City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Southern Pines, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Southern Pines - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

16,052
Residents
$83,681
Median income
$416,300
Median home
$1,358
Median rent (state)

Southern Pines - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Southern Pines places in the 65th percentile for household income and the 24th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

65th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
51st
percentile, median rent
24th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Southern Pines, NC

16,052 people live in Southern Pines, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Southern Pines households earn a median of $83,681 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Home values in Southern Pines run a median of $416,300, and the median resident age is 38.6 years. About 54.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 45.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 164 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Slowing), down 7% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2398.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,358 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 75.6 out of 100 (High).

Population

16,052 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$83,681 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Southern Pines compare to other US cities?

Southern Pines measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 51% pricier than other cities
Safety 24% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just North Carolina and the picture shifts: Southern Pines ranks #94 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Southern Pines's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

65thIncome percentile
24thSafety percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income · 24th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Southern Pines's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Southern Pines's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 41 Avg. percentile National median
Southern Pines's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Southern Pines's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$416,300 21st percentile more affordable than 21% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Southern Pines $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Southern Pines, NC Southern Pines, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Southern Pines, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Southern Pines, NC median $83,681/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Southern Pines, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Southern Pines, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 54.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
16,052
Median Income
$83,681
Median Home Value
$416,300
Median Age
38.6
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
45.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
54.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2398.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
368.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2030.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,500 residents16,000 residents16,500 residents17,000 residents17,500 residents18,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,706 residents 17,357 residents ▲ +10.5%
Southern Pines's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
164
housing units authorized
Single-Family
164
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 176
2020 193
2021 235
2022 173
2023 164
2024 164

Permit volume decreased 7% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.9%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
0.7%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
14.1%
Other
6.9%

Based on 7,040 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Southern Pines sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,358/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
75.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Havelock
16,471 people
Stallings
16,495 people
Albemarle
16,527 people
Eden
15,353 people
Hendersonville
15,253 people
Belmont
15,140 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Southern Pines's 16,052 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Gatesville, TX
16,058 people
Artesia, CA
16,044 people
Niceville, FL
16,043 people
Mount Pleasant, TX
16,061 people
East Highland Park, VA
16,071 people
Dyersburg, TN
16,075 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Southern Pines's $83,681 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Middleton, ID
$83,681 median income
Eyota, MN
$83,684 median income
Arbuckle, CA
$83,677 median income
New Munster, WI
$83,686 median income
La Huerta, NM
$83,672 median income
De Graff, OH
$83,693 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Southern Pines, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Southern Pines, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.6% 11.7% 8.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.8% White 75.6% Black or African American 11.7% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 8.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Southern Pines compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Southern Pines (this city) 16,052 $83,681
Havelock 16,471 $64,433
Stallings 16,495 $106,074
Albemarle 16,527 $52,825
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Southern Pines, NC?

What is the population of Southern Pines, NC? +

The population of Southern Pines, NC stands at 16,052 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Southern Pines, NC? +

The median household income in Southern Pines is $83,681 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Southern Pines? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Southern Pines; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Southern Pines, NC safe? +

Southern Pines has a total crime rate of 2398.8 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Southern Pines, NC? +

Southern Pines's median home value sits at $416,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.