EZ Home Search Guide to Living in New Pender County, NC 

Imagine a land of ancient hardwood trees, abundant spring wildflowers, and a mild climate. That’s what residents of Pender County, North Carolina, enjoy. Located in the coastal plains area of the state, the streams, ponds, and pine forests create beautiful countryside. The small towns scattered throughout the area add to its country charm.

While still charmingly rustic, Pender County is one of the state’s fastest-growing counties. The county is close to one of the state’s largest cities, giving residents the ability to enjoy rural living with quick access to urban amenities when they want it. 

Learn more about living in Pender County and why residents enjoy this blend of Southern-style casual living and planned growth.  

About Pender County

The coastal plains area of North Carolina is more than flood plains, cypress swamps, and bottomland forest. Agriculture thrives in the low, flat lands near the Atlantic Ocean and the climate. The county has always enjoyed a long growing season.

Pender County enjoys a temperate climate, with warm weather kicking off in the spring. The mild winters allow residents to enjoy outdoor recreation all year round. While you can have chilly winter days, snow is rare, and the cold dips never last long. 

The Atlantic Ocean oceanfront along Topsail Beach and other barrier islands are less developed than other seaboard stretches. You won’t find overcrowded beaches and countless high-rise condos here.

Three large protected areas preserve the area’s wildlands and natural habitats. These include Holly Shelter Game Land, Lea-Hutaff Island, and the Moores Creek National Battlefield. The county’s southern border is defined by the Cape Fear River and part of its northeastern branch. The Northeast branch of the Cape Fear River runs through the region.

As you drive around Pender, you’ll notice the abundant agricultural economy. Blueberries are the primary crop, but you’ll also find strawberries, sweet potatoes, soybeans, tobacco, peanuts, corn, and grapes. Pick up what’s in season from roadside stands and farmer’s markets.

Residents here enjoy a comfortable cost of living. The cost of living index places the US average as 100. Pender County’s cost of living was 100.3, meaning the cost of living here aligns with the national average. The least expensive category was transportation, while health care was the most expensive. 

While primarily a rural area, it’s easy to get around and travel to nearby destinations. I-40 runs north-south through the heart of Pender, while US 17 and North Carolina Highway 132 connect residents to the surrounding communities. The historic destination city of Wilmington is less than 30 miles from Pender County. 

Pender County has many neighbors. The surrounding counties include New Hanover, Duplin, Onslow, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen, and Sampson. 

Pender County History

The first European explorers came onshore in what is now Pender County in 1524. They found the area rich with game and resources, prompting following explorers to try and settle in the Cape Fear River region. Early settlements struggled, but a community was established at Rocky Point. The area’s rivers served as vital transportation corridors in the early settlement era. 

During the American Revolution, local Patriot forces defeated the British at the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge. Throughout the post-revolutionary period through the Civil War, Pender County was part of New Hanover County. William Dorsey Pender, the Confederacy’s youngest General, came from this area. The county was named after him when it officially formed in 1875.

The first county seat was Watha, although Burgaw was chartered in 1879 and eventually became the current county seat. 

After the end of World War II, the US Navy selected the Carolina coast for rocket testing. The Kellet Corporation and the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory shot rockets off on Topsail Island during the 1940s, preventing any significant development.

Pender County Cities and Areas

Pender County is primarily a juxtaposition of inland rural agricultural areas and beachfront vacation destinations along the Atlantic coast. 

Near the county, center lies Burgaw, the governmental seat and a small town known for its picturesque surroundings. While surrounded by forest and farmlands, it’s 25 minutes from the area’s beaches. This is a well-connected community that possesses a lot of small-town charm. 

St Helena is a community that typifies rural development in Pender County. It was laid out in 1905 in ten-acre plots. It was built next to a railroad loading depot, with large barns to keep farm equipment for immigrating colonists. It was incorporated in 1988.

