Surf City: Demographics & People
About 4,396 people live in Surf City, in 1,784 households. Population grew 5.7% from 4,160 (2022) to 4,396 (2024). Median age 36.9 years. (4.7y younger than Pender County; 0.7y older than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 87% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.20). 65% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,566 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 32% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs North Carolina avg 2.5).
- 35% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs North Carolina 42%).
- 65 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs North Carolina 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 5.7% from 4,160 (2022) to 4,396 (2024) — about 9.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~4,648 (extrapolated at 2.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 4,999.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 204,576 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 5.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 4,160 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 4,396 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 4,396 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Population Estimate | 4,999 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 36.9y is 2.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 36.9 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 4,396 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 961 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 922.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,749.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 764 |
| Population under 18 | 961 |
| Median age | 36.9 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 4,396 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.20 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 3,751 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 182 |
| Asian residents | 25 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 238 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 19.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 89.4% |
| Asian population | 0.5% (vs North Carolina 3.2%) |
| Black population | 4.3% (vs North Carolina 26.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 5.6% (vs North Carolina 12.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 86.9% (vs North Carolina 51.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 3% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,692 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,534 |
| Share born in this state | 38.5% |
| Share born in another state | 61.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 57.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 96 |
| From Europe | 35 |
| From Africa | 5 |
Households & Family Composition
1,784 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 65% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,042 families, 33% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 976 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,042 |
| Married couples with children | 348 |
| Single-parent households | 5 |
| Average household size | 2.52 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 13.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 43 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 25 |
| Family households | 1,162 households (vs North Carolina 17,226) |
| Households that are families | 65.1% (vs North Carolina 58.5%) |
| Total households | 1,784 households (vs North Carolina 25,235) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 21.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,566 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 21.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 214,293 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 212,727 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,566 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 188 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.0% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | NC-07 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37133 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 133 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Onslow |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 39.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 36.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 42.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37133 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Onslow County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 4,036 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37133 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Onslow County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 80.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 63.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 24.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 197,938 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 4,396, booming, family-oriented, upper-middle, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 4,396 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Town Summary · County | Onslow County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade