At a Glance
Median Income
$84,833
$47,445 per capita
Home Value
$478,600
Zillow: $638,491
Median Rent
$1,421/mo
32.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
50.8%
97.6% high school+
Unemployment
1.7%
5.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
32.2%
11.6% smoking rate
How Surf City Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Surf City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Surf City a Good Place to Live?
A
4.4 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Surf City residents earn a median household income of $84,833 , which is 13% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $47,445. The unemployment rate stands at 1.7% (53% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,964 business establishments, including 127 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Surf City is $478,600 , 70% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $638,491. Median rent is $1,421/month, with 32.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 2001.
Education
50.8% of adults in Surf City hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(51% above the national average).
97.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Surf City has an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C).
Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 56.5 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population4,160
Median Age39.8 yrs
Density541/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born3.4%
Veterans9.8%
Economy
A+
Median Income$84,833
Per Capita$47,445
Unemployment1.7%
Poverty5.1%
County GDP$2,516M
Avg Weekly Wage$907
Housing
B
Home Value$478,600
Rent$1,421
Ownership76.5%
Zillow$638,491
Housing Units4,257
Rent Burden32.0%
Health
Obesity32.2%
Diabetes7.8%
Smoking11.6%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death9,267/100K
Climate
Avg Temp62°F
Rain56.5 in/yr
Elevation-10 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+50.8%
High School+97.6%
Graduate+21.5%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 67% / D 32%
Commute23 min
Broadband95.9%
Internet Speed102 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries2
Did You Know?
Surf City was founded in 1949.
The median home in Surf City was built in 2001.
25.0% work from home.
The nearest airport is Wilmington International (24 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.436 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
7.9% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 102 Mbps.
There are 127 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 12 fatal vehicle crashes.