HomeNorth CarolinaPender County
Pender County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Pender County, North Carolina had an estimated 70,077 residents on July 1, 2024, up 16.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 60,211, across 870 square miles. County output reached $2.52 bn in 2024, 1,499 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 58 7(a) approvals worth $41.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Pender County
How many people live in Pender County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202465,550
- Households25,291
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$80,396
- Median age41.6
- Median gross rent$1,106 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$299,000
- Home value to household income3.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher30.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over46,364
- Population under 1814,710
- Share under 1822.4 percent
- Population 65 and over11,932
- Share 65 and over18.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6438,908
- Civilian labor force31,476
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.9 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties42nd of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included837th of 3,222
Pender County is the 42nd largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.7 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.4 percent against 18.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Pender County
Is Pender County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202470,077
- Census 2020 base population60,211
- Population change since the 2020 census base16.39 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,721
- Births, 2024687
- Deaths, 2024752
- Natural change, 2024-65
- Net domestic migration, 20241,599
- Net international migration, 2024188
- Total net migration, 20241,787
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20249,275
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents42nd of 3,144
The county has grown 16.39 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.
Pender County
Where are people moving to Pender County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,979
- People arriving, from those returns6,209
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,909
- Net household movement1,070
- Adjusted gross income arriving$283.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$158.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$95,111
- Average income of a leaving household$65,511
- Largest single originNew Hanover County (790 households)
- Largest single destinationNew Hanover County (464 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover County | 790 | 1,513 | $61.4 m |
| Onslow County | 302 | 606 | $23.9 m |
| Brunswick County | 123 | 234 | $9.7 m |
| Wake County | 112 | 244 | $16.3 m |
| Duplin County | 65 | 129 | $2.8 m |
| San Diego County | 42 | 106 | $5.3 m |
| Suffolk County | 42 | 82 | $3.8 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 40 | 83 | $9.9 m |
Households arriving report $29,600 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.
Pender County
What is the Pender County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.52 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.33 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.1 percent
- GDP change over five years55.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes52nd of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1101st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$38,389
Output grew 8.1 percent in the latest year and 55.7 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.
Pender County
Employment by industry in Pender County
- Covered employment, annual average14,704
- Establishments reporting1,964
- Average annual pay$47,159
- Average weekly wage$907
- Retail trade, employment2,104
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,747
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,946
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,908
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,585
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$49,869
- Construction, employment1,274
- Construction, average annual pay$58,463
- Manufacturing, employment687
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment650
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,104 | 192 | $32,747 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,946 | 142 | $20,908 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,585 | 176 | $49,869 |
| Construction | 1,274 | 312 | $58,463 |
| Manufacturing | 687 | 45 | $53,248 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 650 | 263 | $77,887 |
| Other services, except public administration | 537 | 151 | $35,896 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 497 | 42 | $35,688 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,104 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Pender County
How many businesses are in Pender County?
- Establishments, all industries1,499
- Employment at those establishments11,591
- Annual payroll$451.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.9
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.
Pender County
Building permits in Pender County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024944
- Declared construction value permitted$259.3 m
- Single family units authorized868
- Multifamily units authorized76
- Multifamily share of units8.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$274,649
- Units authorized per 1,000 households37.3
Single-family homes are 91.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Pender County
SBA loans in Pender County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded58
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$41.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$711,181
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,613,520
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)979
- Jobs per approval16.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active26
- Distinct industries receiving approvals37
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer24.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter37
- Franchise loans8
- Franchise share of approvals13.8 percent
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (10)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.0 m
- Average 504 approval$521,000
- Median 504 approval$521,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval1.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved2.9
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$42.3 m
The average approval of $711,181 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 24.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Pender County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Pender County
Do SBA loans in Pender County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full8
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full8
- Status: Exempt from disclosure43
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 8 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.
Pender County
SBA lending by place in Pender County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Hampstead, approvals37
- Burgaw, approvals8
- Surf City, approvals8
- Rocky Point, approvals3
- Holly Ridge, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hampstead | 37 | $22,225,900 |
| Burgaw | 8 | $6,157,500 |
| Surf City | 8 | $4,486,100 |
| Rocky Point | 3 | $5,350,000 |
| Holly Ridge | 2 | $3,029,000 |
Hampstead accounts for 37 approvals against 8 in Burgaw. 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.
Pender County
How large is Pender County?
- Land area870 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties5th of 100
- Width, east to west42.1 mi
- Height, north to south29.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land75
- Establishments per square mile1.72
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.
Pender County
Flood risk in Pender County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Pender County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370344
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate100.0 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 class2
- Radon levels in Pender 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 Pender County (community 370344), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Pender 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. 100.0 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 Pender 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 Pender County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202465,550
- Households25,291
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$80,396
- Median age41.6
Common questions
Pender County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Pender County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 70,077 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 65,550, in 25,291 households, ranking 42nd of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Pender County's population growing?
The population has grown 16.39 percent since the 2020 census base of 60,211, to 70,077 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 687 births against 752 deaths, with net migration of 1,787. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Pender County?
$80,396. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $299,000, which is 3.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,106 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Pender County?
1,499 establishments, employing 11,591 people with an annual payroll of $451.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Pender County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,104 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 14,704 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,159, or $907 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Pender County?
58 7(a) approvals totaling $41.2 m since FY2020, across 26 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $1.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Pender County?
944 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $259.3 m. Multifamily was 8.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Pender 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 Pender County come from?
The largest single origin is New Hanover County, with 790 households. Arriving households report an average income of $95,111 against $65,511 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Pender 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 Pender 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.
Pender County
Cities and places in Pender.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Pender County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampstead | CDP | 9,292 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Surf City | town | 4,396 | 8 | 94.6 percent here, 5.4 percent Onslow County |
| Burgaw | town | 3,850 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Wallace | town | 3,457 | None recorded | 7.5 percent here, 92.5 percent Duplin County |
| Rocky Point | CDP | 1,020 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Helena | village | 544 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Atkinson | town | 485 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Topsail Beach | town | 406 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Watha | town | 271 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Long Creek | CDP | 206 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 58 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Pender County, the largest being Holly Ridge (2). 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.