1st Advantage MortgageAbout 14% of Brunswick County workers commute 45 minutes or more, so vehicle costs weigh on many household budgets. Owners may weigh equity options; renters compare unsecured offers. Either way, check the written APR, total cost and the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Brunswick County in numbers
- How people in Brunswick County earn a living
- Age, schooling and housing in Brunswick County
- Jobs data for the Brunswick County area
- Monthly budget benchmarks in Brunswick County
- What the numbers suggest about borrowing in Brunswick County
- Comparing Brunswick County with its peers
- Local context
- Steps to take first in Brunswick County
- Around Brunswick County
- Where people live in Brunswick County
- Brunswick County housing stock
- Eight income bands for Brunswick County
- Carolina counties near Brunswick County
- Brunswick County at the top or bottom of North Carolina
- Frequently asked questions
Brunswick County in numbers
Source: Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024, for Brunswick County. Estimates carry margins of error, and your own income, credit and debts decide what a lender offers.
How people in Brunswick County earn a living
Three sectors dominate the Brunswick County workforce in the ACS: education and health care (21% of workers), retail (13%) and professional, scientific and administrative services (12%). Compared with the median place in our Carolina county set, Brunswick County leans toward professional, scientific and administrative services: 12% of workers against a median of 9%. Which industry you work in changes the paperwork a lender will ask for, so ask what documents they accept before you apply.
A median hides the edges. The ACS counts 19% of Brunswick County households under $35,000 and 36% at $100,000 or higher, with 8% above $200,000. That is 10 points above the Carolina county median on six-figure households and 10 below it on households under $35,000. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, is 0.44. Whatever the averages say, your household is what gets underwritten.
Age, schooling and housing in Brunswick County
Residents of Brunswick County have a median age of 56.4; 35% of adults 25 and older have at least a bachelor's degree, and 7% did not finish high school. Brunswick County is older than typical by 14.1 years and more likely to hold a degree by 11 points.
By structure type, 69% of Brunswick County housing units are detached single-family homes and 7% are in buildings with five or more units. Brunswick County has more large-building apartments than the middle of our set, by 2.6 points. Match the loan amount to a written estimate or quote rather than to what a lender is willing to offer.
Jobs data for the Brunswick County area
Federal labor data show unemployment of 3.6% in Brunswick County for September 2026 (preliminary, not seasonally adjusted), down 0.5 points from 4.1% a year earlier.
Monthly budget benchmarks in Brunswick County
Median rent in Brunswick County ($1,351) runs 21% of the median monthly household income ($6,419 before taxes). The 30% yardstick works out to $1,926. About $2,311 a month is what 36% of median gross income comes to here, a rough ceiling many lenders use for all debts combined. The price-to-income ratio for housing is roughly 4.5. Taxes, insurance, transport and food come out of the same paycheck, so the room left over is smaller than the percentages suggest.
What the numbers suggest about borrowing in Brunswick County
Housing in Brunswick County is relatively new (median year 2002). Newer housing can mean fewer big repairs, so loans here lean toward consolidation and moving costs more than emergency fixes.
Brunswick County is an owner-heavy place: 85% of households own. For owners, unexpected repairs are the typical trigger for a loan, and an unsecured loan avoids a lien on the house.
15% of Brunswick County workers are remote, high among our Carolina county places. Lenders will ask how that income is paid, so keep W-2s or 1099s handy.
Comparing Brunswick County with its peers
Out of 146 Carolina county places in the data, Brunswick County lands with a median household income of $77,024 (23rd of 146, top down), a median gross rent of $1,351 (14th of 146, top down), and a median home value of $349,800 (19th of 146, top down). These ranks describe a place, not a household.
Nearby in size, and also in North Carolina, are Rowan County ($65,725 income, $1,013 rent), where Brunswick County runs 17% above on income and 33% above on rent and Orange County ($90,089 income, $1,496 rent), where Brunswick County runs 15% below on income and 10% below on rent.
Local context
Leland has its own guide; The Census Bureau lists 19 places in Brunswick County. By population the biggest are Leland, Oak Island, St. James, Boiling Spring Lakes. No city guide for your Brunswick County town? Start here.
Steps to take first in Brunswick County
- License check for Brunswick County borrowers: the NC Commissioner of Banks lists licensed consumer finance companies.
- Get the same four numbers from every lender: what you receive, the APR, all fees and the total you will repay.
- Ask about early payoff. Most personal loans have no penalty, but confirm in writing.
- Sleep on it. Pressure to sign today is a reason to walk away.
- Never pay a fee first. A request for money before funding is the mark of a scam; the scam guide lists the usual scripts.
