HomeNorth CarolinaBrunswick County
Brunswick County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Brunswick County, North Carolina had an estimated 167,112 residents on July 1, 2024, up 22.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 136,689, across 847 square miles. County output reached $8.08 bn in 2024, 3,093 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 115 7(a) approvals worth $81.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Brunswick County
How many people live in Brunswick County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024152,568
- Households69,124
- Average household size2.21
- Median household income$77,024
- Median age56.4
- Median gross rent$1,351 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$349,800
- Home value to household income4.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over123,153
- Population under 1821,421
- Share under 1814.0 percent
- Population 65 and over51,604
- Share 65 and over33.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6479,543
- Civilian labor force65,528
- Unemployment rate4.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over50.0 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties19th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included456th of 3,222
Brunswick County is the 19th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 4.5 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 33.8 percent against 14.0 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Brunswick County
Is Brunswick County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024167,112
- Census 2020 base population136,689
- Population change since the 2020 census base22.26 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20247,257
- Births, 20241,158
- Deaths, 20242,008
- Natural change, 2024-850
- Net domestic migration, 20248,011
- Net international migration, 202454
- Total net migration, 20248,065
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202431,869
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents11th of 3,144
The county has grown 22.26 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Brunswick County
Where are people moving to Brunswick County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving8,063
- People arriving, from those returns14,104
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,311
- Net household movement3,752
- Adjusted gross income arriving$882.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$487.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$109,448
- Average income of a leaving household$91,635
- Largest single originNew Hanover County (1,182 households)
- Largest single destinationNew Hanover County (650 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover County | 1,182 | 1,984 | $70.3 m |
| Wake County | 377 | 644 | $48.0 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 243 | 404 | $31.1 m |
| Horry County | 228 | 367 | $12.2 m |
| Guilford County | 130 | 219 | $15.6 m |
| Suffolk County | 118 | 195 | $13.2 m |
| Pender County | 109 | 175 | $6.6 m |
| Cumberland County | 105 | 200 | $7.3 m |
Households arriving report $17,813 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is New Hanover County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Brunswick County
What is the Brunswick County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$8.08 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.78 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years41.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes19th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes522nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$52,969
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 41.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Brunswick County
Employment by industry in Brunswick County
- Covered employment, annual average41,268
- Establishments reporting4,448
- Average annual pay$51,701
- Average weekly wage$994
- Retail trade, employment6,624
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,812
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,289
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,227
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,901
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$60,594
- Construction, employment3,150
- Construction, average annual pay$64,079
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,005
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment1,844
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 6,624 | 526 | $32,812 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,289 | 386 | $25,227 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,901 | 363 | $60,594 |
| Construction | 3,150 | 631 | $64,079 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,005 | 369 | $45,808 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 1,844 | 86 | $29,674 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,634 | 620 | $97,379 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,058 | 297 | $41,960 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 6,624 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Brunswick County
How many businesses are in Brunswick County?
- Establishments, all industries3,093
- Employment at those establishments33,646
- Annual payroll$1.48 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Brunswick County
Building permits in Brunswick County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20246,093
- Declared construction value permitted$1.46 bn
- Single family units authorized5,099
- Multifamily units authorized994
- Multifamily share of units16.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$239,619
- Units authorized per 1,000 households88.1
Single-family homes are 83.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Brunswick County
SBA loans in Brunswick County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded115
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$81.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$711,383
- Median 7(a) approval$323,900
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,990,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,096
- Jobs per approval9.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active41
- Distinct industries receiving approvals65
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer30.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms35
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter70
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals10.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (17)
- Most active lenderReadycap Lending, LLC (9)
- 504 approvals recorded17
- 504 gross approval dollars$13.1 m
- Average 504 approval$769,235
- Median 504 approval$538,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval13.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.1
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (13)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$94.9 m
The average approval of $711,383 sits well above the median of $323,900, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 30.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brunswick County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Brunswick County
Do SBA loans in Brunswick County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded20
- Paid in full19
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure75
- Status: Paid in full19
- Status: Cancelled12
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed8
Only 20 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brunswick County
SBA lending by place in Brunswick County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending17
- Leland, approvals30
- Southport, approvals17
- Supply, approvals16
- Ocean Isle Beach, approvals9
- Bolivia, approvals9
- Oak Island, approvals8
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Leland | 30 | $30,846,000 |
| Southport | 17 | $9,374,200 |
| Supply | 16 | $11,161,800 |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 9 | $4,509,500 |
| Bolivia | 9 | $2,102,900 |
| Oak Island | 8 | $3,199,300 |
| Shallotte | 4 | $8,114,000 |
| Sunset Beach | 4 | $2,893,000 |
| 9 other borrower cities | 18 | $9,608,400 |
Leland accounts for 30 approvals against 17 in Southport. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Brunswick County
How large is Brunswick County?
- Land area847 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties6th of 100
- Width, east to west40.9 mi
- Height, north to south35.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land180
- Establishments per square mile3.65
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Brunswick County
Flood risk in Brunswick County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Brunswick County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370295
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book20
- Of those, participating in the NFIP19
- NFIP participation rate95.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class11
- Radon levels in Brunswick County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Brunswick County (community 370295), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Brunswick County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 95.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Brunswick County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Brunswick County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024152,568
- Households69,124
- Average household size2.21
- Median household income$77,024
- Median age56.4
Common questions
Brunswick County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Brunswick County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 167,112 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 152,568, in 69,124 households, ranking 19th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Brunswick County's population growing?
The population has grown 22.26 percent since the 2020 census base of 136,689, to 167,112 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,158 births against 2,008 deaths, with net migration of 8,065. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Brunswick County?
$77,024. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $349,800, which is 4.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,351 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Brunswick County?
3,093 establishments, employing 33,646 people with an annual payroll of $1.48 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Brunswick County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 6,624 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 41,268 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,701, or $994 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Brunswick County?
115 7(a) approvals totaling $81.8 m since FY2020, across 41 lenders, with a median approval of $323,900, plus 17 504 approvals worth $13.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Brunswick County?
6,093 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.46 bn. Multifamily was 16.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Brunswick County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Brunswick County come from?
The largest single origin is New Hanover County, with 1,182 households. Arriving households report an average income of $109,448 against $91,635 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Brunswick County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Brunswick County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Brunswick County
Cities and places in Brunswick.
19 Census places lie wholly or partly in Brunswick County. All 19 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leland | town | 29,607 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Oak Island | town | 9,030 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| St. James | town | 7,072 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | city | 6,347 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Carolina Shores | town | 5,017 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shallotte | town | 4,639 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Sunset Beach | town | 4,351 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Southport | city | 4,205 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Belville | town | 2,573 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Calabash | town | 2,377 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Navassa | town | 2,039 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Holden Beach | town | 962 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Ocean Isle Beach | town | 903 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Northwest | city | 885 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Varnamtown | town | 782 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Caswell Beach | town | 491 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sandy Creek | town | 300 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bolivia | town | 247 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Bald Head Island | village | 190 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
A further 23 of the county's 115 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Brunswick County, the largest being Supply (16), Winnabow (4), Hampstead (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.