1st Advantage MortgageAbout 83% of Pender County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $80,396. 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
- Pender County, NC: the basics
- The Pender County job picture
- Household income in Pender County
- Housing costs in Pender County
- Regional comparison for Pender County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Pender County
- Pender County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Pender County borrowers
- A Pender County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- A Pender County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Pender County
- Frequently asked questions
Pender County, NC: the basics
With an estimated 65,550 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Pender County ranks 42nd of 100 in North Carolina for population. Packed into 871 square miles, that is close to 75 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Wilmington, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (6 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Hampstead, with about 9,292 residents, or 14% of the county.
The Pender County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Construction stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Pender County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 11.7% | +4.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -4.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Household income in Pender County
The median household income in Pender County is $80,396; statewide it is $72,388, so Pender County runs 11% above North Carolina as a whole.
| Households earning | Pender County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.8% | -3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.0% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.1% | +6.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.0% | -1.3 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. Census counts 9.7% of Pender County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.432 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Pender County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,106 in Pender County versus $1,228 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $299,000, a typical Pender County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 83% of homes. Median construction year: 1998.
| Pender County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,106/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $299,000 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.1% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 13% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Pender County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Regional comparison for Pender County
New Hanover County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Sampson County, is 43 miles off. Income ranges from $42,422 in Bladen County to $77,024 in Brunswick County; none of these neighbors top Pender County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pender County | - | $80,396 | $1,106/mo | 83% |
| New Hanover County, NC | 23 mi | $75,166 | $1,417/mo | 61% |
| Onslow County, NC | 28 mi | $68,148 | $1,265/mo | 64% |
| Duplin County, NC | 29 mi | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
| Bladen County, NC | 37 mi | $42,422 | $773/mo | 69% |
| Brunswick County, NC | 38 mi | $77,024 | $1,351/mo | 85% |
| Sampson County, NC | 43 mi | $52,432 | $834/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Pender County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 31% of Pender County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $91,745 at the median in Hampstead, $67,853 in Burgaw. No Pender County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampstead | CDP | 9,292 | $91,745 | $1,216 | 13 mi |
| Surf City | town | 4,396 | $81,433 | $1,707 | 21 mi |
| Burgaw | town | 3,850 | $67,853 | $943 | 3 mi |
| Rocky Point | CDP | 1,020 | $69,514 | $971 | 5 mi |
| St. Helena | village | 544 | $75,313 | $1,696 | 2 mi |
| Atkinson | town | 485 | $59,886 | $1,500 | 16 mi |
| Topsail Beach | town | 406 | $93,250 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Watha | town | 271 | $48,125 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Long Creek | CDP | 206 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Pender County households compared
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.8%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| People and households | Pender County | North Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.6% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pender County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
What the numbers mean for Pender County borrowers
A few patterns in the Pender County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 40% of Pender County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Pender County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Pender County household budget, worked through
Here is the Pender County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,700 a month: gross income for a household at the Pender County median
- Less median rent of $1,106, which is 17% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,775 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Pender County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Pender County borrowers answers to the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Pender County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Pender County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A North Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Pender County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Pender County earn?
The median is $80,396; 40% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Pender County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,106 against $1,228 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Pender County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Hampstead, Surf City, Burgaw, Rocky Point, St. Helena.
Is the fit check different in Pender County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Pender County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.