, North Carolina. It covers 16.7 square miles of land, 446 residents per square mile in 2020.
Oak Ridge is in the Greensboro-High Point, NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Oak Ridge, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 7,896 people lived in Oak Ridge on July 1, 2025, up 3.4% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 7,474 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 7,744 (±36).
| Measure | Oak Ridge | Guilford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,744 ±36 | 547,940 | +843 |
| Households | 2,630 ±152 | 219,718 | +355 |
| Average household size | 2.94 ±0.17 | 2.38 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,690 ±170 | 238,032 | +298 |
Oak Ridge's population since 2000
From 3,988 in 2000 to 7,896 in 2025: up 98.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Oak Ridge as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Oak Ridge?
The median resident of Oak Ridge is 44.2 years old; 27.6% are under 18 and 12.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.4%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 10.8%. 11.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Oak Ridge | Guilford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 ±2.4 | 37.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.6% ±3.8 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.5% ±2.5 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Male | 51.7% ±2.9 pts | 47.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.8% ±4.7 pts | 10.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.4% ±5.6 pts | 46.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.9 pts | 33.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 10.8% ±4.5 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±2.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.8% ±3.7 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.6% ±5.0 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5% ±2.3 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 6.8% ±2.3 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.0% ±1.2 pts | 8.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.2% ±1.1 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 57.0% ±5.8 pts | 39.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 25.3% ±5.8 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.2% ±5.2 pts | 85.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2% ±3.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Oak Ridge earn?
Half of Oak Ridge's 2,630 households earn less than $155,385 a year (±$23,788), against $68,642 in Guilford County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $157,009 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Oak Ridge | Guilford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $155,385 ±$23,788 | $68,642 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $207,156 ±$31,698 | $96,196 | – |
| Per capita income | $71,222 ±$11,318 | $39,376 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.6% ±2.0 pts | 14.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 20.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.7% ±2.0 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.5% ±1.7 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.2% ±3.0 pts | 91.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Oak Ridge?
Owners occupy 92.2% of Oak Ridge's occupied homes and renters 7.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $529,300 by its owner (±$40,648).
| Measure | Oak Ridge | Guilford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $529,300 ±$40,648 | $259,900 | +$57,575 |
| Median gross rent | $3,009 ±$2,714 | $1,163 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.3% ±33.9 pts | 42.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,393 ±$121 | $1,536 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 92.2% ±4.4 pts | 59.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 7.8% ±4.4 pts | 40.1% | – |
| Housing units | 2,690 ±170 | 238,032 | +298 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±18.6 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 98.0% ±1.3 pts | 62.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.0% ±2.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.0% ±3.5 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.2% ±1.6 pts | 6.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Oak Ridge work and get to work?
61.5% of Oak Ridge's workers drive alone and 29.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.6 minutes.
| Measure | Oak Ridge | Guilford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.7% ±5.3 pts | 64.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% ±1.8 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 61.5% ±6.7 pts | 73.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.0% ±2.4 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±2.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 29.3% ±6.4 pts | 13.9% | +22.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.6 min ±1.8 | 22.0 min | −4.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Oak Ridge?
1 census tract lies mostly in Oak Ridge, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 159.02Guilford County | 4,624 | $150,179 |
| Tract 162.01Guilford County | 7,197 | $135,438 |
| Tract 160.03Guilford County | 4,893 | $125,278 |
| Tract 159.01Guilford County | 6,789 | $107,350 |
| Tract 158Guilford County | 8,502 | $177,713 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Oak Ridge) · Census block assignment files
How does Oak Ridge compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Oak Ridge is the 3,771st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 113th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Oak Ridge ranks 10th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 113th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 198th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 376th | 443 |
| Median household income | 10th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 14th | 443 |
| Median home value | 32nd | 438 |
| Poverty rate | 332nd | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43rd | 421 |
| Median age | 139th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 31st | 443 |
| Work from home | 21st | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 341st | 439 |
Oak Ridge's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Oak Ridge with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Oak Ridge?
20 of the 57 figures for Oak Ridge on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Oak Ridge are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Oak Ridge.