By Cecelia Thompson
Executive Director
Action Greensboro
Greensboro has a long history as a vibrant, diverse community. That’s never been more true than it is today, with our area during a period of growth and diversification that presents opportunities and challenges that we must meet.
To guide that process, Action Greensboro developed the 2025 Community Vitals Report, a comprehensive, data-driven overview of the current status and future challenges of Greensboro and Guilford County. We wrote it to inform residents and community leaders about issues affecting our community, ranging from economic disparities to civic engagement to housing affordability.
By presenting detailed statistics and trends, we want to inspire residents to take proactive steps in shaping our community. Our goal was to emphasize the interconnectedness of various factors such as the economy, government and social services, and how they collectively impact the quality of life.
The Community Vitals Report revealed three key challenges that Greensboro and Guilford County must address to ensure a better future. First, increasing civic engagement, as voter turnout in local elections is alarmingly low, with only 15-16% of voters participating in local elections. Educating and empowering residents to vote and engage in civic activities is essential for a healthy democracy.
Second, we identified a need for economic growth that benefits everyone, as many residents struggle with wages that do not meet their needs. Those economic disparities seem to impact non-White residents most: White residents earn nearly 80% more per capita than Black residents and 136% more than Hispanic or Latino residents
Finally, while Greensboro is rich in cultural diversity, racial disparities — such as those wage gaps — continue to hold the city back. The Community Vitals Report showed a significant portion of residents in East Greensboro communities — between 12.4% and 34.5% — live without health insurance.
Housing availability and affordability also remain a challenge in Guilford County. While the homeownership rate in the county stands at 60.2%, as the community continues to grow and diversify, we face a need to broaden and expand housing units and price points with additional multi-family units such as apartments, condos and townhomes.
The report also notes that while Guilford County’s workforce participation is generally in line with national averages — with 79% of residents aged 20 to 64 participating in the labor force — growth has been slower. Over the past decade, labor force growth has only been 2.7%, lagging behind peer counties in North Carolina. This slower growth highlights the need for strategies to attract and retain talent, particularly as more residents reach retirement age.
The Community Vitals Report serves as a roadmap for action, encouraging informed citizenship and active participation in local governance and community-building efforts. Read the full report here.
