RANK #115 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 51 NC · POP 71,425
1YR FORECAST: +2.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
Surry County, North Carolina, is often recognized as the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry from *The Andy Griffith Show*, particularly its town of Mount Airy, Andy Griffith's boyhood home. Located in the Blue Ridge foothills of northwestern North Carolina, the county is approximately an hour's drive from Winston-Salem and Greensboro. The community offers a blend of rural charm and access to natural scenery, including the distinctive Pilot Mountain, a prominent quartzite monadnock within Pilot Mountain State Park, which provides opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, and paddling on the Yadkin River. Fisher River Park also offers various outdoor activities, including trails and sports fields.
Life in Surry County appeals to those seeking a quieter pace, with a notable presence of retirees. The local economy, historically rooted in textiles and furniture, has diversified to include agriculture, particularly the growing Yadkin Valley wine region, and advanced manufacturing. Surry County Schools are publicly rated, and the county offers transportation options, including regional bus services connecting to Winston-Salem. Recent economic development efforts focus on supporting existing businesses and attracting new talent, with initiatives like incentive grants for job creation in towns such as Mount Airy.
Surry County is one of 35 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.7% runs above the profile's typical +1.4%.
See all 35 Secondary Market Surge counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.6x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Surry County ranks #115 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 88/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 1.5% year-over-year). Median household income here is $55,656.
Housing in Surry County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $177,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $761/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Surry County's job market is contracting (-1.5% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.0% change). Home values are +2.7% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.61% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Surry County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.