County · North Carolina

Pender County, North Carolina

Pender County, North Carolina. Pender County had 72,111 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 19.8% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 10 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 16 census tracts. GEOID 37141.

Pender County is one of the 3 counties of the Wilmington, NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

72,111

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 60,203 · ACS 2020-2024: 65,550

Median household income

$80,396

±$3,889 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$299,000

±$15,528 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$1,106

±$105 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

How many people live in Pender County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 60,203 residents in Pender County. The Census Bureau estimates 72,111 for July 1, 2025, up 19.8% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 65,550 over 871 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +2,360 (62,974)
2021→2022 +2,664 (65,638)
2022→2023 +2,677 (68,315)
2023→2024 +1,835 (70,150)
2024→2025 +1,961 (72,111)

Pender County in North Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Pender County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	65,550	10,730,404	+5,151
Households	25,291±522	4,282,345	+3,551
Average household size	2.54±0.05	2.44	−0.18
Housing units	31,844±42	4,895,668	+2,814

Pender County's population since 2000

From 41,082 in 2000 to 72,111 in 2025: up 75.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 41,082
2005 (estimate) 45,485
2010 Census 52,217
2015 (estimate) 57,463
2020 Census 60,203
2025 (estimate) 72,111

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Pender County?

Pender County holds 10 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Hampstead with 9,292 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Pender County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Hampstead	CDP	7,016	9,292±1,209	$91,745	$402,100	9.5%	100%
Surf City	town	3,867	4,396±129	$81,433	$512,300	5.5%	91%
Burgaw	town	3,088	3,850±21	$67,853	$242,200	19.7%	100%
Rocky Point	CDP	1,476	1,020±321	$69,514	$163,500	19.8%	100%
Topsail BeachGEOID 3768040	town	461	406±91	$93,250	$691,200	7.6%	100%
St. Helena	village	417	544±169	$75,313	$215,600	20.6%	100%
Atkinson	town	296	485±225	$59,886	$155,100	13.6%	100%
Long CreekGEOID 3739060	CDP	277	206±171	not published	not published	23.3%	100%
WathaGEOID 3771320	town	181	271±135	$48,125	$143,300	16.6%	100%
Wallace	town	3,413	3,457±17	$51,250	$178,000	30.4%	0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Pender County?

The median resident of Pender County is 41.6 years old; 22.4% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 74.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 12.1%. 4.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Pender County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.6±0.6	39.1	−1.1
Under 18 years	22.4%	21.8%	–
65 years and over	18.2%±0.2 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8.8%	11.3%	+1.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	74.0%±0.6 pts	60.0%	−1.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	12.1%±0.6 pts	20.0%	−2.2 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	3.3%	+0.3 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.7%±0.8 pts	4.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.3 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	4.2%±0.8 pts	9.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	7.9%±0.6 pts	13.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	9.4%±0.9 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	15.3%±1.3 pts	13.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	8.8%±1.3 pts	9.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	90.8%±1.1 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	30.6%±2.3 pts	35.7%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	10.1%±1.3 pts	13.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	3.3%±0.8 pts	3.0%	–

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 Pender County earn?

Half of Pender County's 25,291 households earn less than $80,396 a year (±$3,889), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $70,445 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $9,951 after inflation. 9.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Pender County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$80,396±$3,889	$72,388	+$9,951
Mean household income	$101,635±$5,183	$101,208	–
Per capita income	$40,192±$1,947	$41,385	+$4,175
People below the poverty line	9.7%±1.5 pts	13.0%	−4.4 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	11.1%±2.9 pts	17.7%	−8.8 pts
Households receiving SNAP	11.8%±1.8 pts	12.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.6%±1.7 pts	90.1%	–

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 Pender County?

