1st Advantage MortgageThe median Brunswick County household earns $77,024, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Brunswick County, NC: the basics
- Renting and owning in Brunswick County
- How much Brunswick County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Brunswick County
- The communities that make up Brunswick County
- Brunswick County next to its neighbors
- What a median Brunswick County budget can carry
- Who lives in Brunswick County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Brunswick County
- Steps before you apply in Brunswick County
- Lender oversight for Brunswick County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Brunswick County, NC: the basics
With an estimated 152,568 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Brunswick County ranks 19th of 100 in North Carolina for population. It covers 850 square miles of land, or about 179 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Wilmington, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 19 places in the county (19 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Leland, with about 29,607 residents, or 19% of the county.
Renting and owning in Brunswick County
Renters in Brunswick County pay a median of $1,351 a month, 10% above the North Carolina figure of $1,228. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. Home values center on $349,800, or 4.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 85%.
| Measure | Brunswick County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,351/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $349,800 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.2% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 30% | 13% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How much Brunswick County households make
Brunswick County households have a median income of $77,024 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 16th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Yearly household income | Brunswick County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.4% | -3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.5% | +3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -2.6 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. 9.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.439 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $77,024 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Brunswick County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Brunswick County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Construction stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 2.4% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Where residents work | Brunswick County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +1.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The communities that make up Brunswick County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 19 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Brunswick County residents live in one of the 19. Incomes vary by place: $116,383 at the median in St. James, $53,214 in Northwest. Median rent ranges from $537 in Sunset Beach to $1,973 in Carolina Shores. No Brunswick County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 19.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leland | town | 29,607 | $91,977 | $1,735 | 16 mi |
| Oak Island | town | 9,030 | $85,872 | $1,339 | 11 mi |
| St. James | town | 7,072 | $116,383 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | city | 6,347 | $62,676 | $1,385 | 9 mi |
| Carolina Shores | town | 5,017 | $76,087 | $1,973 | 22 mi |
| Shallotte | town | 4,639 | $88,367 | $1,256 | 10 mi |
| Sunset Beach | town | 4,351 | $81,976 | $537 | 19 mi |
| Southport | city | 4,205 | $87,641 | $1,426 | 15 mi |
| Belville | town | 2,573 | $81,944 | $1,798 | 18 mi |
| Calabash | town | 2,377 | $65,310 | $1,360 | 20 mi |
| Navassa | town | 2,039 | $62,000 | $1,313 | 20 mi |
| Holden Beach | town | 962 | $116,250 | $1,475 | 10 mi |
| Ocean Isle Beach | town | 903 | $96,786 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Northwest | city | 885 | $53,214 | $825 | 20 mi |
Brunswick County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Brunswick County's, from 23 to 64 miles away. Pender County leads the group on income ($80,396), Bladen County trails ($42,422), and Brunswick County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in South Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Brunswick County resident follows North Carolina rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County | - | $77,024 | $1,351/mo | 85% |
| New Hanover County, NC | 23 mi | $75,166 | $1,417/mo | 61% |
| Columbus County, NC | 28 mi | $49,442 | $824/mo | 71% |
| Pender County, NC | 38 mi | $80,396 | $1,106/mo | 83% |
| Bladen County, NC | 42 mi | $42,422 | $773/mo | 69% |
| Horry County, SC | 44 mi | $66,880 | $1,255/mo | 77% |
| Duplin County, NC | 64 mi | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
What a median Brunswick County budget can carry
How much room does a median Brunswick County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,419 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,351, which is 21% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,567 total minus rent leaves $1,216
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Brunswick County, in numbers
College graduates make up 35% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Brunswick County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.4 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.7% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.4% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Brunswick County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Before borrowing in Brunswick County
Where the Brunswick County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Retirees. At a median age of 56.4, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Renters under pressure. When 52% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Steps before you apply in Brunswick County
Steps that save money for Brunswick County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Brunswick County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Brunswick County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Brunswick County, check the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Brunswick County earn?
The median is $77,024; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Brunswick County rent compare with North Carolina?
$1,351 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 10% above.
What are the biggest places in Brunswick County?
By population: Leland, Oak Island, St. James, Boiling Spring Lakes, Carolina Shores. The county has 19 Census places in all.
Will a Brunswick County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming North Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Brunswick County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.