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Surf City, NC
Town in Pender County, North Carolina.
Population
4,396
Land area
7.7sq mi
People per sq mi
572
ZIP codes
0
Surf City and its ZIP codes
Surf City at a glance
- Surf City is about 2.6 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $81,433, 12% above the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $512,300 (77% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,707 a month.
Local data for Surf City, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Surf City, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$81,433
Poverty rate
5.5%
Median home value
$512,300
Median rent
$1,707/mo
Homeownership
73.9%
Bachelor's or higher
51.6%
Median age
36.9
Average commute
23.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (669), Irish Americans (511), Italian Americans (287).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Pender County. PPP loans are for Surf City.
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
How people get to work
Surf City, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone65.7%
- Carpooled5.7%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.7%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home26.6%
Average one-way commute: 23.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Surf City, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
439
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
4,933
16.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 34°F
Health statistics
Share of adults in Surf City, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.1%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
9.7%
U.S. 12.1% -2.4 pts
Smoking
11.8%
U.S. 12.8% -1.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.0%
U.S. 11.1% -4.1 pts
Crime in Surf City
Surf City Police Department, reported to the FBI for 2025
- Violent crime
- 436
- per 100,000 people · 131% of the NC rate
- Property crime
- 1,669
- per 100,000 people · 92% of the NC rate
Cities near Surf City
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Topsail BeachTown | 4.5 mi | 4.4 |
| Holly RidgeTown | 7.9 mi | 4.2 |
| North Topsail BeachTown | 9.4 mi | 6.2 |
| HampsteadCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 20.2 |
| Sneads FerryCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 3.8 |
| Porters NeckCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 5.4 |
| BayshoreCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 2.4 |
| OgdenCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 4.5 |
| MurraysvilleCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 8.6 |
| Rocky PointCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 6.9 |
| NorthchaseCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 1.7 |
| Wrightsville BeachTown | 20 mi | 1.4 |
| Castle HayneCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 4.8 |
| Kings GrantCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 4.5 |
| Blue Clay FarmsCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 2.4 |
| St. HelenaVillage | 21 mi | 5.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Surf City, NC in?
- Surf City is in Pender County, North Carolina.
- What is the population of Surf City, NC?
- About 4,396 people live in Surf City, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Surf City?
- Nearby places include Topsail Beach (4.5 mi), Holly Ridge (7.9 mi), North Topsail Beach (9.4 mi), Hampstead (11 mi), Sneads Ferry (14 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023