Southern Pines town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Southern Pines town is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 16,052. It ranks as the 66th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Southern Pines town is 38.6 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. 16.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Southern Pines town is $83,681. This is 20% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 24% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.6%. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $416,300. Housing costs are 60% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x. 56.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Southern Pines town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.7%.

Education

54.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Southern Pines town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 58% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.3%. Notably, 22.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Southern Pines town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.