Population 7,198 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in St. James
Household size in St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.07 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.03 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.07 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.00 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in St. James are small: just 2.00 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.07 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only six have smaller households.
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 St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 64.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 66.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 67.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
St. James skews older: half of its residents are older than 67.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 63.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other North Carolina city with 5,000+ people is older.
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 St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in St. James: 2.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. No other North Carolina city with 5,000+ people has a lower share of single-parent households.
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 St. James
Renters in St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
St. James is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 4.6% 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 1.5 points, even as the national share rose. Only one other North Carolina city with 5,000+ people 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 St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −16.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.9% of the housing in St. James, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 16.2 points, 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 St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1999 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2003 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2006 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2010 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in St. James is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2010, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1999 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only one other North Carolina city with 5,000+ people has newer homes.
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 St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $858 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,555 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,777 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,391 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$532 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in St. James pays $1,391 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in North Carolina overall ($1,317). Rents are up $532 a month from 2006–10, a 62% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 42.2% 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 St. James
Bachelor's degrees in St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 56.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 66.4% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in St. James: 66.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 6.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have a higher share of college graduates.
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 St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.1% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in St. James: 97.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 St. James
| Period | St. James | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in St. James: 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 have higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
St. James 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. James | 2.00 | 67.7 | 2.0% | 4.6% | 15.9% | 2010 | $1,391 | 66.4% | 97.9% | 8.3% |
| Oak Island | 2.00 | 61.6 | 7.0% | 9.3% | 51.9% | 1998 | $1,535 | 43.2% | 96.9% | 1.8% |
| Southport | 2.14 | 63.5 | 7.8% | 14.8% | 20.5% | 1999 | $1,340 | 34.6% | 94.1% | 4.7% |
| Caswell Beach | 2.04 | 65.9 | 4.6% | 4.7% | 53.8% | 1995 | $1,283 | 65.1% | 98.1% | 1.8% |
| Varnum | 2.19 | 55.8 | 9.2% | 4.3% | 26.8% | 2000 | $1,637 | 31.2% | 87.1% | 3.1% |
| Bolivia | 2.42 | 52.2 | 14.1% | 14.2% | 17.4% | 2003 | $1,634 | 26.6% | 91.1% | 6.6% |
| Varnamtown | 2.29 | 60.5 | 4.6% | 4.8% | 21.6% | 1996 | $866 | 28.7% | 92.5% | 4.8% |
| Lennon Crossroads | 2.38 | 59.0 | 8.0% | 12.5% | 17.0% | 2006 | $1,626 | 27.5% | 93.3% | 9.6% |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | 2.16 | 46.1 | 8.4% | 18.6% | 11.7% | 1999 | $1,444 | 23.8% | 94.8% | 3.5% |
| Piney Grove | 2.45 | 37.7 | 18.5% | 26.3% | 8.9% | 1996 | $1,339 | 12.6% | 89.3% | 9.4% |
| Bald Head Island | 1.81 | 67.8 | 4.9% | 1.9% | 90.6% | 2002 | $1,352 | 86.4% | 100.0% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bridgeport, PA · Blauvelt, NY · Bloomingdale, GA · Bluffton, OH · Bogue Chitto, MS · Boiling Spring Lakes, NC · Bolivia, NC · Bolton, CT · Bon Aqua, TN · Bonneau, SC
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 St. James. 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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