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Columbus County, NC
14 cities and towns and 13 ZIP codes in Columbus County, North Carolina.
Population
50,140
Land area
938sq mi
People per sq mi
53
ZIP codes
13
Cities and towns in Columbus County
Columbus County at a glance
- Columbus County is 76% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $49,442 a year, 32% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $146,000 (49% below North Carolina) and median rent is $824 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Whiteville (4,696), Tabor City (3,777) and Lake Waccamaw (1,770).
Local data for Columbus County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools22
- Colleges1
- Libraries6
- Banks10
- Post Offices14
- Parks10
- Grocery Stores31
- Restaurants144
- Affordable Housing9
- Home Health Agencies2
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers5
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment1
- Private Schools3
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places5
Housing and community stats
Columbus County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$49,442
Poverty rate
18.2%
Median home value
$146,000
Prices +2.2% in a year
Median rent
$824/mo
Homeownership
71.1%
Bachelor's or higher
14.6%
Median age
42.6
Average commute
29.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (2,268), Mexican Americans (2,203), German Americans (1,455).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.2%
Aug 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,052
14,316 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$48,989
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$411M
FY 2026, $8,113 per person
PPP loans
$44.4M
838 loans, 7,077 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$45.22K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Columbus County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone83.3%
- Carpooled8.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.5%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home5.4%
Average one-way commute: 29.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Columbus County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
530
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
473
2.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 34°F
57.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Columbus County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.1%
U.S. 33.3% +7.8 pts
Diabetes
15.6%
U.S. 12.1% +3.5 pts
Smoking
18.3%
U.S. 12.8% +5.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.3%
U.S. 11.1% +1.2 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Columbus County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Columbus County, NC?
- Whiteville is the largest city or town in Columbus County, with about 4,696 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Columbus County?
- Columbus County includes 13 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28423, 28424, 28430, 28431, 28432.
- What is the population of Columbus County, NC?
- About 50,140 people live in Columbus County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Columbus County?
- Columbus County borders Horry County, SC, Brunswick County, Robeson County, Pender County, Bladen County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023