Town · North Carolina
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Southern Pines, town, in Moore County, North Carolina. Southern Pines had 17,357 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 11.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 15,545 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 16,420 (±26). GEOID 3763120.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,357
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,545 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,420 ±26
Median household income
$88,535
±$12,182 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$451,100
±$28,489 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,354
±$100 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Southern Pines and what county is it in?
Southern Pines is a town in Moore County, North Carolina. It covers 18.4 square miles of land, 846 residents per square mile in 2020.
Southern Pines is in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Southern Pines, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 17,357 people lived in Southern Pines on July 1, 2025, up 11.2% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 15,545 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 16,420 (±26).
| Measure | Southern Pines | Moore County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,420 ±26 | 104,876 | +2,398 |
| Households | 7,411 ±351 | 44,013 | +1,090 |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.10 | 2.36 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,620 ±462 | 50,280 | +1,352 |
Southern Pines's population since 2000
From 10,918 in 2000 to 17,357 in 2025: up 59.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Southern Pines as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Southern Pines?
The median resident of Southern Pines is 38.7 years old; 20.5% are under 18 and 25.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 10.8%. 4.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Southern Pines | Moore County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 ±2.4 | 43.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.5% ±2.3 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.6% ±2.5 pts | 24.1% | – |
| Male | 47.8% ±2.2 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.0% ±2.1 pts | 7.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 73.4% ±3.9 pts | 75.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 10.8% ±3.3 pts | 8.9% | −10.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.2% ±3.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.3% ±1.8 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.1% ±3.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 14.3% ±2.5 pts | 13.1% | – |
| With a disability | 16.9% ±2.6 pts | 15.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.1% ±2.1 pts | 7.6% | −5.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.8% ±2.0 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 52.9% ±3.9 pts | 41.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 23.5% ±3.0 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.8% ±3.8 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.9% ±2.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Southern Pines earn?
Half of Southern Pines's 7,411 households earn less than $88,535 a year (±$12,182), against $86,080 in Moore County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $72,418 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $16,117 after inflation. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Southern Pines | Moore County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $88,535 ±$12,182 | $86,080 | +$16,117 |
| Mean household income | $116,804 ±$10,704 | $107,924 | – |
| Per capita income | $52,904 ±$4,578 | $45,505 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.6% ±3.0 pts | 10.1% | −5.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.9% ±5.7 pts | 12.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.8% ±2.2 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.0% ±1.7 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.1% ±2.5 pts | 90.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Southern Pines?
Owners occupy 56.6% of Southern Pines's occupied homes and renters 43.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $451,100 by its owner (±$28,489). The median renter pays $1,354 a month including utilities, and 42.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Southern Pines | Moore County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $451,100 ±$28,489 | $351,400 | +$94,568 |
| Median gross rent | $1,354 ±$100 | $1,254 | +$232 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.6% ±8.2 pts | 38.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,145 ±$231 | $1,780 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.6% ±4.6 pts | 76.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.4% ±4.6 pts | 23.6% | – |
| Housing units | 8,620 ±462 | 50,280 | +1,352 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4% ±5.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 52.9% ±4.1 pts | 73.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% ±1.7 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.4% ±1.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 29.3% ±4.9 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.1% ±2.5 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.8% ±2.3 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Southern Pines building?
Builders took permits for 155 new housing units in Southern Pines in 2025 (155 in single-family houses), 8.9 per 1,000 residents against 7.7 across North Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Southern Pines work and get to work?
73.4% of Southern Pines's workers drive alone and 14.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.7%.
| Measure | Southern Pines | Moore County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.6% ±3.6 pts | 57.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% ±2.9 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.4% ±5.3 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.3% ±4.3 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.4% ±3.6 pts | 12.2% | +5.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.8 min ±2.2 | 26.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Southern Pines?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Southern Pines, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $58,698 (Tract 9508.01) to $96,028 (Tract 9509).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9508.01Moore County | 6,499 | $58,698 |
| Tract 9509Moore County | 2,572 | $96,028 |
| Tract 9510.01Moore County | 3,942 | $94,198 |
| Tract 9508.02Moore County | 4,283 | $84,104 |
| Tract 9506.04Moore County | 3,776 | $105,061 |
| Tract 9505.06Moore County | 7,166 | $122,988 |
| Tract 9511.02Moore County | 5,980 | $66,691 |
| Tract 9507.02Moore County | 3,337 | $121,618 |
| Tract 9510.02Moore County | 1,101 | $74,457 |
| Tract 9506.03Moore County | 4,248 | $61,134 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Southern Pines) · Census block assignment files
How does Southern Pines compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Southern Pines is the 2,172nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 66th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Southern Pines ranks 92nd of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 66th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 59th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 243rd | 443 |
| Median household income | 92nd | 434 |
| Per capita income | 60th | 443 |
| Median home value | 54th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 92nd | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 249th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59th | 421 |
| Median age | 275th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 312th | 443 |
| Work from home | 134th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 270th | 439 |
Southern Pines's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Southern Pines with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Southern Pines?
8 of the 57 figures for Southern Pines on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Southern Pines are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Southern Pines.