Employment
With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.
Housing
Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.
Ratings
According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Amenities
The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.
Commute
Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.
Located in the state of North Carolina, Surf City is a small city with a population of 3,187 inhabitants. At 93%, the majority of the Surf City population is White; this is followed by 4% Black and 1% Asian. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Surf City offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 32 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Surf City could be a positive experience compared to other cities in North Carolina if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Surf City, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, employment, housing and more.
Surf City has a livability score of 63 out of 100 and is ranked #316 in North Carolina and #13,154 in the USA. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Surf City scores well for education (B), employment (B) and housing (B) On a less positive note, Surf City does not have favorable scores for the following: amenities (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Surf City can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Surf City real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Surf City. The median home price for Surf City homes is $285,800, which is 81.9% higher than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Surf City, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.8, which is 15.2% higher than the North Carolina average.
| Statistic | Surf City | North Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 32min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 75.1% | 81.1% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 12.5% | 9.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.4% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 9.9% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
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