The Town FilesCastle Hayne, North Carolina
Community in New Hanover County · population 1,243 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $377,900
- Household income
- $53,056
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 59.0
Castle Hayne is a community of 1,243 people in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $377,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 92% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Castle Hayne 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 Castle Hayne is worth $377,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 7.1 times the median household income of $53,056, which is more affordable than 3% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,037 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Castle Hayne | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $377,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,037 | $969 |
| Median household income | $53,056 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Castle Hayne
| People | Castle Hayne | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 17.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Castle Hayne
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 63.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 56 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castle Hayne 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 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 16, 1971.
Severe weather in New Hanover County since 1996
New Hanover County has been included in 32 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 |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in New Hanover County
New Hanover County had 130,464 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,611 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Castle Hayne itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Castle Hayne
4 public schools with 1,837 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Shelter Middle | 6-8 | 822 | 14.7 |
| Castle Hayne Elementary | PK-5 | 496 | 13.8 |
| SEA-Tech | 9-13 | 265 | 17.7 |
| Wilmington Early College High | 9-13 | 254 | 23.1 |
Towns near Castle Hayne
- Skippers Corner, NC2.0 mi · 2,912 people · home $247,500
- Northchase, NC3.8 mi · 3,842 people · home $318,400
- Wrightsboro, NC4.8 mi · 5,526 people · home $255,700
- Murraysville, NC5.9 mi · 16,582 people · home $320,700
- Hightsville, NC6.2 mi · 710 people · home $228,000
- Rocky Point, NC6.2 mi · 1,476 people · home $163,500
- Kings Grant, NC6.8 mi · 8,466 people · home $300,700
- Bayshore, NC7.6 mi · 3,833 people · home $525,800
Castle Hayne questions
Is Castle Hayne, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Castle Hayne scores better for retirees than 66% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 28%. 44.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.0).
How much does a house cost in Castle Hayne?
The median owner-occupied home in Castle Hayne is valued at $377,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,056, so homes cost about 7.1 times income. Median rent is $1,037 a month.
What is the weather like in Castle Hayne?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Castle Hayne get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castle Hayne 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)