Topsail Island is one of North Carolina’s prized beach destinations. It lies halfway between Wilmington and Jacksonville. The story goes that pirates used to hide behind the islands, with just the tops of their sails visible from the sea. On the island is Surf City, the commercial heart of the island. Once a small fishing village, it is a vacation destination with a year-round community of around 2,000 people. During peak season, the numbers can swell to 7,000. Residents here appreciate the clean, uncrowded beaches. 

The smallest community on the island is the town of Topsail Beach. It occupies the northernmost section of the island. High-rise development is not allowed in Topsail Beach, and conservation is a top priority. 

Pender County Job Market

Pender County is considered part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. This greater region had an employment rate of 4.1% in July 2021. North Carolina reported a 4.6% unemployment rate.

Several manufacturing corporations operate inside the county. These include Wieland, an electrical device producer for the automotive industry; W.R. Rayson, disposable paper goods; Ultrafoam, creating polyurethane foam for office furniture; and Chloride Systems, a producer of emergency lighting systems.

Major employing industries for residents were retail trades, health care, and accommodation, and food service. The top employers by size are Pender County Schools, Pender County Government, the Department of Public Safety, Pender Memorial Hospital, LL. Building Products and RC Creations. 

Pender County Real Estate Market 

Based on market data for August 2021, Pender County’s median sale prices have been on the rise since 2012. A single-family home’s most recent median sales price was $369,000, a 17.2% year-over-year increase. Inventory remains down both year-over-year and year-to-date. The months’ supply stood at 1.2 months, a 56% decline from July 2020.

Available housing grew 1.5% between 2018 and 2019. Around 81.2% of housing was owner-occupied. 

Markets are always subject to change. EZ Home Search provides the latest data on the available listings in the Pender County real estate market. 

Pender County Demographics

With 60,203 residents as of the April 2020 census, Pender County has experienced a 13.3% increase in its population over the last decade. The estimated median age of a county resident was 43, with the largest groups of residents being under 19 or over 65. Around 69% of the residents lived in rural areas.

Around 75% of residents identified as white alone, while about 15% identified as African American. Another 7.5% identified as Hispanic or Latino. Of the residents aged 25 and older, 28% held a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income as of 2019 was $57,240.

Pender County Education

The Pender County School District is primarily a rural school district made up of 18 schools. These include eight elementary schools, five middle schools, three traditional high schools, one K-8 school, and an early college high school. 

One private school was available during the 2021 school year, Topsail Montessori, for students ages 2 to 12.

Cape Fear Community College operates satellite campuses from its main location in nearby New Hanover. This institution offers more than 160 ways to earn either an associate’s degree, certificate, diploma, or to fulfill a university transfer program. Satellite campuses are in Burgaw and Surf City.

The nearest four-year higher education school is located over the border in Wilmington. US News & World Report ranked the University of North Carolina-Wilmington a top online bachelor’s program. The school also offers several graduate programs online. 

Pender County Healthcare

Pender Memorial Hospital services residents for their emergency and ongoing health care needs. The hospital provides some advanced medical services and partners with the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. It offers surgery, endoscopy, emergency care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and imaging. The facility has 25-bed critical access and 43 skilled nursing beds.

Low-cost general medical services are available through the Pender County Health Department. It was awarded the North Carolina Public Health Association 2019 Health Department of the Year award. 

Pender County Things To Do

In Pender County, residents enjoy a range of outdoor and water recreation activities. You have the choice between fresh and saltwater for your day of water recreation. The access to the Cape Fear River, its branches, various freshwater creeks and ponds, and the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean provide ample fishing, boating, surfing, and paddling opportunities. Just off the coastline are some excellent deep-sea fishing and some diving locations.

Spending the day on the farm is another fun thing to do in Pender County. The local producers allow for blueberry picking in the summer, pumpkin picking in the fall, and other farm experiences in between. One example is the Ashton Farm, which was built on the historical Ashe Plantation. It runs a summer day camp to provide children with a sense of farm life and build an appreciation of nature.

Pender County has embraced its identity as a major blueberry producer. One fun event is the annual New Year’s Blueberry Drop in Burgaw. Festivities take place in the historic downtown area with live music and family-friendly entertainment.

