North Carolina›Columbus County

BoltonNC

A town of 448, settled in 1866.

Population

448

2025 Census estimate · −1.8% since 2020

Is Bolton a good place to live?

25% of residents live below the poverty line in Bolton, above both the North Carolina town median (13%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 2 of the 291 North Carolina towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Bolton. Bolton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

448 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

East Arcadia · 6 mi Lake Waccamaw · 6 mi Sandyfield · 7 mi Sandy Creek · 14 mi Northwest · 15 mi Whiteville · 17 mi

Getting set up

Moving to Bolton: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Bolton, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerDuke Energy15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterTown of Bolton water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet4 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bolton’s trash rules yet

SchoolsColumbus County SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereColumbus County Board of ElectionsColumbus County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019

ZIP code2842328423 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Bolton.

Natural hazards

Very high risk in Bolton, with hurricanes at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 92% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Bolton since 2020.

92risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

HurricanesInland floodingStrong wind

paid flood claims since 2020

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageBolton’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery high risk Flood claims1 paid flood claims · Since 2020 Past disasters6 federal disasters · Paid out in Bolton Get ready0.3 events a year, on average · Ready for hurricanes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Housing

Bolton’s typical home value is about $186K

The typical Bolton home is worth about $186,000, up 5.3% in a year, 44% below the North Carolina typical home. 82% of Bolton households own their home, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 67% and U.S. towns at 73%.

$186KZillow home value

Typical home value

Bolton$186K

North Carolina$332K

+5.3%

value change, 1 year

Full pageBolton’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 5.3% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.8 years of income RentsRents

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Work & commute

With 0.1 jobs for every working resident, most of Bolton’s workers commute out

Most working residents leave Bolton for work: only 2% work in town. Bolton’s average trip to work is 32 minutes. The top destinations are Wilmington (18%), Riegelwood (7%) and Whiteville (6%).

2%work in town

	Bolton	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Average trip to work	32 minutes	24 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$48,000	$69,000	$80,000
Working residents who work in town	1.8%	6.8%	8%

Where working residents work

In Bolton2%

Wilmington18%

Riegelwood7%

Whiteville6%

Fayetteville3%

28 mi

median commute distance

jobs based in Bolton

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageBolton’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here22 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work2% work in Bolton Commute times32 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 28 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

Bolton has mild winters and hot summers

Bolton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Bolton is 90°F.

90°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter35–58°

Spring50–74°

Summer69–89°

Fall53–75°

Nov 11

typical first frost

Mar 26

typical last frost

+1.0°

vs. the 20th-century average

90°

typical summer high

Full pageBolton’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 90°, January lows 34°Rain & snow54″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingBoth heating and cooling Then and now+1.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Compared with most of North Carolina and the rest of the country, more of Bolton’s adults have high blood pressure

51% of Bolton adults have high blood pressure. Among 290 North Carolina towns, just 7 have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Bolton. 20% of Bolton adults have diabetes.