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Cost of living, pay and housing

34.04° N · 78.09° W · GEOID 3706760

Boiling Spring Lakes

Brunswick County, North Carolina · part of the Wilmington, NC metro

Computed by Citytistics from 13 public sources · Data bundle checked 2026-11-14 · How we calculate

North CarolinaBoiling Spring Lakes, NCBoiling Spring LakesBoiling Spring Lakes

The short answer

Boiling Spring Lakes is home to 6,347 people. Median household income is $62,676 a year and median rent is $1,385 a month, 26.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is moderate. The median home is valued at $292,300, about 4.7x annual median household income.

The story in Boiling Spring Lakes is how fast things are changing. Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 17.5% to 26.5% of income. Also notable: Household income growth is 0.9% a year, against 6.3% a year in its closest peers.

22OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Boiling Spring Lakes scores better than 22% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 120th of 161 in North Carolina.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%21
Economy 20%42
Safety 20%57
Amenities 15%23
Education 10%30
Commute 10%61
Growth 5%47
Median gross rent
$1,385
1% above the median place
Median household income
$62,676
22% below the median place
Median home value
$292,300
8% below the median place
Unemployment
4.7%
5% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Boiling Spring Lakes

  • AffordabilityAfter the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $47,400 a year, less than in 81% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • GrowthThe population has grown 15.8% since 2020, faster growth than in 90% of the 1,634 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Boiling Spring Lakes

Brunswick County gains about 50.2 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in13,635
Moved out7,315
Net+6,320

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

New Hanover County, NC2,1491,201+948
Wake County, NC615285+330
Horry County, SC356416−60
Columbus County, NC220323−103
Mecklenburg County, NC345165+180
Guilford County, NC20597+108
Cumberland County, NC203
Pender County, NC197

Within North Carolina, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within North CarolinaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$103K
Leavers$72K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Brunswick County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
12.6% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 3.5% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Brunswick County report $103,400 a year in income on average; those leaving, $71,700, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$55,400 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,385 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,645 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $292,300.
Getting to work
23 minutes each way on average; 16.7% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Kingsland, TX matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
12.6%
119% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people8
50.2
above the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8
$103,402
47% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureBoiling Spring LakesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year112.6%119% above
Moved from another state1County figure3.5%79% above
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure50.2above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$103,40247% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$71,6582% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median rent takes 26.5% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 88% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Boiling Spring Lakes26.5%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$55,400
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
26.5%
30% above the median place
Home price to income
4.7x
23% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
26%
just under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$47,800
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Boiling Spring Lakes, $1,385 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.1 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Boiling Spring Lakes, but easier on the budget

Places that match Boiling Spring Lakes on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Kingsland, TX9418.7% vs 26.5%n/aCompare
Gun Barrel City, TX9216.2% vs 26.5%n/aCompare
Semmes, AL9119.1% vs 26.5%$9,800Compare
Kanab, UT9013.8% vs 26.5%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Boiling Spring Lakes.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Boiling Spring Lakes? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median year built1
1998
1% above the median place
Property tax rate1
0.6%
34% below the median place
Homeownership1
81.6%
23% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureBoiling Spring LakesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,3851% above
Rent to income126.5%30% above
Property tax rate10.6%34% below
Home price to income14.7x23% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure96.44% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,5743% below
HUD area median income4County figure$99,2008% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,75746% below
Median home value1$292,3008% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure3.0%7% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure72.8%41% above
Homeownership181.6%23% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure51.9%3% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,64512% below
Vacant homes110.6%50% above
Median year built119981% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Median household income1
$62,676
22% below the median place
Works from home1
16.7%
34% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate8.6% −21%
Mean commute23 min −6%
Income per person$36,816 −8%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureBoiling Spring LakesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$62,67622% below
Income per person1$36,8168% below
Unemployment1County figure4.7%5% below
Average annual pay6County figure$54,52317% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure5.5%49% above
Jobs6County figure43,20171% below
Poverty rate18.6%21% below
Mean commute123 min6% below
Works from home116.7%34% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Population change since 2020 is 15.8%, above the median place (median 1.1%).

