Surf City: Economy & Jobs
Surf City reports a median household income of $81,433 (about the same as Pender County median $80,396; 1.1× higher than North Carolina median $72,388), with homes at a median value of $512,300. The surrounding county supports 54,121 jobs (avg $46,885).
- $58,912 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income (vs North Carolina $84,123).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $81,433 — near the North Carolina median ($79,112). Poverty rate 5.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 23% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 6.3× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | expensive |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 22.7% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 5.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 4.0% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $85,940 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $5,062,903 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $58,912 (vs North Carolina $84,123) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $96,668 |
| Median Household Income | $81,433 (vs North Carolina $79,112) |
| Poverty Rate | 5.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $81,433 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.7% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 27% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 23.30 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 26.6% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 54,121 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $2,537,449,475 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $46,885 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 4,795,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.7% (vs North Carolina 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 342 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 377 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 1.10 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Sod, Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Hogs, Crop Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 3,070 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 37,904 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,341,264 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 24 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 67 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 40 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 15 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 6 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 118 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 169 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 29 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 33 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (10)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | SURF CITY CRAB INC |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 5 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | GREATER TOPSAIL AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $2,226,206,437 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 10,882.05 (vs North Carolina $7,140) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 204,576 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 65.7% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 1.7% |
| Pct Walked | 26.6% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 36.9 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 27.0% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 3 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12