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St. James, NC
Town in Brunswick County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28461.
Population
7,072
Land area
9.1sq mi
People per sq mi
776
ZIP codes
1
St. James and its ZIP codes
St. James at a glance
- St. James is about 3.5 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 133rd among 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- The median household income is $116,383, 61% above the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $636,800 (about 2.2 times the North Carolina figure).
Local data for St. James, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
St. James, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$116,383
Poverty rate
4.3%
Median home value
$636,800
Homeownership
96.4%
Bachelor's or higher
68.3%
Median age
68.0
Average commute
50.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,780), German Americans (1,553), Italian Americans (894).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Brunswick County. PPP loans are for St. James.
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,523
43,201 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,262
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2B
FY 2026, $14,846 per person
How people get to work
St. James, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone39.4%
- Carpooled5.4%
- Public transit13.6%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.9%
- Worked from home39.7%
Average one-way commute: 50.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
St. James, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
526
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
18,204
21.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 36°F
54.6 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in St. James, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
28.8%
U.S. 33.3% -4.5 pts
Diabetes
15.4%
U.S. 12.1% +3.3 pts
Smoking
8.5%
U.S. 12.8% -4.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
4.3%
U.S. 11.1% -6.8 pts
ZIP codes in St. James
1 in or overlapping St. James. Population shown
Cities near St. James
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Oak IslandTown | 2.6 mi | 19.3 |
| Caswell BeachTown | 5 mi | 3 |
| SouthportCity | 6.2 mi | 4.1 |
| VarnamtownTown | 6.5 mi | 0.9 |
| Boiling Spring LakesCity | 7.1 mi | 24.1 |
| BoliviaTown | 8.7 mi | 0.6 |
| Bald Head IslandVillage | 9.2 mi | 3.9 |
| Holden BeachTown | 12 mi | 3 |
| Kure BeachTown | 12 mi | 0.9 |
| Carolina BeachTown | 14 mi | 2.5 |
| Sea BreezeCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 1.9 |
| ShallotteTown | 16 mi | 10 |
| LelandTown | 17 mi | 28.4 |
| Myrtle GroveCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 6.7 |
| Silver LakeCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 2.5 |
| Ocean Isle BeachTown | 18 mi | 3.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is St. James, NC in?
- St. James is in Brunswick County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in St. James, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping St. James include 28461.
- What is the population of St. James, NC?
- About 7,072 people live in St. James, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near St. James?
- Nearby places include Oak Island (2.6 mi), Caswell Beach (5 mi), Southport (6.2 mi), Varnamtown (6.5 mi), Boiling Spring Lakes (7.1 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023