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CITY · 2020 ACS

Surf City

North Carolina · 3,867 residents · 7.685 sq mi
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The short version

Surf City is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $75,104. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 2,474 residents. 47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $285,800. Households here earn about 33% more than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.8
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,867
+178%since 2000
from 1,393 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
41.8
−13%since 2000
from 48.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
6032K3K4K5K1990201020202024Surf City
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.7%(220)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97%(271)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.7%(259)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196%(232)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.8%(147)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.9%(420)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4414.3%(552)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.9%(498)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.3%(554)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413.1%(507)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.5%(174)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over0.9%(33)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,104
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,521 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,484
+56%since 2000
from $25,242 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
50.1%
+22.0 ptssince 2009
from 28.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
7.8%
−7.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information16%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services12.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.5%
US avg: 10%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Finance & insurance2.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$285,800
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $158,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,355
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $651 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
80.5%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
19.5% rent
Afford Score
3.8
−63%since 2009
from 10.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic86.3%(3,337)
Black1.1%(42)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(211)
Asian1.2%(46)
Other2.7%(104)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(46)
Cuban0.5%(17)
Asian origin
Korean0.3%(9)
Taiwanese0.3%(8)
Ancestry
German19.5%(623)
English18.1%(576)
Irish14.7%(470)
American8.4%(268)
Italian7%(224)
Scotch-Irish3.6%(115)
British2.4%(78)
Dutch2.3%(74)
Scottish1.9%(59)
French1.7%(55)
Polish1.7%(55)
Russian1.2%(39)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh1.2%(38)
Ukrainian0.7%(22)
Greek0.6%(19)
Hungarian0.5%(17)
Canadian0.5%(16)
Portuguese0.4%(13)
Swiss0.4%(12)
Norwegian0.3%(10)
Danish0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
47.0%
+18.3 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
97.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 90.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
15.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.9 min
+46%since 2000
from 21.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.1%
−11.9 ptssince 2009
from 87.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
2.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.6%
+7.0 ptssince 2011
from 57.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
38.7%
−31.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.4%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
Female
47.6%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.6%
−76.4 ptssince 2013
from 86.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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
Drill deeper

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Compare Surf City to nearby cities

SURF CITY VS
Hampstead
Income$91,745+22%
Home value$402,100+41%
Population9,292+81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURF CITY VS
Ogden
Income$121,338+62%
Home value$463,700+62%
Population8,249+60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURF CITY VS
Murraysville
Income$81,167+8%
Home value$320,700+12%
Population16,339+218%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SURF CITY VS
Jacksonville
Income$57,697−23%
Home value$210,100−26%
Population72,732+1314%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Surf City, North Carolina?

Surf City, North Carolina has about 3,867 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Surf City, North Carolina earns about $75,104 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 $285,800, and the typical rent is about $1,355 a month.

How educated are people in Surf City, North Carolina?

About 47.0% 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 7.8% 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 2,919 residents, a change of about 308 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 →