The Town FilesBolton, North Carolina
Town in Columbus County · population 519 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,700
- Household income
- $48,450
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.3
Bolton is a town of 519 people in Columbus County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $146,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 85% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 74% of North Carolina towns.
How Bolton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bolton is worth $146,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $48,450, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bolton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $48,450 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Bolton
| People | Bolton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Bolton
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 34.4°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 16, 2006 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 5, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2024.
Severe weather in Columbus County since 1996
Columbus County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Columbus County
Columbus County had 14,466 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,896 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Bolton itself the ACS puts it at 28.2%.
Towns near Bolton
- Lake Waccamaw, NC6.3 mi · 1,296 people · home $305,900
- Riegelwood, NC10.4 mi · 545 people · home $200,300
- Northwest, NC14.6 mi · 703 people · home $225,900
- Whiteville, NC17.2 mi · 4,766 people · home $187,500
- Brunswick, NC18.3 mi · 973 people · home $82,500
- Clarkton, NC18.7 mi · 614 people · home $140,100
- Navassa, NC20.8 mi · 1,367 people · home $187,100
- Leland, NC21.6 mi · 22,908 people · home $398,900
Bolton questions
Is Bolton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bolton scores better for retirees than 13% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 74%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Bolton?
The median owner-occupied home in Bolton is valued at $146,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,450, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Bolton?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 34.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Bolton get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 16, 2006. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)