CensusEasy
CITY

Southport

North Carolina · 4,434 residents (2025 est.) · 4.004 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Wilmington metro area
Compare
The short version

Southport has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $87,641. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 79% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $437,700. With a median age of 64.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 64.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 88%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,205
+79%since 2000
from 2,351 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,050 / sq mi
+79%since 2000
from 587 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
64.2
+31%since 2000
from 49.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,434 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K3K4K4K1990201020202024Southport
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$87,641
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,714 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,982
+99%since 2000
from $23,059 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.4%
+32.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.4%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.370
−35%since 2010
from 0.567 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical6.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food3.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade1.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration0.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$437,700
+88%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $127,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,426
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $528 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.2%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 69.8% in 2000
19.8% rent
Vacancy rate
24.0%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.9%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
18.1%
−36.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.0
+32%since 2000
from 3.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
70
RELATED:See current rent listings in Southport on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic75.6%(1,777)
Black21.8%(512)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(34)
Asian0.2%(4)
Other0%
Diversity Score46%(1,082)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(3,704)
Black7.1%(300)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(49)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.6%(152)
Diversity Score27.2%(1,144)
Diversity Score
27
−41%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.4%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 26.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.8%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 84.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.5%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+75%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 69.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.6%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.3%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
21.3%
+15.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.6%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.0%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
42.9%
−11.4 ptssince 2011
from 54.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
28.2%
+13.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.3%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 55.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
48.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
12.1%
−35.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2012
from 21.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.5%
−80.5 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.1%
+7.2 ptssince 2017
from 84.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2016
from 95.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Southport

June Park
Pop 4,255
Mount Plymouth
Pop 4,604
Bagdad
Pop 4,466
Kensington Park
Pop 3,916
Places similar to Southport
Head to head

Compare Southport to nearby cities

SOUTHPORT VS
Oak Island
Income$85,872−2%
Home value$456,500+4%
Population9,337+111%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHPORT VS
Myrtle Grove
Income$113,463+29%
Home value$439,100same
Population12,637+185%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHPORT VS
Leland
Income$91,977+5%
Home value$398,900−9%
Population35,731+706%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHPORT VS
Wilmington
Income$66,738−24%
Home value$383,800−12%
Population126,809+2760%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Southport, North Carolina?

Southport, North Carolina has about 4,205 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Southport, North Carolina?

The typical household in Southport, North Carolina earns about $87,641 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Southport, North Carolina expensive?

In Southport, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $437,700, and the typical rent is about $1,426 a month.

How educated are people in Southport, North Carolina?

About 37.4% of adults age 25 and over in Southport, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Southport, North Carolina?

About 6.4% of people in Southport, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Southport, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Southport, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,846 residents, a change of about 78 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Southport with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →