County profile · North Carolina
Brunswick County, NC market data
How Brunswick County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 174,702
- +26.5% since 2020
- Households
- 69,124
- Median household income
- $77,024
- +32.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $349,800
- Jobs located here
- 38,079
- Highest market score
- 94
- Funeral homes, #14 of 1,472 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Brunswick County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Brunswick County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Brunswick County has an estimated 174,702 people and 69,124 households. Population estimates show Brunswick County grew 26.5% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Brunswick County is $77,024, 5% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 32.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Brunswick County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (73).
Of the business types scored in Brunswick County, funeral homes (94), insurance agencies (94) and veterinarians (89) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For funeral homes, that ranks #14 of 1,472 scored counties.
Brunswick County is part of the Wilmington metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pest control companies (57% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for child care centers and preschools (71% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Brunswick County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Brunswick County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral homes | 94 | #14 of 1,472 | 11 | 1.6 | $1.1M | 168 | 4 |
| Insurance agencies | 94 | #25 of 2,272 | 47 | 6.8 | $3.9M | 308 | 31 |
| Veterinarians | 89 | #17 of 1,485 | 15 | 2.2 | $4.2M | 153 | 13 |
| Child care and preschools | 89 | #18 of 1,611 | 12 | 1.7 | $2.6M | 256 | 22 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 87 | #22 of 1,327 | 11 | 1.6 | $6M | 196 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 85 | #75 of 2,358 | 67 | 9.7 | $3.2M | 133 | 56 |
| Barbershops | 84 | #37 of 1,356 | 13 | 1.9 | $4.8M | 254 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 84 | #53 of 1,530 | 16 | 2.3 | $4.1M | 166 | 7 |
| Laundromats | 83 | #41 of 785 | 5 | 0.7 | $25.9M | 207 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 83 | #88 of 2,401 | 176 | 25.5 | $377K | 140 | 52 |
| Auto repair shops | 82 | #86 of 2,378 | 102 | 14.8 | $651K | 146 | 38 |
| Dry cleaners | 80 | #16 of 507 | 5 | 0.7 | $25.9M | 165 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 77 | #102 of 1,451 | 25 | 3.6 | $2.7M | 105 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 76 | #278 of 2,070 | 39 | 5.6 | $10.8M | 116 | 24 |
| Convenience stores | 76 | #284 of 2,261 | 69 | 10.0 | $6.1M | 77 | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 75 | #86 of 1,334 | 23 | 3.3 | $2.2M | 107 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 75 | #158 of 1,656 | 30 | 4.3 | $2.6M | 144 | 53 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 74 | #340 of 2,402 | 144 | 20.8 | $2.9M | 86 | 31 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 73 | #154 of 1,302 | 23 | 3.3 | $3.3M | 107 | 6 |
| Gyms | 72 | #193 of 1,792 | 39 | 5.6 | $1.3M | 97 | 12 |
| Pizza | 71 | #282 of 2,090 | 49 | 7.1 | $5.3M | 105 | 124 |
| Hair salons | 70 | #298 of 2,339 | 133 | 19.2 | $467K | 109 | 21 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 69 | #81 of 479 | 6 | 0.9 | $11.1M | 81 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 68 | #323 of 1,886 | 54 | 7.8 | $1.4M | 145 | 41 |
| Nail salons | 67 | #228 of 1,328 | 38 | 5.5 | $1.6M | 98 | 6 |
| Physical therapy | 67 | #277 of 1,422 | 23 | 3.3 | $3.3M | 139 | 26 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 67 | #281 of 1,707 | 40 | 5.8 | $5M | 104 | 68 |
| Pet businesses | 67 | #409 of 2,200 | 87 | 12.6 | $716K | 81 | 35 |
| Spas and skin care | 66 | #344 of 1,769 | 62 | 9.0 | $1M | 114 | 9 |
| Roofing and gutters | 65 | #263 of 1,177 | 28 | 4.1 | $7.1M | 84 | 12 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 65 | #476 of 2,385 | 248 | 35.9 | $251K | 118 | 37 |
| House cleaning | 63 | #190 of 847 | 20 | 2.9 | $5.1M | 80 | 32 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 63 | #503 of 2,088 | 81 | 11.7 | $611K | 92 | 19 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 63 | #586 of 2,087 | 81 | 11.7 | $1.6M | 126 | 48 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 63 | #634 of 2,222 | 95 | 13.7 | $2.8M | 90 | 124 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 62 | #671 of 2,394 | 343 | 49.6 | $224K | 147 | 152 |
| Chiropractors | 61 | #438 of 1,490 | 28 | 4.1 | $2.7M | 115 | 23 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 61 | #688 of 2,210 | 116 | 16.8 | $1.1M | 127 | 55 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 61 | #714 of 2,405 | 337 | 48.8 | $776K | 117 | 144 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 61 | #727 of 2,405 | 650 | 94.0 | $402K | 108 | 315 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 60 | #476 of 1,493 | 47 | 6.8 | $2.2M | 74 | 76 |
