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Pender County, NC
9 cities and towns and 6 ZIP codes in Pender County, North Carolina.
Population
65,550
Land area
871sq mi
People per sq mi
75
ZIP codes
6
Cities and towns in Pender County
Pender County at a glance
- Pender County is 66% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $80,396, 11% above the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $299,000 (3% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,106 a month.
- Its largest cities are Hampstead (9,292), Surf City (4,396) and Burgaw (3,850).
Local data for Pender County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Pender County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$80,396
Poverty rate
9.7%
Median home value
$299,000
Prices +0.3% in a year
Median rent
$1,106/mo
Homeownership
82.7%
Bachelor's or higher
30.6%
Median age
41.6
Average commute
30.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (7,119), Irish Americans (6,920), Mexican Americans (3,899).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Sep 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,002
16,071 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$56,586
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$503M
FY 2026, $8,354 per person
PPP loans
$47.7M
1,021 loans, 6,498 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$197K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Pender County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone74.3%
- Carpooled11.3%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked0.7%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home13.2%
Average one-way commute: 30.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Pender County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
439
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
4,933
16.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 32°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone8 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Pender County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.3%
U.S. 33.3% +3.0 pts
Diabetes
11.8%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
14.3%
U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.6%
U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Pender County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Pender County, NC?
- Hampstead is the largest city or town in Pender County, with about 9,292 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Pender County?
- Pender County includes 6 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28421, 28425, 28435, 28443, 28457.
- What is the population of Pender County, NC?
- About 65,550 people live in Pender County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Pender County?
- Pender County borders New Hanover County, Onslow County, Brunswick County, Sampson County, Columbus County, Duplin County, Bladen County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023