RANK #537 / 1001 NAT · #33 / 51 NC · POP 152,568
1YR FORECAST: -1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Brunswick County, North Carolina, is known for its extensive coastline, featuring six distinct beaches across five barrier islands, including popular destinations like Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Holden Beach. Located in the southeastern part of the state, it sits between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The community offers a coastal lifestyle with a relaxed atmosphere. Commuting to nearby Wilmington is common, particularly from towns like Leland and Southport. The county's natural scenery includes coastal plains, salt marshes, and pine savannas, with opportunities for fishing, boating, kayaking, and exploring places like the Green Swamp Preserve.
Life in Brunswick County attracts a mix of retirees and families, drawn by the coastal environment. The public school system serves over 13,000 students and is considered above average. While public transportation options are limited, Brunswick Transit System offers a Dial-a-Ride program, and private services cover areas where rideshares are scarce. The economy is experiencing growth, with new residential and commercial developments. Major investment is occurring in sectors such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing, contributing to job creation.
Brunswick County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.2% matches the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 22.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Epsilon Advanced Materials Manufacturing Facility
Epsilon Advanced Materials, Inc.
|
$650M | Planned |
|
Utility-Scale Solar Capacity
Various (e.g., Cypress Creek Renewables, United Renewable Energy LLC)
|
$556M | Approved |
|
Maco Road Planned Development Site
Strategic Real Estate Partners LLC
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Carolina Long Bay Offshore Wind Project (Duke Energy Renewables Wind, LLC portion)
Duke Energy Renewables Wind, LLC
|
$155M | Proposed |
|
Community Battery Energy Storage Systems
North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives (including BEMC)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Brunswick County scores 46/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#537). Median household income is $77,024 and job growth is running at +4.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Brunswick County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $349,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,351/month on average.
Brunswick County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +4.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +4.7% clip. Home values shifted +0.2% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.56% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Brunswick County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.