Population 152,568 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Brunswick County
Household size in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Brunswick County is a place of small households, averaging 2.24 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north. Brunswick County has smaller households than at least four in five North Carolina counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.9 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 53.2, Brunswick County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.2, mirroring the country. Few North Carolina counties are older: only two of 100.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.2% of households in Brunswick County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Brunswick County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of North Carolina counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Brunswick County
Renters in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.5% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Brunswick County is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 7.1 points, even as the national share rose. Only one other North Carolina county has a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.1% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.9% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 20.4% of the housing in Brunswick County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 6.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1992 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1996 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1997 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2002 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +7 | +6 |
Brunswick County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2002, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1992 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Brunswick County has the newest homes of any North Carolina county.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $818 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $966 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,053 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,409 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$591 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Brunswick County costs $1,409 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in North Carolina overall ($1,317). Rent has climbed $591 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 35.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Brunswick County
Bachelor's degrees in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Brunswick County (33.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.2 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.8% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.2% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Brunswick County is above the national rate: 93.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few North Carolina counties have a higher share of high school graduates: only nine of 100.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Brunswick County
| Period | Brunswick County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Brunswick County runs below the national rate: 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 5.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Brunswick County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County | 2.24 | 53.2 | 8.2% | 15.4% | 20.4% | 2002 | $1,409 | 33.9% | 93.2% | 4.5% |
| Marion County | 2.40 | 43.0 | 18.7% | 37.4% | 16.6% | 1981 | $685 | 14.9% | 85.9% | 7.4% |
| Florence County | 2.61 | 39.7 | 14.0% | 35.5% | 15.5% | 1986 | $986 | 24.4% | 87.6% | 5.7% |
| Lee County | 2.40 | 43.6 | 14.0% | 29.5% | 16.4% | 1983 | $865 | 11.8% | 80.1% | 7.2% |
| Sumter County | 2.53 | 39.9 | 12.8% | 31.9% | 13.2% | 1987 | $1,161 | 23.9% | 89.6% | 6.6% |
| Richland County | 2.40 | 37.1 | 14.3% | 39.7% | 10.9% | 1988 | $1,377 | 40.9% | 92.1% | 6.3% |
| Lexington County | 2.53 | 40.8 | 11.5% | 22.6% | 8.5% | 1993 | $1,248 | 34.1% | 92.0% | 4.3% |
| Saluda County | 2.49 | 44.4 | 13.0% | 21.3% | 19.1% | 1986 | $1,002 | 20.9% | 84.3% | 3.2% |
| Elbert County | 2.46 | 43.4 | 12.6% | 29.1% | 13.0% | 1978 | $787 | 16.6% | 86.6% | 4.0% |
| Oglethorpe County | 2.94 | 43.2 | 11.5% | 16.2% | 17.3% | 1990 | $855 | 25.1% | 88.5% | 3.3% |
| Madison County | 2.80 | 40.2 | 13.6% | 23.1% | 10.0% | 1991 | $962 | 21.6% | 83.5% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wright County, MN · Livingston Parish, LA · Schuylkill County, PA · Randall County, TX · Napa County, CA · Linn County, OR · Jackson County, MS · Humboldt County, CA · Coconino County, AZ · Blount County, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Brunswick County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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