Population 21,447 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Spring Lake
Household size in Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.83 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.82 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Spring Lake average 2.63 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in North Carolina overall, where it has 2.52 people. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.56, even as the national average fell.
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 Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 28.4 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Spring Lake is young: half of its residents are under 31.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 29.9, as it has nationally. Only 11 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
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 Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in six households in Spring Lake (15.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Spring Lake has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
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 Spring Lake
Renters in Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.5% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 57.9% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 53.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Spring Lake rent: 53.4% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 35.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have a higher 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 Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Spring Lake: 13.9% of homes are empty, 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 7.8 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 Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1991 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1993 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Spring Lake is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1994, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $743 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $851 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,004 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,252 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$508 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Spring Lake runs $1,252 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $508 a month since 2006–10, up 68%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the south.
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 Spring Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.8% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.3 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Spring Lake (25.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the south.
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 Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.8% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Spring Lake have finished high school (91.8%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.4 points, mirroring the country.
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 Spring Lake
| Period | Spring Lake | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Spring Lake than nationally: unemployment was 6.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 6.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Spring Lake compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Lake | 2.63 | 31.7 | 15.6% | 53.4% | 13.9% | 1994 | $1,252 | 25.8% | 91.8% | 6.4% |
| Pope Air Force Base | 2.69 | 24.6 | 16.9% | 95.7% | 34.6% | 1978 | $1,724 | 38.6% | 100.0% | 9.3% |
| Overhills | 3.45 | 26.9 | 3.0% | 94.2% | 13.1% | 2008 | $1,730 | 30.5% | 94.4% | 12.9% |
| Spout Springs | 3.42 | 27.2 | 3.2% | 90.0% | 12.9% | 2008 | $1,736 | 30.3% | 94.5% | 12.6% |
| Fort Bragg | 2.98 | 23.1 | 11.0% | 98.3% | 34.7% | 1980 | $1,549 | 22.1% | 98.3% | 6.0% |
| Bunnlevel | 2.97 | 34.6 | 17.6% | 25.1% | 13.2% | 2002 | $1,320 | 27.3% | 91.8% | 4.9% |
| Slocomb | 2.94 | 35.9 | 6.9% | 18.1% | 9.1% | 1996 | $1,076 | 36.8% | 93.6% | 2.3% |
| Linden | 2.71 | 38.7 | 12.9% | 20.8% | 10.6% | 1994 | $897 | 28.0% | 93.8% | 1.8% |
| Norrington Crossroads | 2.85 | 39.1 | 11.8% | 10.7% | 14.8% | 2002 | $1,221 | 20.5% | 94.5% | 6.2% |
| Cameron | 3.06 | 34.1 | 11.7% | 28.9% | 9.5% | 2001 | $1,463 | 27.3% | 92.2% | 7.2% |
| Olivia | 2.85 | 27.7 | 29.6% | 22.6% | 5.8% | 1998 | $1,154 | 11.2% | 95.4% | 0.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Dixon, CA · Walker, LA · Vernal, UT · Troy, AL · Travelers Rest, SC · Sunset, FL · Sunny Isles Beach, FL · Ellijay, GA · Easton, MD · East Ridge, 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 Spring Lake. 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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