CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Surf City

North Carolina · 948 residents · 7.69 sq mi

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The short version

Surf City is a city of 948 people in North Carolina. The median age is 46.1, about 13 years above the US median. The population has fallen 32% since 2000. About 28% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Poverty is uncommon here, at 6.8% of residents. The typical home is worth $99,200.

At a glance

Average income

near the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 46.1

US median: 33.0

More educated

28% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 17%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

948

−32%vs 2000

vs 1,393 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

46.1

−4%vs 2000

vs 48.1 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

7.69 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20244K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 52.2%(21)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 91.9%(18)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 141.8%(17)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 195.7%(54)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 2411.3%(107)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3416.4%(155)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 448.4%(80)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5424.5%(232)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6412.7%(120)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7411.9%(113)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 842%(19)

US avg: 4%

85 and over1.3%(12)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$29,342

−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $40,521 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$18,552

−27%vs 2000

vs $25,242 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

6.8%

−8.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 15.4% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$99,200

−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $158,000 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$423

−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $651 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

61.7%

−13.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 74.7% in 2000

38.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic97.1%(1,353)

Black0.4%(5)

Hispanic / Latino1%(14)

Asian0.6%(9)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic98.2%(931)

Black0.7%(7)

Hispanic / Latino0.8%(8)

Asian0.4%(4)

Other0.6%(6)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican2.7%(117)

Spaniard1.7%(73)

South American0.6%(28)

Colombian0.4%(18)

Puerto Rican0.3%(13)

Venezuelan0.2%(10)

Central American0.2%(9)

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)

French Canadian0.1%(5)

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

27.8%

−0.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 28.7% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

85.6%

−4.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 90.5% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

9.0%

+0.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 8.8% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

25.3 min

+16%vs 2000

vs 21.9 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

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

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

8.8%

−5.2 ptssince 2013

from 14.0% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

56.0%

+4.9 ptssince 2020

from 51.1% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

13.2%

−9.4 ptssince 2020

from 22.6% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

19.0%

−1.3 ptssince 2020

from 20.3% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

11.8%

−0.9 ptssince 2020

from 12.7% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

4.4%

−1.3 ptssince 2020

from 5.7% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

74.5%

−2.1 ptssince 2020

from 76.6% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

30.9%

−1.7 ptssince 2020

from 32.6% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

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)37.2%(136)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)19.9%(73)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era37.7%(138)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War0%(0)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 366 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

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