Report: Forsyth County demographics closely mirror state figures

Of all North Carolina counties, Forsyth's demographics are the most representative of the state's overall figures. That's according to a new analysis from research center Carolina Demography. 

The report looked at five factors to determine which county in North Carolina is closest to the state's averages: racial composition, median age, median home value, median household income, and the percent of residents who hold at least a bachelor's degree.

The counties were then ranked based on their difference from the state's numbers in each category. Forsyth County was the closest overall. 

The county has grown at the same rate as North Carolina over the past decade — 9%. And its average resident is 38.4 years old, just .3 off from the state's number. 

The latest census figures show that Forsyth is the fourth most populous county in the state, with the majority of its residents calling Winston-Salem home. Guilford is the third largest, preceded by Wake and Mecklenburg counties.