Taxes in High Point
High Point's property tax picture is a genuine four-county tangle: the city's own municipal rate is fixed, but the total bill on any given parcel depends on which of Guilford, Randolph, Forsyth, or Davidson County it sits in. Beyond property tax, residents get North Carolina's flat, moderate, and declining state income tax.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreThe City's own municipal rate, applied on top of whichever county applies
The City of High Point's own tax rate is $0.6175 per $100 of assessed value, applied to any property inside city limits regardless of which of the four counties it sits in. This layers on top of the applicable county rate, meaning the total combined rate genuinely differs by address.
Four different county rates, and they are not close to each other
For FY2025-26: Guilford County's rate is $0.7305/$100 (flat since 2023, with a separately-cited effective rate of 0.88% and a $2,075 median bill on a $234,900 home); Forsyth County's is $0.5352/$100; Davidson County's is $0.54/$100; Randolph County's is $0.50/$100 (down from $0.6327 in 2022-23). Combined with the city's $0.6175/$100, a Guilford-side High Point property carries a materially higher total nominal rate ($1.3480/$100) than a Randolph-side one ($1.1175/$100) -- a real, address-dependent difference worth confirming before budgeting.
North Carolina's flat, declining state income tax, and a modest sales tax
North Carolina's flat individual income tax rate is 3.99% for 2026, down from 4.25% in 2025, continuing a legislated multi-year phasedown from 5.75% in 2014 (one aggregator cited a conflicting 4.50%, disclosed here as a real cross-source discrepancy -- confirm the current rate with the NCDOR directly). The combined sales tax rate in Guilford County is cited at 7.00% (NC's 4.75% state rate plus a 2.25% county rate) by the more current-dated source, though another aggregator cited 6.75%-6.90% for the same county -- a small, disclosed discrepancy. Rates may differ slightly for the Randolph, Forsyth, or Davidson County portions of the city.
Elderly/disabled homestead exclusion and circuit-breaker relief
North Carolina excludes the greater of $25,000 or 50% of appraised value from property tax for qualifying owners 65+ or totally/permanently disabled, subject to a 2025 income cap of $38,800; a circuit-breaker option caps the tax bill at 4%-5% of income for those with income up to $58,200. These are statewide NC benefits, applied identically regardless of which of High Point's four counties a property sits in.
Key takeaways
- The City of High Point's own municipal rate is $0.6175/$100, applied citywide -- but the county rate layered on top genuinely differs by address: Guilford $0.7305/$100, Forsyth $0.5352/$100, Davidson $0.54/$100, Randolph $0.50/$100 (all FY2025-26).
- Combined city+county nominal rates therefore range from about $1.1175/$100 (Randolph side) to $1.3480/$100 (Guilford side) -- confirm the specific county for an address before estimating a tax bill.
- North Carolina's flat state income tax is 3.99% for 2026 (down from 4.25% in 2025, on a legislated path from 5.75% in 2014); one source cited a conflicting 4.50% -- confirm with the NCDOR directly.
- The combined sales tax rate in Guilford County is cited at 7.00% by the more current source (6.75%-6.90% by another); NC's elderly/disabled homestead exclusion removes the greater of $25,000 or 50% of appraised value from property tax under a 2025 income cap of $38,800 (circuit-breaker option to $58,200).
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full High Point overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert