80 / 100

Davidson County, NC

RANK #195 / 996  ·  POP 169,498  ·  NC

PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.1%

Davidson County ranks among the top U.S. counties across nearly every economic indicator.

[01] Why Davidson County?

Davidson County, North Carolina, is perhaps best known for Lexington-style barbecue, a culinary tradition that draws visitors from across the Southeast to its annual festival. Located in the state's Piedmont region, the county sits between the urban centers of Greensboro and Winston-Salem, and about an hour's drive from Charlotte. This positioning allows for a community feel with access to larger city amenities. High Rock Lake, the second-largest lake in North Carolina, offers extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water sports, contributing to the area's natural appeal.

Life in Davidson County often appeals to families and those seeking a more relaxed pace. Many residents own their homes, and the public schools are rated above average. Commuting to nearby cities like Winston-Salem or Greensboro is common, with an average commute time of about 24 minutes. The local economy, historically tied to furniture manufacturing, is seeing new investment in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and energy. This economic evolution provides diverse job opportunities while maintaining a community-focused lifestyle.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.8x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.9%

Above national median

Home Prices
+4.0%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-0.1

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
11x

Strong rental yield

Housing is fairly valued at 5.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Davidson County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
169,498
+0.89% YoY
Median Household Income
$58,473
Median Home Value
$184,300
+4.0% 12mo
Median Rent
$822
Average Annual Pay
$54,593
+5.6% YoY
Employment
46,653
+0.7% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3173
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.95%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$315,000
Days on Market
77
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.1
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.8%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
19.3%
Listings w/ Price Drops
21.3%
Building Permits (2024)
990
Single-Family Permits
920

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,628M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Duke Energy Natural Gas Plant (Proposed)
Duke Energy
$1,000M Proposed
Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) Lithium-Ion Battery Pouch Manufacturing Facility
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP)
$233M Under Construction
Siemens Mobility Rail Manufacturing Facility
Siemens Mobility
$220M Under Construction
South Davidson Solar Project
City of Charlotte / Cypress Creek Renewables
$75M Planned
Haley Property Master Plan (Residential Development)
PulteGroup
$50M Planned
Lexington Industrial Park Sewer Infrastructure
Davidson County / Golden LEAF
$50M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.9% 54 percentile
Population Growth +0.9% 68 percentile
Income Growth +10.2% 82 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.0% 55 percentile
Home Price Change +4.0% 83 percentile
Rent Growth +3.0% 49 percentile
Price/Rent 11x 84 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Davidson County, NC a good place to move to?

Davidson County has a Boom Town Index score of 80/100, ranking #195 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.7% and a median household income of $58,473, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Davidson County affordable?

The median home value in Davidson County is $184,300 with median rent at $822/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3173, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Davidson County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.7%. Home values changed +4.0% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Davidson County?

Yes — 2.95% of Davidson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Bergen County, NJ 90 Passaic County, NJ 90 Ashtabula County, OH 90 Lapeer County, MI 90 Cheshire County, NH 90 Buffalo County, NE 90 Nassau County, NY 90 Schenectady County, NY 90