The Town FilesBurgaw, North Carolina
Town in Pender County · population 3,088 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,200
- Household income
- $67,853
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 44.8
Burgaw is a town of 3,088 people in Pender County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $242,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 79% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How Burgaw 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 Burgaw is worth $242,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $67,853, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $943 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burgaw | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $943 | $969 |
| Median household income | $67,853 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Burgaw
| People | Burgaw | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Burgaw
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 55.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burgaw since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 13, 2004 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 26, 2006.
Severe weather in Pender County since 1996
Pender County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| 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 Pender County
Pender County had 14,704 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,159 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Burgaw itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Burgaw
6 public schools with 2,310 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pender High | 9-12 | 672 | 19.2 |
| C.F. Pope Elementary | PK-5 | 538 | 13.8 |
| Malpass Corner Elementary | PK-5 | 491 | 14.9 |
| Burgaw Middle | 6-8 | 228 | 10.9 |
| Pender Early College High | 9-13 | 193 | 21.4 |
| West Pender Middle | 6-8 | 188 | 11.8 |
Towns near Burgaw
- Wallace, NC13.4 mi · 3,413 people · home $178,000
- Skippers Corner, NC15.5 mi · 2,912 people · home $247,500
- Hampstead, NC16.2 mi · 7,016 people · home $402,100
- Northchase, NC17.0 mi · 3,842 people · home $318,400
- Wrightsboro, NC18.2 mi · 5,526 people · home $255,700
- Murraysville, NC18.5 mi · 16,582 people · home $320,700
- Bayshore, NC19.4 mi · 3,833 people · home $525,800
- Porters Neck, NC19.8 mi · 7,397 people · home $569,700
Burgaw questions
Is Burgaw, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burgaw scores better for retirees than 72% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 77%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Burgaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Burgaw is valued at $242,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,853, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Burgaw?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Burgaw get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burgaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 13, 2004. 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)