Population 5,382 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Surf City
Household size in Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.12 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.42 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Surf City has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.12 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.1 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Surf City skews older than the country: its median age is 44.1, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 46.1, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the east.
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 Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.2% of households in Surf City, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have 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 Surf City
Renters in Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Surf City is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a third of owners (33.3%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the east.
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 Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 45.5% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Surf City: 36.9% 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 7.7 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 Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1994 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1997 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2003 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +7 | +6 |
Surf City has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2003, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the east. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 26 have 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 Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $955 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,031 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,081 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,605 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$649 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Surf City costs $1,605 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in North Carolina as a whole ($1,317). Rents are up $649 a month from 2006–10, a 68% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Surf City
Bachelor's degrees in Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.1% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.8% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.6 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Surf City (42.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.6 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
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 Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.8% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Surf City: 95.4% 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 risen 9.4 points, in line with the national trend. Surf City has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
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 Surf City
| Period | Surf City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Surf City has been low: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.2 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Surf City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf City | 2.54 | 44.1 | 4.2% | 19.2% | 36.9% | 2003 | $1,605 | 42.8% | 95.4% | 2.6% |
| Woodside | 2.57 | 38.7 | 13.0% | 33.1% | 8.4% | 2004 | $1,174 | 36.1% | 91.6% | 6.8% |
| Topsail Beach | 1.93 | 62.4 | 0.8% | 10.2% | 77.0% | 1993 | $2,140 | 55.8% | 96.4% | 0.9% |
| Holly Ridge | 2.50 | 37.6 | 3.9% | 15.7% | 18.4% | 2012 | $1,730 | 42.6% | 94.3% | 1.5% |
| Hampstead | 2.70 | 40.4 | 9.2% | 19.0% | 11.5% | 2003 | $1,893 | 42.2% | 95.1% | 5.0% |
| Thomas Landing | 2.50 | 38.5 | 12.2% | 15.5% | 16.8% | 2010 | $1,772 | 36.9% | 99.1% | 0.9% |
| Folkstone | 2.30 | 31.2 | 3.3% | 42.5% | 3.2% | 2012 | $1,601 | 23.4% | 93.8% | 3.9% |
| North Topsail Beach | 2.02 | 58.6 | 5.7% | 9.1% | 80.9% | 1991 | $1,610 | 51.9% | 97.2% | 2.0% |
| Sneads Ferry | 2.24 | 33.5 | 5.7% | 23.2% | 14.8% | 2004 | $1,500 | 30.5% | 96.2% | 1.1% |
| Fulcher Landing | 2.94 | 23.3 | 7.0% | 34.8% | 9.2% | 1989 | $1,557 | 18.1% | 98.0% | 0.0% |
| Stag Park | 2.54 | 46.3 | 8.6% | 8.8% | 10.7% | 1997 | $854 | 22.6% | 91.1% | 7.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Albany, OH · Baker, FL · Coleman, TX · Plainview, MN · Amberley, OH · Paige, TX · Pittsfield, NH · Alanson, MI · Alamo, GA · Ainaloa, HI
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 Surf City. 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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