What are the schools like in Surf City, NC?

Surf City is served primarily by Onslow County Schools. The district operates 22 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 8 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Surf City?

The median household income in Surf City, NC is $85,714 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Surf City, NC?

Surf City has an average high temperature of 54.8°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 60.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Surf City, NC affordable or expensive?

Surf City's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Surf City is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $451,900 and the median rent is $1,470 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Surf City, NC?

Surf City has a violent crime rate of 293.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1777.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Surf City, NC a Good Place to Live?

Surf City is a small town of 3,888 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $85,714 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Surf City stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Surf City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Surf City 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: 97.1

Surf City's overall cost of living index is 97.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Surf City costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Surf City, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$451,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,470	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	80.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$85,714	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Surf City's violent crime rate is 293.0 per 100,000 residents — 23% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

293.0 /100k

Property Crime

1777.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Surf City is served primarily by Onslow County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Surf City, NC	National Avg
School District	Onslow County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	22	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	8	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Surf City sees average highs of 54.8°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 60.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Surf City, NC
Average High — January	54.8°F
Average High — July	87.5°F
Annual Precipitation	60.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.6"

Demographics

Metric	Surf City, NC	National Avg
Population	3,888	—
Median Age	39.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	24.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Holly Ridge, NC 4 mi North Topsail Beach, NC 7 mi Topsail Beach, NC 8 mi Sneads Ferry, NC 12 mi Hampstead, NC 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Surf City

Surf City, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28445

Surf City vs Other Cities

Surf City, NC vs Holly Ridge, NC Surf City, NC vs North Topsail Beach, NC Surf City, NC vs Topsail Beach, NC Surf City, NC vs Sneads Ferry, NC Surf City, NC vs Hampstead, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Surf City, NC affordable or expensive?

Surf City's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Surf City roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $451,900 and median rent is $1,470/month.

What is the crime rate in Surf City, NC?

Surf City's violent crime rate is 293.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1777.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Surf City?

Public schools in Surf City are operated by Onslow County Schools. The district has 22 elementary, 8 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 50.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Surf City, NC a good place to live?

Surf City, NC has a population of 3,888, a median household income of $85,714, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. 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 Surf City?

Surf City averages 54.8°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.6 inches with about 0.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Surf City?

Surf City, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28445.

What is the population of Surf City?

The population of Surf City, North Carolina is 3,888 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Surf City?

Key numbers for living in Surf City: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $451,900, median household income $85,714, crime index 80 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Surf City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.