| Pest control | 59 | #241 of 699 | 15 | 2.2 | $6.8M | 66 | 9 |
| Home repair trades | 59 | #630 of 2,057 | 86 | 12.4 | $2.3M | 95 | 152 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #659 of 2,063 | 67 | 9.7 | $3.9M | 105 | 45 |
| Pet stores | 58 | #362 of 974 | 19 | 2.7 | $3.3M | 72 | 6 |
| Electricians | 58 | #401 of 1,160 | 18 | 2.6 | $11M | 92 | 72 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 58 | #539 of 1,461 | 38 | 5.5 | $1.6M | 64 | 16 |
| Property management | 56 | #352 of 910 | 22 | 3.2 | Index only | 86 | 31 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 55 | #292 of 777 | 19 | 2.7 | $2.6M | 64 | 12 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 54 | #732 of 1,771 | 82 | 11.9 | $1.2M | 74 | 117 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 52 | #403 of 887 | 29 | 4.2 | Index only | 92 | 14 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 50 | #940 of 1,889 | 75 | 10.9 | $3.5M | 84 | 49 |
| Home inspectors | 45 | #249 of 415 | 7 | 1.0 | Index only | 57 | 6 |
| Real estate | 39 | #1,707 of 2,229 | 342 | 49.5 | Index only | 71 | 187 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 38 | #1,716 of 2,176 | 284 | 41.1 | Index only | 68 | 124 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | $38.4M | Too few | 3 |
Household spending in Brunswick County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $66.4M | $960 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $213.3M | $3,086 | 119 |
| Food away from home | $261.4M | $3,782 | 93 |
| Groceries | $419.3M | $6,065 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $62.2M | $899 | 90 |
| Child care and other personal services | $30.8M | $445 | 77 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $49.5M | $716 | 73 |
| Medical and dental services | $76.8M | $1,111 | 86 |
| Pets | $62.3M | $901 | 99 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $129.5M | $1,873 | 91 |
| Vehicle insurance | $181.9M | $2,632 | 134 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $198.8M | $2,876 | 95 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $101.9M | $1,473 | 104 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1B | $15,142 | 91 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Brunswick County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 174,702+26.5% since 2020
- Households
- 69,124
- Median age
- 52.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 85%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 850 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 180
- Median household income
- $77,024+32.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $100,289
- Median home value
- $349,800
- Jobs located here
- 38,079
- Daytime population
- 135,037Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Brunswick County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Brunswick County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- New Hanover County, NC235,229 people
- Columbus County, NC50,140 people
- Pender County, NC65,550 people
- Bladen County, NC29,566 people
- Duplin County, NC49,335 people
- Onslow County, NC207,906 people
- Robeson County, NC116,902 people
- Sampson County, NC59,470 people
Questions
How fast is Brunswick County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Brunswick County at 174,702 people in 2025, up 26.5% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 69,124 households. Median household income rose 32.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Brunswick County, NC spend?
Households in Brunswick County spend about $1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $419.3M on groceries and $261.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Brunswick County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (73).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Brunswick County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Brunswick County are for funeral homes (94), insurance agencies (94) and veterinarians (89). Brunswick County ranks #14 of 1,472 scored counties for funeral homes.
How does Brunswick County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Brunswick County is $77,024 a year, 5% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 26.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $349,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Brunswick County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pest control companies (57% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for child care centers and preschools (71% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in Brunswick County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Brunswick County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Brunswick County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Brunswick County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.