Owners occupy 82.7% of Pender County's occupied homes and renters 17.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $299,000 by its owner (±$15,528). The median renter pays $1,106 a month including utilities, and 41.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Pender County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$299,000±$15,528	$288,900	+$54,461
Median gross rent	$1,106±$105	$1,228	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	41.6%±7.8 pts	39.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,772±$76	$1,631	–
Owner-occupied homes	82.7%±2.3 pts	66.6%	no clear change
Housing units	31,844±42	4,895,668	+2,814
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.2%±0.7 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.8%±2.7 pts	7.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	71.4%±2.3 pts	65.3%	–
Mobile homes	21.1%±2.0 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	5.8%±0.9 pts	3.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	4.1%±0.9 pts	4.9%	–

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 Pender County building?

Builders took permits for 833 new housing units across Pender County in 2025 (716 single-family), 11.6 per 1,000 residents.

2019 569 units
2020 762 units
2021 1,017 units
2022 1,094 units
2023 1,082 units
2024 944 units
2025 833 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Pender County get to work?

74.3% of Pender County's workers drive alone and 13.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Pender County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	60.9%±1.2 pts	62.8%	–
Unemployment rate	4.8%±1.1 pts	4.7%	−2.9 pts
Drove alone to work	74.3%±2.0 pts	71.5%	–
Carpooled	11.3%±1.5 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	0.7%±0.4 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	13.2%±1.7 pts	16.3%	+6.2 pts
Mean travel time to work	30.1 min±1.4	25.1 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 are Pender County's census tracts?

Pender County is divided into 16 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $51,789 (Tract 9205.02) to $111,705 (Tract 9202.02).

Census tracts of Pender County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 9201.0437141920104	Surf City (39%)	4,632	4,645±447	$87,841	$383,500	$1,472	6.6%
Tract 9201.0537141920105	Surf City (44%)	1,601	2,642±554	$72,426	$314,500	$1,323	16.0%
Tract 9201.0637141920106	Surf City (39%)	1,813	1,647±252	$84,318	$676,700	$2,140	7.9%
Tract 9202.0137141920201	–	7,882	8,799±886	$96,645	$388,600	$2,300	3.2%
Tract 9202.0237141920202	Hampstead (49%)	8,993	9,777±782	$111,705	$454,900	$2,451	6.0%
Tract 9202.0337141920203	Hampstead (25%)	5,740	6,811±733	$94,511	$360,500	$1,167	9.6%
Tract 9202.0437141920204	Surf City (6%)	1,833	1,899±301	$55,625	$193,300	$883	24.1%
Tract 920337141920300	Watha (13%)	3,847	3,666±480	$65,179	$173,000	$596	10.2%
Tract 9204.0137141920401	Burgaw (53%)	2,268	2,735±327	$68,706	$266,500	$1,107	13.3%
Tract 9204.0237141920402	Burgaw (46%)	3,041	3,417±637	$65,313	$225,600	$877	11.7%
Tract 9204.0337141920403	Burgaw (44%)	3,336	3,091±364	$59,537	$212,000	$791	15.6%
Tract 9205.0137141920501	Atkinson (16%)	4,169	4,822±582	$61,482	$119,000	$721	14.7%
Tract 9205.0237141920502	–	1,677	1,607±306	$51,789	$166,500	$627	10.8%
Tract 9206.0137141920601	Rocky Point (27%)	2,849	2,973±512	$78,382	$185,400	$980	15.5%
Tract 9206.0237141920602	Rocky Point (17%)	6,522	7,019±856	$66,118	$246,400	$902	8.4%
Tract 990137141990100	–	0	0±14	not published	not published	not published	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Pender County compare with North Carolina's other counties?

Pender County's rank among North Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	42nd of 100
Growth 2020-2025	2nd of 100
Residents per square mile	69th of 100
Median household income	14th of 100
Median home value	23rd of 100
Median gross rent	30th of 100
Poverty rate	90th of 100
Bachelor's degree or higher	26th of 100
Median age	60th of 100

Every county in North Carolina

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Pender County 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' school search.