Southern Pines, NC

Census place 3763120 · pop 16,420

C62/ 100
😐 Meh
B
in NC
📍 North Carolina ranks #16 of 50 states →
🏆 Growth+17.1% · top 9%
🚽 Inequality0.49 · bottom 16%
Taxes
0.62% property · US 0.99%7.00% sales · US 7.00%3.99% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Income inequality0.4916

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Housing cost$451,10024

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$451,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Homeownership56.6%29

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

56.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Rent$1,820/mo45

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$1,820/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Broadband access92.1%54

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Commute time23 min57

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Poverty rate9.6%60

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

9.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level81/10063

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

81/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Median household income$88,53565

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$88,535 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Uninsured adults7.7%69

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

7.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity30.9%72

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

30.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Physical inactivity20.1%77

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

20.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.0%79

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.62%81

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.62% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult smoking9.5%83

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

9.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Bachelor's degree or higher52.9%85

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

52.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poor mental health13.7%89

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

13.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Population growth (5yr)+17.1%91

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+17.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Not measured for Southern Pines: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Southern Pines, NC a good place to live?
By the numbers, Southern Pines scores 62/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is income inequality. North Carolina overall ranks #16 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Southern Pines, NC expensive to live in?
Southern Pines has a median home value of $451,100 and typical rent around $1,820/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Southern Pines, NC?
Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.49) — 16/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Southern Pines, NC best at?
Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+17.1%) — 91/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.