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CITY

Surf City

North Carolina · 5,142 residents (2025 est.) · 7.685 sq mi
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The short version

Surf City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $81,433. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 3,003 residents. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $512,300. Poverty is rare here, at 5.5% of residents.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 78%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,396
+216%since 2000
from 1,393 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
572 / sq mi
+144%since 2009
from 234 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
36.9
−23%since 2000
from 48.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,142 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6032K3K4K5K1990201020202024Surf City
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(208)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(262)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.6%(334)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.7%(205)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.1%(269)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.8%(605)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4417.7%(778)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.8%(388)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.3%(583)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.1%(575)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.7%(161)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.6%(28)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,433
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,521 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,611
+97%since 2000
from $25,242 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.5%
+30.4 ptssince 2009
from 28.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.5%
−9.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.456
+7%since 2010
from 0.428 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services11.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade3.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical0.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$512,300
+78%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $158,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,707
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $651 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
26.1% rent
Vacancy rate
61.4%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
38.3%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.4%
+21.8 ptssince 2009
from 32.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.3
−38%since 2009
from 10.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
22
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Surf City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.1%(1,353)
Black0.4%(5)
Hispanic / Latino1%(14)
Asian0.6%(9)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.9%(3,819)
Black4.3%(187)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(246)
Asian0.5%(22)
Other2.8%(122)
Diversity Score
30
+13%since 2009
from 27 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.7%(117)
Spaniard1.7%(73)
Colombian0.4%(18)
Puerto Rican0.3%(13)
Venezuelan0.2%(10)
Salvadoran0.2%(9)
Cuban0.1%(6)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(13)
Thai0.1%(4)
Ancestry
German15.2%(669)
English14.9%(655)
Irish11.6%(511)
Italian6.5%(287)
Polish5.1%(225)
Scotch-Irish4.8%(212)
American4.3%(191)
Scottish2.5%(109)
French2.3%(99)
Russian1.1%(47)
Slovak1%(44)
Norwegian1%(43)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.9%(40)
Danish0.8%(37)
Welsh0.8%(33)
British0.7%(32)
Hungarian0.5%(23)
Swedish0.5%(20)
Swiss0.4%(19)
Turkish0.4%(16)
Arab0.3%(14)
Lebanese0.3%(14)
Austrian0.3%(13)
West Indian0.3%(13)
Greek0.2%(8)
Ukrainian0.2%(8)
Romanian0.2%(7)
Portuguese0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.6%
+22.9 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.2%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 90.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
20.5%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.3 min
+6%since 2000
from 21.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
65.7%
−21.3 ptssince 2009
from 87.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
26.6%
+21.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.4%
+8.8 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
51.1%
−18.8 ptssince 2009
from 69.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
Female
49.7%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.2%
−29.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.0%
−7.6 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.8%
−77.2 ptssince 2013
from 86.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.8%
+13.9 ptssince 2017
from 81.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.2%
+2.5 ptssince 2016
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32.8%(589)
Married61.3%(1,100)
Widowed0.7%(12)
Divorced5.2%(94)
Women 15+
Never married17.1%(308)
Married63.3%(1,137)
Widowed5.9%(106)
Divorced13.7%(246)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Surf City to nearby cities

SURF CITY VS
Hampstead
Income$91,745+13%
Home value$402,100−22%
Population9,292+81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURF CITY VS
Ogden
Income$121,338+49%
Home value$463,700−9%
Population8,249+60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURF CITY VS
Murraysville
Income$81,167same
Home value$320,700−37%
Population16,339+218%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURF CITY VS
Jacksonville
Income$57,697−29%
Home value$210,100−59%
Population72,732+1314%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Surf City, North Carolina?

Surf City, North Carolina has about 4,396 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Surf City, North Carolina?

The typical household in Surf City, North Carolina earns about $81,433 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Surf City, North Carolina expensive?

In Surf City, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $512,300, and the typical rent is about $1,707 a month.

How educated are people in Surf City, North Carolina?

About 51.6% of adults age 25 and over in Surf City, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Surf City, North Carolina?

About 5.5% of people in Surf City, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Surf City, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Surf City, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,448 residents, a change of about 364 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →