Surfcitync, 2006
Surf City’s story
77 years in pictures
Census counts: 166 in 1970, 3,867 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1942 on.
- 1949Surf City is settled
Photo: DiscoA340 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
5,142
2025 Census estimate · +32.9% since 2020
Typical home
$626K
+4.1% in a year
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
36.9
years
Jobs based here
2,030
Balanced
TownGrade
C
#154 of 286 in NC
What should you know before moving to Surf City?
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 96% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. Overall it grades C, ranked 154th of 286 in North Carolina. It is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $626K for a typical one and 8.2 times the Wilmington metro’s $76K median household income. Surf City has 1 place on the National Register. 52% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Surf City, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 29% and U.S. towns at 29%. Only 8 of the 234 North Carolina towns we compare have a higher typical home value than Surf City.
What makes Surf City stand out
Where Surf City beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
32 measures vs. North Carolina
15 better16 too close to call1 worse
| Widest gap | Surf City | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.6% | 15.2% |
HealthA
Healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
0historic places
History
Settled in 1949
A long history
A history going back 77 years.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Hurricanes and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
A growing town
Surf City has grown 177% since 2010
1,853 counted in 2010 and 3,867 in 2020; an estimated 5,142 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 32.9% since 2020, after 108.7% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Surf City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Surf City is from typical.
Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingD−Open →HealthNMC Camp Lejeune 18.8 miles awayAOpen →SafetyCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.5 of 20; 2.4% of households have no car; 2.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Jobs & income$81K median household incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 2% conserved landB−Open →HistoryD−Open →Civic life3.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Surf City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Surf City, and how to reach them.
PowerJones-Onslow Elec Member13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Surf City water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
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.govWho runs elections herePender County Board of ElectionsPender County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019
ZIP codes28445, 2844328445 60% · 28443 40%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 Surf City.
Surf City has less food insecurity than most of North Carolina, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of North Carolina (mostly hurricanes) and has homes that cost more against local pay than most of North Carolina.
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, Surf City earns a D−
At 8.2 years of the Wilmington metro’s $76K median household income, the typical home (about $626K) costs more against local pay than in 97% of North Carolina towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.9% across North Carolina.
The median rent in Surf City is $1,707 a month. The typical Surf City home is worth about $626,000, up 4.1% in a year, 89% above the North Carolina typical home.
$626KZillow home value
| Surf City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,707 a month | $1,084 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 67% | 73% |
Typical home value
Surf City$626K
North Carolina$332K
Market temperature
110
days on market
98.8%
sale-to-list price
+4.1%
value change, 1 year
24
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB+
Surf City’s public schools outperform 68% of North Carolina districts
Its public schools are run by the Pender County Schools. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
68%of NC districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surf City ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 857 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Hurricanes leads a very high hazard risk in Surf City
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 90% of North Carolina towns, with expected losses of about $283 per resident a year; that rating is what its D− for hazard risk is built on. 1,490 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 243 properties have flooded more than once.
Since 1983, 1,490 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Surf City.
96risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland flooding
1,490
paid flood claims since 1983
11
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA
For health, Surf City earns an A
Its widest gap with North Carolina is food insecurity: 8.6% of its 2,976 adults worry about having enough food, against 15.2% statewide.
30% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Surf City. Surf City beats the North Carolina average on 15 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 18% of adults get no exercise outside work in Surf City.
87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Surf City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 34% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 24% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 19% | 19% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
15 better16 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Surf City | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.6% | 15.2% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.5% | 13.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.5% | 7.9% |
NMC Camp Lejeune
18.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
84th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyC
Surf City reports more crime per resident than 74% of U.S. towns
Surf City’s violent crime rate is 4.4 per 1,000 residents. Within North Carolina, it does better than 59% of towns. Surf City’s property crime rate is 16.7 per 1,000 residents.
26%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Surf City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.4 per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16.7 per 1,000 residents | 21.8 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Surf City4.4
North Carolina3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Surf City16.7
North Carolina18.2
U.S.15.5
26th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
59th
percentile among NC towns
23
violent crimes reported in 2025
88
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsB−
Surf City has set aside 2.5% of its land for conservation
2.5 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
#120for trails in NC
| Surf City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.5% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
2.5%
conserved · 158 of 6,344 acres
2.5 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Holly Shelter Game Land | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Surf City has mild winters and hot summers
Surf City has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 35° and snow is almost unheard of.
89°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter37–58°
Spring52–73°
Summer71–87°
Fall56–75°
Nov 13
typical first frost
Mar 26
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
A job hub: Surf City has 1.3 jobs for every working resident and draws in 1,842 commuters
Jobs based here grew from 970 in 2013 to 2,030. 26.6% of workers work from home, against 16.3% across North Carolina.
Most working residents leave Surf City for work: only 12% work in town. 5.5% of Surf City residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Surf City grew to 2,030 in 2023, 1,060 more than in 2013.
12%work in town
| Surf City | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 6.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $81,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Surf City12%
Wilmington17%
Hampstead3%
Fayetteville3%
Jacksonville3%
24 mi
median commute distance
2,030
jobs based in Surf City
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 62% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Surf City
19pages on Surf City
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 68% of NC districts · 2 schoolsSafetyC4.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than NC on 15 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$626K typical home · up 4.1% in a yearWork & commuteB$81K median household income · 2,030 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 96% of U.S. communities · hurricanes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Surf City; the nearest are
Miller-Motte College-WilmingtonUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Wilmington24.1 miCoastal Carolina Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Jacksonville24.2 mi$2,512 in-state tuitionUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonUniversity or college · Public · Wilmington24.5 mi$7,277 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Surf City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as North Carolina.
About Surf City
Town in North Carolina, United States
Surf City is a town in Onslow and Pender counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 3,867 at the 2020 census. It is located on Topsail Island. The Pender County portion of Surf City is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Onslow County portion is part of the Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1949
- Area
- 9.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 21 ft
- ZIP code
- 28445, 28443
- Area code
- 910
Surf City’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Surf City.
Topsail BeachNorth Topsail BeachSurf City
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NC rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf City | #154 | C | D− | C | B+ | A |
| Topsail Beach | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| North Topsail Beach | — | — | D | C+ | B− | A |
North Topsail Beach has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Topsail Beach isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Surf City with a neighbor →
Questions about Surf City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Surf City, NC a good place to live?
Surf City grades C overall, better than 29% of U.S. towns and #154 of 286 in North Carolina. It grades A for health, C for safety and B+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Surf City, NC safe?
Within North Carolina, it does better than 59% of towns.
Is Surf City, NC expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.