Population change since 20207
15.8%
above the median place (median 1.1%)
Median age1
47.1
21% above the median place
Household size1
2.1
14% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher95.1% +3%
Homes with broadband89.4% −3%
No health insurance9.3% +45%
Bachelor's or higher23.6% −26%
All 9 people measures
MeasureBoiling Spring LakesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population16,3475740th largest
Population change since 2020715.8%above (median 1.1%)
Median age147.121% above
Bachelor's or higher123.6%26% below
High school or higher195.1%3% above
Household size12.114% below
Born abroad1County figure3.6%59% below
No health insurance19.3%45% above
Homes with broadband189.4%3% below
05

Life in Boiling Spring Lakes

The nearest National Park Service site is Moores Creek National Battlefield, about 30 miles away.

17 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents22.1 2.2×
Playgrounds per 10k6.3 −33%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k11.0 −1%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Moores Creek National Battlefield 30 miles
  • Cape Lookout National Seashore 97 miles
  • Charles Pinckney National Historic Site 130 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars22.2 +7%
Shops33.0 +9%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.3 +5%
Doctors' offices and clinics13.4 −34%
Child care centers1.4 −39%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site11
29.5
4% below the median place
Child care centers per 10k9
1.4
39% below the median place
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9
13.4
34% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureBoiling Spring LakesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools14County figure22144% above
Public school students14County figure15,069208% above
Students per teacher14County figure16.68% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure22.27% above
Shops per 10k9County figure33.09% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure4.35% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure13.434% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure1.439% below
Parks per 10k1022.1117% above
Playgrounds per 10k106.333% below
Grocery stores per 10k100.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1011.01% below
Libraries per 10k100.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails100.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi100.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1129.54% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles11150% below
National Register listings12County figure1731% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 172, 10% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
172
10% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
1,020
16% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Hurricane risk16
99.1
40% above the median place
Annual precipitation15
55.2 in
26% above the median place
Wildfire risk16
93.3
52% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureBoiling Spring LakesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure90°F3% above
January average low15County figure35°F38% above
Average temperature15County figure63°F15% above
Annual precipitation15County figure55.2 in26% above
Natural hazard risk16County figure95.84% above
Hurricane risk16County figure99.140% above
Tornado risk16County figure87.07% above
Wildfire risk16County figure93.352% above
Heat wave risk16County figure84.96% below
Median air quality index17Metro figure415% below
Good air days17Metro figure77.0%12% above
08

Boiling Spring Lakes in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 28% of the median income in 2030, up from 27% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Boiling Spring Lakes does better than 18% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 90%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,385/mo (2024)$1,800/mo$1,480 to $2,200/mo+4.5%
Median household income$62,676 (2024)$78,500$66,000 to $92,500+3.8%
Median home value$292,300 (2024)$436,000$316,000 to $600,000+6.9%
Population6,875 (2025)7,4807,180 to 7,800+1.7%

The median home would be worth 5.6 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.7 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Boiling Spring Lakes

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
South Daytona, FL$1,379$56,579Compare
Lecanto, FL$1,304$56,215Compare
Hillside, IL$1,320$72,320Compare
Red Hill, SC$1,179$68,250Compare
Red Hill, SCHillside, ILLecanto, FLSouth Daytona, FLBoiling Spring Lakes, NCSouth DaytonaLecantoHillsideRed HillSouth DaytonaLecantoHillsideRed Hill

Places built like Boiling Spring Lakes

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Boiling Spring Lakes performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC26.5%0.9%/yr15.8%
Hollywood, SC26.5%6.9%/yr6.9%Compare
Fussels Corner, FL20.0%6.1%/yrn/aCompare
Ridge Wood Heights, FL27.2%5.5%/yrn/aCompare
Hampstead, MD16.0%4.9%/yr0.8%Compare
Kingsland, TX18.7%6.3%/yrn/aCompare
Waterford, WI20.0%-1.3%/yr8.5%Compare

Common questions

Is Boiling Spring Lakes a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 22 out of 100, better than 22% of the places we rate and 120th of 161 in North Carolina. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $47,400 a year, less than in 81% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track. The population has grown 15.8% since 2020, faster growth than in 90% of the 1,634 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 29 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Boiling Spring Lakes expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 26.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $292,300.

What salary do you need to live in Boiling Spring Lakes?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $55,400 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Boiling Spring Lakes safe?

There were 172 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Boiling Spring Lakes?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are South Daytona, FL, Lecanto, FL, Hillside, IL and Red Hill, SC.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Boiling Spring Lakes with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Boiling Spring Lakes itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/boiling-spring-lakes-north-carolina

Citytistics. “Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/boiling-spring-lakes-north-carolina/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.