How many renters in Surf City, NC pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Surf City, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

61.0% (±28.0 points) of renting households in Surf City, NC spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

22.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 31.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 61.0% (±28.0 points)
Paying 35% or more: 22.7% (±16.6 points)
Median share of income: 31.4% (±2.2 points)

Rent as a share of income in Surf City

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Surf City	Pender County	North Carolina	United States
Less than 15%	4.3% (±3.6 points)	15.2%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	3.9% (±4.6 points)	10.4%	12.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	22.9% (±18.7 points)	16.4%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	8.0% (±9.7 points)	7.8%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	38.3% (±22.6 points)	8.6%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	22.7% (±16.6 points)	41.6%	39.6%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Surf City against Pender County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Surf City	Pender County	North Carolina	United States
Paying 30% or more	61.0% (±28.0 points)	50.2% (±9.5 points)	48.9% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	22.7% (±16.6 points)	41.6% (±7.8 points)	39.6% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	31.4% (±2.2 points)	30.1% (±4.6 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$64,931 (±$22,591)	$48,925 (±$9,923)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,707 (±$691)	$1,106 (±$105)	$1,228 (±$5)	$1,413

In Surf City, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Pender County (50.2%).

It is not measurably different from North Carolina (48.9%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Pender County, Surf City ranks 4 of 8 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 175 of 650.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Surf City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Surf City
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Surf City	—	61.0% (±28.0 points)	—
Holly Ridge	4.2 mi	21.1% (±36.2 points)	Not measurably different
North Topsail Beach	6.6 mi	39.1% (±77.8 points)	Not measurably different
Topsail Beach	8.1 mi	0.0% (±141.4 points)	Not measurably different
Sneads Ferry	12 mi	31.3% (±23.1 points)	Not measurably different
Hampstead	14 mi	34.5% (±18.4 points)	Not measurably different
Porters Neck	17 mi	49.3% (±19.9 points)	Not measurably different
Bayshore	18 mi	43.2% (±37.3 points)	Not measurably different
Ogden	19 mi	71.9% (±38.9 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Pender County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1 (tie)	St. Helena	100.0% (±28.4 points)
1 (tie)	Watha	100.0% (±141.4 points)
3	Atkinson	66.7% (±113.9 points)
4	Surf City	61.0% (±28.0 points)
5	Burgaw	48.7% (±22.0 points)
6	Hampstead	34.5% (±18.4 points)
7	Rocky Point	6.9% (±45.9 points)
8	Topsail Beach	0.0% (±141.4 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Surf City

Are renters in Surf City rent-burdened?

61.0% of renting households in Surf City pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Surf City spend on rent?

The median renting household in Surf City, NC spends 31.4% (±2.2 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Surf City town, North Carolina (place:66040, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.