Pender County is home to 65,550 people in North Carolina. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 24,468 people. That puts it in the top 5% of US counties for household income. Owners hold 83% of the housing stock. 4% of people here were born outside the United States. There are 75 people per square mile.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $80,396, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 89%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Pender County
What changed most since 1990
White share68.4% → 74.0%(+5.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population28,855 → 65,550(+127%)US over the same years: +35%
Black share30.3% → 12.1%(−18.2 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
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)32.3%(1,525)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)29.4%(1,388)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.5%(1,585)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4%(187)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.8%(86)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 4,726 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
Pender County, decade by decade
Pender County 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
28,855
$55,850
$142,084
11.6%
55.1
2000
41,082
$65,401
$158,302
13.6%
53.9
2010
52,217
$63,783
$211,758
17.8%
52.4
2020
60,203
$72,776
$240,105
29.0%
54.0
2024
65,550
$80,396
$299,000
30.6%
53.4
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 Pender County, North Carolina?
Pender County, North Carolina has about 65,550 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Pender County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Pender County, North Carolina earns about $80,396 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Pender County, North Carolina expensive?
In Pender County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $299,000, and the typical rent is about $1,106 a month.
How educated are people in Pender County, North Carolina?
About 30.6% of adults age 25 and over in Pender County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Pender County, North Carolina?
About 9.7% of people in Pender County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Pender County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Pender County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 36,695 residents, a change of about 127 percent over that period.
