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Granville County, NC

Dutchville

RANK #283 / 996 NAT  ·  #13 / 51 NC  ·  POP 61,161

1YR FORECAST: +1.2%

5YR OUTLOOK: +29%

Our model projects above-average housing market growth for Granville County at +1.2% over the next year.

[01] Why Granville County?

Granville County, North Carolina, offers a blend of rural character and accessibility to urban centers. Oxford, the county seat, holds historical significance as the home of John Penn, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Located north of the Raleigh-Durham and Research Triangle Park areas, the county provides access to I-85, connecting residents to major interstates like I-40 and I-95. The community maintains a small-town atmosphere, with outdoor recreation opportunities including five lakes for boating and fishing, and an 80-acre athletic park with walking trails and various sports facilities.

Life in Granville County often involves a commute for those working in nearby cities, with an average one-way travel time of just over 30 minutes. The public school system serves approximately 6,600 students across 15 schools, including Granville Early College High School, which consistently ranks among the top schools in the state. The economy, historically rooted in tobacco, has diversified to include manufacturing, with companies producing cosmetics, tires, and clothing. Recent economic developments include a German company selecting Butner for its first U.S. expansion and grants for infrastructure improvements at Triangle North.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
3.4x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+2.9%

Above national median

Home Prices
-0.3%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
-0.9

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
19x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks undervalued at 3.4x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    NC Department of Health and Human Services Government
    1,000+
  2. 2
    Revlon Manufacturing
  3. 3
    US Department of Justice Government
  4. 4
    Granville County Schools Education
  5. 5
    GO2 Staffing Solutions Other
  6. 6
    Food Lion Retail
  7. 7
    Altec Industries Manufacturing
    500+
  8. 8
    Granville Medical Center Healthcare
  9. 9
    NC Department of Public Safety Government
    250+
  10. 10
    County of Granville Government

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Granville County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
61,161
+0.5% YoY
Median Household Income
$68,079
Median Home Value
$208,600
-0.27% 12mo
Median Rent
$937
Average Annual Pay
$59,314
+5.8% YoY
Employment
20,301
0.0% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3264
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
5.83%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
23.7%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$374,000
Days on Market
51
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
4.3
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.9%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
20.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
32.5%
Building Permits (2024)
428
Single-Family Permits
308

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

[05] Crime & Safety

C+
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
5.4
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
17.7
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
92.2
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Near national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
41.0
Good
Good Air Days
91%
662 of 728 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
2
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Ground-level ozone
Yearly Trend
2021
38
2022
42
2023
43
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$50M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Community Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various (SRE Utility Solar 1, Cypress Creek Renewables, Southern Power Co., Beam Renewable Energy)
$50M Operating

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

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.9% 54 percentile
Population Growth +0.5% 52 percentile
Income Growth +12.3% 96 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 74 percentile
Home Price Change -0.3% 28 percentile
Price/Rent 19x 12 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

With a Boom Town Index score of 71/100, Granville County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $68,079 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NC.

Is Granville County affordable?

Housing in Granville County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $208,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $937/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Granville County growing or shrinking?

Population and employment in Granville County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs 0.0%. Home values shifted -0.3% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.

Are people moving to Granville County?

In significant numbers — 5.83% of Granville County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Rutherford County, NC 70 Franklin County, NC 68 Carteret County, NC 68 Nash County, NC 68 Randolph County, NC 76 Forsyth County, NC 64 Bradford County, PA 71 Van Zandt County, TX 71