Around Brunswick County
Where people live in Brunswick County
Brunswick County contains 19 Census places, 19 of them incorporated. St. James has the priciest homes at the median ($636,800); Navassa the least expensive ($187,100).
| Place | Status | Residents | Share of county | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leland | incorporated town | 29,607 | 19.4% | $398,900 |
| Oak Island | incorporated town | 9,030 | 5.9% | $456,500 |
| St. James | incorporated town | 7,072 | 4.6% | $636,800 |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | incorporated city | 6,347 | 4.2% | $292,300 |
| Carolina Shores | incorporated town | 5,017 | 3.3% | $288,600 |
| Shallotte | incorporated town | 4,639 | 3.0% | $349,500 |
| Sunset Beach | incorporated town | 4,351 | 2.9% | $410,900 |
| Southport | incorporated city | 4,205 | 2.8% | $437,700 |
| Belville | incorporated town | 2,573 | 1.7% | $282,600 |
| Calabash | incorporated town | 2,377 | 1.6% | $253,200 |
| Navassa | incorporated town | 2,039 | 1.3% | $187,100 |
| Holden Beach | incorporated town | 962 | 0.6% | $658,900 |
Brunswick County housing stock
Detached single-family houses make up 69% of Brunswick County's housing units, compared with 65% across North Carolina. After that, the largest category is mobile home at 17%. Housing type matters for repair costs in Brunswick County: manufactured homes, older detached houses and condos each bring different bills.
| Kind of building | Share in Brunswick County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 69.5% | +4.2 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 4.1% | -0.7 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 2.1% | -2.5 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 4.5% | -3.7 pts |
| 20 or more units | 2.6% | -3.4 pts |
| Mobile home | 17.2% | +6.2 pts |
Eight income bands for Brunswick County
The most common income step in Brunswick County is $50,000 to $74,999, which holds 19% of households. At the bottom, 7% earn under $15,000; at the top, 18% earn $150,000 or more. The 36% of households above $100,000 are not immune: big incomes often come with big fixed costs.
| Income band | County share | Compared with state |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 7.0% | -1.7 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 6.1% | -1.0 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 6.4% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 10.3% | -1.4 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 19.1% | +2.3 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 15.0% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 18.5% | +1.9 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 17.7% | -1.0 pts |
Carolina counties near Brunswick County
The five closest Carolina counties to Brunswick County, by distance between county centers. Horry County is the oldest of them (median age 48.7) and New Hanover County has the largest share of college graduates (45%).
| Nearby Carolina county | Miles | Residents | Age (median) | College grads | Below poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County | - | 152,568 | 56.4 | 35% | 9% |
| New Hanover County, NC | 23 mi | 235,229 | 39.9 | 45% | 12% |
| Columbus County, NC | 28 mi | 50,140 | 42.6 | 15% | 18% |
| Pender County, NC | 38 mi | 65,550 | 41.6 | 31% | 10% |
| Bladen County, NC | 42 mi | 29,566 | 44.7 | 19% | 22% |
| Horry County, SC | 44 mi | 383,016 | 48.7 | 27% | 13% |
Brunswick County at the top or bottom of North Carolina
- On age (56.4 years), Brunswick County ranks #1 of 100 statewide, against 42.3 years for the middle Carolina county. Benefit and pension income counts when documented.
- Owner share puts Brunswick County at #2 of 100 among North Carolina counties (85%). Repairs drive a lot of local borrowing.
- Car-free households puts Brunswick County at #5 lowest of 100 among North Carolina counties (2.4%). Nearly every household carries car costs.
- On uninsured residents (7.5%), Brunswick County ranks #6 lowest of 100 statewide, against 10.0% for the middle Carolina county. Deductibles still bite; ask for payment plans.
| Where it stands out | Value | North Carolina rank | Carolina median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 56.4 years | #1 of 100 | 42.3 years |
| Owner share | 85% | #2 of 100 | 73% |
| Car-free households | 2.4% | #5 lowest of 100 | 5.8% |
| Uninsured residents | 7.5% | #6 lowest of 100 | 10.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Should Brunswick County homeowners use a personal loan or home equity?
It depends on how much risk you accept. About 85% of Brunswick County households own, and a home-equity loan or line puts the home at risk, while a personal loan is usually unsecured. For smaller, one-time costs the unsecured loan is often the simpler path; compare both in writing.
Is the fit check different for Brunswick County residents?
Beyond confirming your state, no. Your answers about the amount, credit, income and payments are all the check uses, and the same rules apply to every Brunswick County applicant.
Who regulates personal lenders in North Carolina?
For Brunswick County borrowers, the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks is the licensing agency for consumer finance lenders. Payday loans are illegal in the state.
How long do lenders take to decide for Brunswick County borrowers?
A soft-pull prequalification is often instant; a full decision and deposit can take from one day to about a week, depending on the lender.