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Topsail Beach, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Pender County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
444 Population 101/sq mi density
$90,833 Median Income $72,143 per capita
$630,500 Home Value $928,914 Zillow
$1,250 Median Rent 20.0% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 318 sunny days/yr
611 Violent Crime/100K 5,642 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$90,833 median income, 1.0% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.7 / 5.0
$630,500 home value, $1,250/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
611 violent crimes/100K (61% above avg)
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
63.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Topsail Beach enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 318 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

44°F Jan (7°C) 80°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average62.1°F
15% above US avg
January Average44°F (7°C)
July Average80°F (26°C)
Sunny Days318 days/yr

Geography

Elevation-10 ft (-3 m)
Area4.4 sq mi (11.4 km²)
Population Density101/sq mi
Coordinates34.3664°N, 77.6476°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyPender County County
Nearest AirportWilmington International (ILM)
16 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Wettest Month (Jul) 7.76"
Driest Month (Oct) 2.99"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score86.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability34.2 / 100
Community Resilience65.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively High
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

2 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M2.9 on Feb 11, 2014.

Aug 6, 1994 4 km SSW of Bayboro, North Carolina M3.6 114 km
Feb 11, 2014 7 km NW of Hobucken, North Carolina M2.9 139 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

26 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 186 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 94 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 75 km
2018 Florence Category 3 15 km
2016 Matthew Category 2 61 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 52 km
2011 Irene Category 1 92 km
2010 Earl Category 3 290 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 51 km
2004 Alex Category 2 110 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 236 km
2004 Charley Category 1 116 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 140 km
1999 Irene Category 2 110 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 16 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 136 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 6 km
1996 Fran Category 3 57 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 16 km
1994 Gordon Category 1 188 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

354 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 23 fatalities, 744 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 94 km 3
Feb 15, 2021 EF3 94 km 3
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 48 km 0
Nov 16, 2006 EF3 55 km 8
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 96 km 0
Mar 17, 1965 EF3 81 km 2
Apr 8, 1957 EF3 65 km 0
Oct 9, 1950 EF3 90 km 0
Aug 7, 2024 EF2 58 km 0
Aug 3, 2020 EF2 65 km 0
Sep 5, 2019 EF2 94 km 0
Sep 5, 2019 EF2 63 km 0
Nov 24, 2018 EF2 75 km 0
Sep 8, 2014 EF2 56 km 0
Nov 26, 2013 EF2 88 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 70 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 87 km 0
Apr 6, 2009 EF2 87 km 0
Mar 28, 2009 EF2 96 km 0
May 11, 2008 EF2 67 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (77,768 ac, 1986).

Year Name Acres Distance
1986 UNNAMED 77,768 14 km
2011 JUNIPER ROAD 31,511 18 km
1994 FISH DAY 21,772 83 km
1994 UNNAMED 7,944 43 km
1985 UNNAMED 5,807 75 km
2009 CAROLINA BAY 3,056 78 km
1985 UNNAMED 2,970 23 km
1992 GREAT LAKE 2,843 75 km
2020 CRO BRIERY BRANCH C-5/6 RX 2,783 87 km
1986 UNNAMED 2,642 93 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,462 88 km
2020 TRAM ROAD/GRASSY ROAD 2,076 12 km
1993 UNNAMED 2,073 64 km
2006 UNNAMED 2,027 75 km
1986 UNNAMED 2,024 17 km
2013 WOODPECKER FIRE 2,015 71 km
2010 BURNCOMP27 1,894 70 km
2020 CRO PETTIFORD CREEK - C-29/30/31 RX 1,878 70 km
2020 CRO HUNTERS CREEK C-37 RX 1,616 71 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,602 67 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 44°F (7°C) 4.3 in Coldest
February 47°F (8°C) 3.9 in
March 54°F (12°C) 4.1 in
April 62°F (17°C) 3.0 in
May 69°F (21°C) 4.3 in
June 76°F (24°C) 5.4 in
July 80°F (26°C) 7.8 in Warmest, Wettest
August 78°F (26°C) 6.8 in
September 74°F (23°C) 5.6 in
October 64°F (18°C) 3.0 in Driest
November 55°F (13°C) 3.2 in
December 48°F (9°C) 3.7 in

Topsail Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 44°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 55.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (7.8") and October the driest (3.0").

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