High Point’s unemployment rate peaked at 11.4% in 2009 following the Great Recession, but then steadily decreased back down to its lowest levels in 20 years before the impact of COVID-19 caused a spike to 9.0% in 2020, although it dropped back down to 4.3% in 2022. This compares to a state-wide unemployment rate that peaked at 11% in 2009 and jumped to 7.1% in 2020 and then down to 3.7% in 2022.
The median household income, which is the income level that creates an equal distribution above and below it, was $49,649 for High Point according to the 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey (ACS). This was less than the median income level for the state, which was $56,642, but higher than both Greensboro ($49,492) and Winston-Salem ($47,269).
The percentage of households by income category for the three Triad cities is shown in the following chart.