What are the schools like in Southern Pines, NC?

Southern Pines is served primarily by Moore Montessori Community School. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Southern Pines?

The median household income in Southern Pines, NC is $81,867 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Southern Pines, NC?

Southern Pines has an average high temperature of 52.6°F in January and 90.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.3 inches.

Southern Pines, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Southern Pines, NC affordable or expensive?

Southern Pines's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Southern Pines is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $378,000 and the median rent is $1,201 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Southern Pines, NC?

Southern Pines has a violent crime rate of 368.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2030.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Southern Pines, NC a Good Place to Live?

Southern Pines is a small city of 15,701 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $81,867 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Southern Pines stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Southern Pines is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Southern Pines city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.6

Southern Pines's overall cost of living index is 98.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Southern Pines costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Southern Pines, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$378,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,201	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$81,867	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Southern Pines's violent crime rate is 368.6 per 100,000 residents — 3% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

368.6 /100k

Property Crime

2030.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Southern Pines is served primarily by Moore Montessori Community School. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Southern Pines, NC	National Avg
School District	Moore Montessori Community School	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	53.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Southern Pines sees average highs of 52.6°F in January and 90.3°F in July, with 49.6 inches of annual precipitation and 1.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Southern Pines, NC
Average High — January	52.6°F
Average High — July	90.3°F
Annual Precipitation	49.6"
Annual Snowfall	1.3"

Demographics

Metric	Southern Pines, NC	National Avg
Population	15,701	—
Median Age	38.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	13.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.7%	18.9%
Asian	3.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.0%	22.2%
65 and over	25.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pinehurst, NC 4 mi Whispering Pines, NC 4 mi Aberdeen, NC 4 mi Taylortown, NC 6 mi Ashley Heights, NC 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Southern Pines

Southern Pines, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28387

Southern Pines vs Other Cities

Southern Pines, NC vs Pinehurst, NC Southern Pines, NC vs Whispering Pines, NC Southern Pines, NC vs Aberdeen, NC Southern Pines, NC vs Taylortown, NC Southern Pines, NC vs Ashley Heights, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Southern Pines, NC affordable or expensive?

Southern Pines's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Southern Pines roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $378,000 and median rent is $1,201/month.

What is the crime rate in Southern Pines, NC?

Southern Pines's violent crime rate is 368.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2030.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Southern Pines?

Public schools in Southern Pines are operated by Moore Montessori Community School. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 53.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Southern Pines, NC a good place to live?

Southern Pines, NC has a population of 15,701, a median household income of $81,867, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Southern Pines?

Southern Pines averages 52.6°F in January and 90.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.6 inches with about 1.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Southern Pines?

Southern Pines, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28387.

What is the population of Southern Pines?

The population of Southern Pines, North Carolina is 15,701 with a median age of 38.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Southern Pines?

Key numbers for living in Southern Pines: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $378,000, median household income $81,867, crime index 97 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Southern Pines side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.