Other popular festivals include Autumn with Topsail, North Carolina Bacon Festival, the North Carolina Blueberry Festival, and the North Carolina Spot Festival. All of these celebrate the agricultural and natural abundance found in the county. 

Pender County Local Attractions

To get a sense of the area’s history and development, visit three cultural attractions. The Pender County Museum resides in the first brick house ever built in the county seat of Burgaw. Nearby is the historic Pender County Courthouse in the heart of the downtown area. The Burgaw Train Depot is the oldest railroad depot in North Carolina. 

The whole family is sure to be wowed with a visit to the Missiles and More Museum at Topsail Beach. It opens in April and showcases the role Topsail Island played during World War II. It also has a Women in Airforce Service exhibit that traces women’s history in service and their contributions to the war efforts during World War II. Other exhibits include the Pirates of the Carolinas and NASA’s Operation Bumblebee.

Lea-Huatiff island is an uninhabited barrier island accessible only by boat. It is a great place to watch birds, collect seashells, shark teeth, sea glass, and sand dollars. Many boat companies offer private and group excursions to this beautiful island.

Moore’s Creek National Battlefield was one of the first battles in the South during the Revolutionary War and the first Patriot victory. You can see the 1776 road traveled by the forces and walk through the battlefield and across Moores Creek. 

Poplar Grove Plantation is over 100 years old. It offers artifacts and exhibits on life during the 19th century, ranging from agricultural production, civil rights, and the Gullah-Geechee culture.

The Jolly Roger Pier is a landmark known for its great fishing. The pier is fully lit at night and is an excellent place for an evening stroll.

The East Coast Greenway Trail runs from Maine to Florida. A segment of the 3,000-mile trail runs down Topsail Island to Surf City along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Another trail traverses Pender County. The Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) crosses through the Holly Shelter game lands, neighborhoods of Surf City, Moores Creek National Battlefield, downtown Burgaw, and other county sites. 

Pender County Dining

The access to the Atlantic Ocean makes the county part of the so-called “Seafood Capital of the Carolinas.” In fact, the county has a Seafood Trail for you to experience all of the best seafood markets and dining destinations in the region. 

Otherwise, you will find a lot of restaurants taking advantage of Pender’s rich agricultural bounty. There are abundant farm-to-table and locally sourced dining options. Here’s a taste of Pender County:

• Salty Turtle Beer Company is a neighborhood brewery that uses high-quality ingredients to create the flavors
• Dabby’s Country Grill is locally owned and home-cooked. They do American quick and tasty food like hamburgers and hotdogs
• Holland’s Shelter Creek Restaurant and Bar is located in Burgaw, serving Cajun and country style cooking. They are famous for their frog legs and creole catfish 
• The Sailfish Restaurant at Marsh Creek Marine has great views of the Intracoastal Waterway and serves fresh seafood
• Boombalatti’s is the local’s favorite for homemade ice cream, made from grass-fed North Carolina cows and no artificial ingredients. 
• Beauchaine’s 211 is a waterfront location with high-end dining expectations
• Surf City BBQ specializes in whole hog BBQ using eastern North Carolina vinegar-based sauce
• Memaw’s Chicken And Ribs is a local favorite and a classic hole-in-the-wall style restaurant where everything is cooked fresh

Pender County Shopping

You will find the best and freshest produce at the Pender County farmer’s markets. There is a market at Poplar Grove on Wednesday mornings serving everything from in-season fruits and vegetables to crab cakes and baked goods.

Historic downtown Burgaw is your source for antique shopping and specialty retail boutiques. Stop by the old-fashioned department store and drug store with a real soda fountain. You will also find art galleries and outdoor suppliers in the area. 

On Topsail Island and Surf City, you will find quirky and unique shops with locally made gifts and nautical decor. 

Living in Pender County

Residents like living in Pender County because it has a small-town feel with an affordable cost of living. This is a place for those who appreciate nature. There are abundant opportunities for boating, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. Its location means you can have a laid-back lifestyle without sacrificing dining amenities and entertainment. Whether you want an affordable beachfront home or a working farm, you can find it in Pender County.