“Counties like it” are metro-area counties with a similar population and a median household income near Guilford County's ($65,890). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Behind similar counties on 1 measure:
About the same on 11: drug overdose deaths per 100,000, life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, residents per primary care doctor, residents per mental health provider, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet, jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64.
| Measure | Guilford County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | 3.7% 538,761 → 558,816 | 1.4% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $12,897 | $14,184 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; Census Annual Survey of School System Finances (school year 2023), current spending divided by enrollment across the districts based in the county.
“Counties like it” means other counties in a metro area with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $65,890 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Guilford County is furthest behind on bridges rated poor.
| Measure | Guilford County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 about the same | 38.2 | 41.2 | Bell County, TX 15.3 Tulare County, CA 18.7 Oklahoma County, OK 27.2 |
| Life expectancy about the same | 76.2 years | 75.0 years | St. Lucie County, FL 78.2 years Lake County, FL 77.4 years Lane County, OR 77.1 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 10.1% | 9.6% | Hampden County, MA 3.3% Genesee County, MI 5.2% Hamilton County, OH 6.2% |
| Residents per primary care doctor about the same | 1,238 | 1,196 | Pulaski County, AR 848 Forsyth County, NC 878 Jefferson County, AL 900 |
| Residents per mental health provider about the same | 283 | 265 | Lane County, OR 86 Hampden County, MA 86 Oklahoma County, OK 140 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 20.6% | 19.8% | St. Lucie County, FL 12.2% Pasco County, FL 12.3% Lake County, FL 12.9% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 13.7% | 14.1% | Richland County, SC 11.6% Lake County, FL 12.0% St. Lucie County, FL 12.3% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 15.2% | 15.1% | Stark County, OH 10.7% Allen County, IN 11.0% Knox County, TN 12.3% |
| Unemployment about the same | 3.9% | 3.4% | Jefferson County, AL 2.5% Knox County, TN 2.8% Sedgwick County, KS 2.9% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 89.3% | 89.7% | Horry County, SC 91.5% Lane County, OR 91.4% Lake County, FL 91.3% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 about the same | 235 | 262 | Tulsa County, OK 1 Lucas County, OH 130 Lane County, OR 132 |
| Bridges rated poor behind similar counties | 4.4% | 2.9% | Lake County, FL 0.0% Bell County, TX 0.2% Knox County, TN 0.5% |
“Behind” or “ahead” means more than 15% worse or better than the typical (median) similar county; small differences can be noise. Sources: County Health Rankings 2025 (health, money and internet), Vera Institute (jail, latest year from 2015 on), FHWA National Bridge Inventory 2025, HUD (metro areas), Census 2024 population. What has worked elsewhere on each of these.
“Highest” and “lowest” are just order, not grades: a high rank for poverty or hazard losses means more of it. Each figure's source is in its section below.
Related: By the numbers · The money trail · Audits · What has worked. Spot an error? Report it.