City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Southport, NC

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

4,143
Residents
$82,792
Median income
$394,900
Median home
$1,426
Median rent (state)

Southport - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Southport lands in the 64th percentile for household income and the 57th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

64th
percentile, household income
77th
percentile, home value
56th
percentile, median rent
57th
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: Southport, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 4,143 residents in Southport, a small town within North Carolina. Median household income here is $82,792 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.6%. Southport's housing stock carries a median value of $394,900, and the median resident age is 63.0 years. About 34.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 44.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 106 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 66% from five years earlier. Southport reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1157.1 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Southport's yearly average temperature at 65.0°F with 54.6 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts North Carolina at 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,426 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 95.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

4,143 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$82,792 /yr

Poverty 2.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Southport compare to other US cities?

Here's how Southport stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 64% higher than other cities
Home value 77% pricier than other cities
Median rent 56% pricier than other cities
Safety 57% 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: Southport ranks #26 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Southport against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Southport toward the top of North Carolina's cities

Among the 708 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Southport ranks #82 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Southport only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#139 of 700
80th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#159 of 746
77th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#82 of 708
88th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#600 of 746
20th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#193 of 746
74th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

64thIncome percentile
57thSafety percentile

64th percentile nationally for median household income · 57th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Southport's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Southport'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 52 Avg. percentile National median
Southport'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 Southport's home value compares nationally

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

$394,900 23rd percentile more affordable than 23% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $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. Southport $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 - Southport, NC Southport, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Southport, 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 Southport, NC median $82,792/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%
Southport, 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 Southport, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 34.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 44.3%

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

Population
4,143
Median Income
$82,792
Median Home Value
$394,900
Median Age
63.0
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Labor force participation
44.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
34.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1157.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
89.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1068.1
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
65.0°F
Annual Precipitation
54.6"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,800 residents4,000 residents4,200 residents4,400 residents4,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,985 residents 4,434 residents ▲ +11.3%
Southport's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
106
housing units authorized
Single-Family
102
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
25.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 64
2020 81
2021 78
2022 84
2023 66
2024 106

Permit volume increased 66% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.1%
Carpool
3.8%
Public Transit
2.0%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
19.6%
Other
3.9%

Based on 1,525 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 Southport sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,426/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Benson
4,144 people
Surf City
4,160 people
Wingate
4,169 people
Forest Oaks
4,095 people
Trent Woods
4,086 people
Mount Olive
4,204 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Southport's 4,143 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dimmitt, TX
4,143 people
Coal Valley, IL
4,142 people
Lansford, PA
4,144 people
Newport, SC
4,142 people
Gibson, AR
4,141 people
Rosemont, IL
4,145 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Southport's $82,792 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Amenia, NY
$82,781 median income
Three Rivers, OR
$82,780 median income
Cayucos, CA
$82,778 median income
Ontario, CA
$82,806 median income
Hillsboro Pines, FL
$82,778 median income
Scottdale, GA
$82,778 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Southport, 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 Southport, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.7% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 87.7% Black or African American 7.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.2% 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 Southport 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
Southport (this city) 4,143 $82,792
Benson 4,144 $65,614
Surf City 4,160 $84,833
Wingate 4,169 $65,208
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Southport, NC?

What is the population of Southport, NC? +

4,143 people live in Southport, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Southport, NC? +

Median annual household income in Southport runs $82,792, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Southport? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Southport; 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 Southport, NC safe? +

Southport has a total crime rate of 1157.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Southport, NC? +

Homes in Southport carry a median value of $394,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Southport? +

Climate normals put Southport's yearly average temperature at 65.0°F, 54.6 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

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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.