County profile · North Carolina
Pender County, NC market data
How Pender County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 72,111
- +19.0% since 2020
- Households
- 25,291
- Median household income
- $80,396
- +40.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $299,000
- Jobs located here
- 14,661
- Highest market score
- 91
- Gas stations, #22 of 2,358 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Pender County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Pender 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
Pender County has an estimated 72,111 people and 25,291 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Pender County grew 19.0%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Pender County is $80,396, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 40.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Pender County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 144, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (77).
Of the business types scored in Pender County, gas stations (91); insurance agencies (90); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #22 of 2,358 scored counties.
Pender County is part of the Wilmington metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (90% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for insurance agencies (70% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Pender County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Pender 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 91 | #22 of 2,358 | 24 | 9.5 | $3.5M | 146 | 18 |
| Insurance agencies | 90 | #52 of 2,272 | 12 | 4.7 | $5.9M | 472 | 20 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 80 | #141 of 2,210 | 28 | 11.1 | $1.7M | 197 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 77 | #102 of 1,490 | 8 | 3.2 | $3.6M | 151 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 76 | #190 of 2,378 | 42 | 16.6 | $620K | 140 | 25 |
| Auto repair and car care | 76 | #204 of 2,401 | 74 | 29.3 | $352K | 131 | 35 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 76 | #221 of 2,087 | 24 | 9.5 | $2M | 159 | 11 |
| Pizza | 75 | #172 of 2,090 | 16 | 6.3 | $6.2M | 121 | 47 |
| Pet stores | 68 | #202 of 974 | 6 | 2.4 | $3.9M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 67 | #393 of 2,339 | 42 | 16.6 | $554K | 129 | 15 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 67 | #471 of 2,405 | 126 | 49.8 | $782K | 118 | 45 |
| Barbershops | 66 | #317 of 1,356 | 11 | 4.3 | $2.1M | 112 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 66 | #329 of 1,493 | 12 | 4.7 | $3.2M | 108 | 46 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 66 | #353 of 1,656 | 14 | 5.5 | $2.1M | 116 | 27 |
| Car washes and detailing | 65 | #347 of 1,451 | 11 | 4.3 | $2.4M | 94 | 4 |
| House cleaning | 64 | #167 of 847 | 5 | 2.0 | $7.6M | 119 | 29 |
| Convenience stores | 64 | #633 of 2,261 | 32 | 12.7 | $4.9M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 63 | #410 of 1,461 | 11 | 4.3 | $2.1M | 83 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 62 | #741 of 2,402 | 68 | 26.9 | $2.3M | 67 | 15 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 61 | #732 of 2,405 | 252 | 99.6 | $391K | 105 | 114 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 60 | #384 of 1,334 | 10 | 4.0 | $1.9M | 95 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 60 | #531 of 1,530 | 12 | 4.7 | $2.2M | 87 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 59 | #534 of 1,771 | 23 | 9.1 | $1.7M | 99 | 79 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #628 of 1,886 | 24 | 9.5 | $1.2M | 122 | 17 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #709 of 2,385 | 88 | 34.8 | $264K | 124 | 25 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 59 | #802 of 2,222 | 40 | 15.8 | $2.5M | 81 | 47 |
| Property management | 57 | #330 of 910 | 7 | 2.8 | Index only | 100 | 13 |
| Pet businesses | 57 | #792 of 2,200 | 36 | 14.2 | $649K | 74 | 17 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 57 | #878 of 2,394 | 133 | 52.6 | $217K | 142 | 72 |
| Spas and skin care | 56 | #660 of 1,769 | 19 | 7.5 | $1.2M | 140 | 9 |
| Electricians | 55 | #478 of 1,160 | 7 | 2.8 | $10.5M | 88 | 33 |
| Veterinarians | 55 | #623 of 1,485 | 12 | 4.7 | $1.9M | 72 | 10 |
| Pest control | 54 | #304 of 699 | 6 | 2.4 | $6.3M | 62 | 4 |
| Nail salons | 54 | #571 of 1,328 | 16 | 6.3 | $1.5M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 54 | #896 of 2,070 | 23 | 9.1 | $6.8M | 73 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 53 | #903 of 2,063 | 27 | 10.7 | $3.6M | 98 | 22 |
| Roofing and gutters | 52 | #564 of 1,177 | 15 | 5.9 | $4.9M | 58 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | 52 | #673 of 1,472 | 10 | 4.0 | $367K | 54 | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | 52 | #786 of 1,611 | 22 | 8.7 | $543K | 54 | 14 |
| Gyms | 51 | #893 of 1,792 | 20 | 7.9 | $956K | 73 | 8 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 50 | #389 of 777 | 6 | 2.4 | $3.2M | 78 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 50 | #868 of 1,707 | 19 | 7.5 | $3.9M | 81 | 40 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 49 | #971 of 1,889 | 27 | 10.7 | $3.6M | 88 | 22 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #1,188 of 2,088 | 36 | 14.2 | $531K | 80 | 14 |
| Home repair trades | 45 | #1,295 of 2,057 | 41 | 16.2 | $1.8M | 74 | 78 |
| Real estate | 42 | #1,534 of 2,229 | 88 | 34.8 | Index only | 102 | 93 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 40 | #1,603 of 2,176 | 77 | 30.4 | Index only | 93 | 69 |
| Physical therapy | 32 | #1,179 of 1,422 | 22 | 8.7 | $1.3M | 55 | 19 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.6 | $7.2M | 230 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $8.7M | 282 | 7 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $48.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Pender 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 | $26.1M | $1,030 | 108 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $83.3M | $3,294 | 127 |
| Food away from home | $98.5M | $3,895 | 96 |
| Groceries | $155.3M | $6,142 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $23.3M | $920 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $12M | $473 | 81 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $19.1M | $756 | 77 |
| Medical and dental services | $28.8M | $1,140 | 89 |
| Pets | $23.4M | $924 | 102 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $48.6M | $1,922 | 94 |
| Vehicle insurance | $71.1M | $2,810 | 144 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $73.6M | $2,912 | 96 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $38.1M | $1,505 | 106 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $388.7M | $15,370 | 92 |
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 Pender County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 72,111+19.0% since 2020
- Households
- 25,291
- Median age
- 41.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 83%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 871 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 75
- Median household income
- $80,396+40.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $101,635
- Median home value
- $299,000
- Jobs located here
- 14,661
- Daytime population
- 52,912Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Pender 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 Pender 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
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- Onslow County, NC207,906 people
- Duplin County, NC49,335 people
- Brunswick County, NC152,568 people
- Jones County, NC9,302 people
- Bladen County, NC29,566 people
- Columbus County, NC50,140 people
- Sampson County, NC59,470 people
Questions
How fast is Pender County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Pender County at 72,111 people in 2025, up 19.0% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 25,291 households. Median household income rose 40.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Pender County, NC spend?
Households in Pender County spend about $388.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $155.3M on groceries and $98.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Pender County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 144, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (77).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Pender County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Pender County are for gas stations (91); insurance agencies (90); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (80). Pender County ranks #22 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
How does Pender County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Pender County is $80,396 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 19.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $299,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Pender County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (90% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for insurance agencies (70% 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. 48 of the 56 business types have a score in Pender 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 Pender 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 Pender 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 Pender 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.