With 16,420 people, Southern Pines is a city in North Carolina. This is an unusually credentialed place: 53% of adults have a four-year degree. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 5,502 people. 4% of people here were born outside the United States. Owners hold 57% of the housing stock. That is roughly 22% ahead of the North Carolina median.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $88,535, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
53% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 94%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Southern Pines
What changed most since 1990
White share64.7% → 73.4%(+8.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Black share34.4% → 10.8%(−23.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$193,206 → $451,100(+133%)US over the same years: +67%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)46.4%(792)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)41.1%(701)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era21.2%(362)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.6%(95)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3%(51)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,706 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Southern Pines, decade by decade
Southern Pines population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
9,129
$58,511
$193,206
26.2%
57.8
2000
10,918
$70,720
$232,261
36.0%
55.3
2010
12,334
$61,085
$326,268
39.3%
57.2
2020
15,545
$85,508
$367,854
55.0%
57.0
2024
16,420
$88,535
$451,100
52.9%
54.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Southern Pines, North Carolina?
Southern Pines, North Carolina has about 16,420 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Southern Pines, North Carolina?
The typical household in Southern Pines, North Carolina earns about $88,535 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Southern Pines, North Carolina expensive?
In Southern Pines, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $451,100, and the typical rent is about $1,354 a month.
How educated are people in Southern Pines, North Carolina?
About 52.9% of adults age 25 and over in Southern Pines, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Southern Pines, North Carolina?
About 9.6% of people in Southern Pines, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Southern Pines, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Southern Pines, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,291 residents, a change of about 80 percent over that period.
