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Thomasville, NC

Thomasville, NC

Commercial buildings in downtown Thomasville · Photo: Indy beetle, CC0

A town of about 27,321 people in Davidson County, part of the Winston area. Resident comments and photos are about Thomasville; job numbers cover the wider area.

What kind of place it is

Big-city feel

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Thomasville scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Big-city feel
77 / 100
Big-city feel: 676,000 people in the metro, 1 buildings 20+ stories, 511 bus and train stops

Less so: lively.

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Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Where it is
Thomasville
Thomasville in North Carolina
North Carolina in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Thomasville's center.

8
grocery stores
40
restaurants
2
coffee shops
20
parks
30
playgrounds
1
library
1
live theater
1
bookstore
3
gyms
4
bars
7
pharmacies
1
hospital

None found within 5 miles: movie theaters.

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Thomasville.

Bike lanes and bike paths
0.2 miles
about typical for a U.S. town
Walking and hiking trails
12 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 3,771 rented homes in Thomasville, 96% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 69%
$1,000 to $1,499: 17%
$1,500 to $1,999: 10%
$2,000 to $2,499: 1%
$2,500 to $2,999: 2%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Thomasville rents for under $1,000 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about under $2,000 for first month plus a deposit, or up to under $3,000 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For rent under $1,000, that's a yearly income of about under $36,000.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to North Carolina: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the North Carolina DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: North Carolina voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Public schools

East Davidson High School in Thomasville, North Carolina
East Davidson High School in Thomasville, North Carolina · Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0

3 public school districts in this county, with about 23,191 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Thomasville City Schools · Thomasville
2,228 students · 16.9 students per teacher · 4 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Davidson County Schools · Lexington
17,964 students · 15.8 students per teacher · 36 schools · grades Pre-K to 13
Lexington City Schools · Lexington
2,999 students · 15.8 students per teacher · 7 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

North Carolina keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$181/week
about $9,400 a year
$183/week
about $9,500 a year
Toddler (2)$159/week
about $8,300 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$129/week
about $6,700 a year
$147/week
about $7,600 a year
School-age$74/week
about $3,800 a year

For an infant at a center: $181/week here, $220 across NC, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 13% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in North Carolina →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

7 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Thomasville. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Davidson-Davie Community College · Thomasville
Public, 2-year (community college) · 3,959 students · $2,279 in-state, $7,926 out-of-state
Wake Forest University · Winston-Salem (metro)
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 9,121 students · $64,758 a year
Forsyth Technical Community College · Winston-Salem (metro)
Public, 2-year (community college) · 8,716 students · $2,256 in-state, $6,864 out-of-state
Winston-Salem State University · Winston-Salem (metro)
Public, 4-year · 4,776 students · $6,735 in-state, $17,391 out-of-state
University of North Carolina School of the Arts · Winston Salem (metro)
Public, 4-year · 1,074 students · $9,477 in-state, $27,211 out-of-state

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$280,379
What a typical home sells for across the Winston area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Cost of living
About 8% below the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $92 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 92 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
24 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $3,124 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in NC. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
1 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
25.3 per 100,000 people a year
45 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. NC average: 20.2 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 8 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 6,746 people without housing in the North Carolina Balance of State area (85 counties): 4,521 in shelters and 2,225 outside, up from 4,180 in 2024. NC: 14 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$62,426
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.63% of home value a year
About $630 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 3.99%
NC's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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