Trinity
RANK #235 / 996 NAT · #12 / 51 NC · POP 144,403
1YR FORECAST: +2.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Randolph County, North Carolina, is home to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, one of the nation's largest natural habitat zoos, attracting numerous visitors annually. Located in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina, the county seat of Asheboro is approximately 70 miles from both Raleigh and Charlotte. The area features gently rolling hills, river valleys, and woodlands, with parts of the Uwharrie National Forest offering extensive outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, fishing, and birdwatching. Commuting to nearby cities like Greensboro and High Point is common for many residents.
Life in Randolph County offers a blend of small-town living and rural landscapes. The public school system is considered above average, with various elementary, middle, and high schools serving the community. Recent economic developments show a shift from traditional textile and furniture manufacturing towards new sectors such as automotive manufacturing, food processing, and distribution. Major investments in advanced manufacturing are creating new job opportunities and diversifying the local industrial base. The county also has local transportation services like Go Randolph, an on-demand rideshare program, to help residents with daily travel.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.1x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Toyota Battery Manufacturing Plant
Toyota
|
$13,900M | Under Construction |
|
Greensboro-Randolph Megasite Development & Transportation Improvements
Ames Construction
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Axium Packaging Manufacturing Facility
Axium Packaging
|
$32M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, Randolph County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +3.9%, and median household income stands at $56,423 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NC.
By national standards, Randolph County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $158,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $813/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Randolph County are hiring — job growth of +3.9% — but the population is close to flat (+0.5% YoY). Home values moved +2.9% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.21% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Randolph County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.