Median Income
$78,287
household / year
Median Home Value
$343,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,554
gross / month
Cost of Living
100
national avg = 100

Is Southport, NC a Good Place to Live?

Southport is a small town of 4,015 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $78,287 and a 0.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% above the national average.

Strengths: Southport stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Southport is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Southport 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: 100.1

Southport's overall cost of living index is 100.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Southport costs roughly 0% more than the average American city.

Metric Southport, NC National Avg
Median Home Value $343,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,554 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 78.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $78,287 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Southport's violent crime rate is 89.0 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
89.0 /100k
Property Crime
1068.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Southport is served primarily by Brunswick County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Southport, NC National Avg
School District Brunswick County Schools —
Elementary Schools 10 —
Middle Schools 5 —
High Schools 5 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 15.3:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Southport sees average highs of 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 54.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.9 inches of snow per year.

MetricSouthport, NC
Average High — January60.0°F
Average High — July91.6°F
Annual Precipitation54.6"
Annual Snowfall0.9"

Demographics

MetricSouthport, NCNational Avg
Population4,015—
Median Age61.438.9
Unemployment Rate0.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)85.5%59.3%
Black or African American11.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.8%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1813.5%22.2%
65 and over41.6%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Caswell Beach, NC 3 mi Bald Head Island, NC 5 mi St. James, NC 6 mi Oak Island, NC 7 mi Kure Beach, NC 7 mi

Southport vs Other Cities

Southport, NC vs Caswell Beach, NC Southport, NC vs Bald Head Island, NC Southport, NC vs St. James, NC Southport, NC vs Oak Island, NC Southport, NC vs Kure Beach, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Southport's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That puts Southport roughly 0% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $343,600 and median rent is $1,554/month.
Southport's violent crime rate is 89.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1068.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Southport are operated by Brunswick County Schools. The district has 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 33.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Southport, NC has a population of 4,015, a median household income of $78,287, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Southport averages 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.6 inches with about 0.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Southport, North Carolina is 4,015 with a median age of 61.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Southport: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $343,600, median household income $78,287, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Southport side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.