The Town FilesHampstead, North Carolina
Community in Pender County · population 7,016 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $402,100
- Household income
- $91,745
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 35.8
Hampstead is a community of 7,016 people in Pender County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $402,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 91% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Hampstead 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 Hampstead is worth $402,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $91,745, which is more affordable than 27% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,216 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hampstead | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $402,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,216 | $969 |
| Median household income | $91,745 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hampstead
| People | Hampstead | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 17.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hampstead
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 0.6 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
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hampstead 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 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 23, 1998.
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 Hampstead itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Hampstead
7 public schools with 6,105 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsail High | 9-12 | 1,888 | 21.5 |
| Topsail Middle | 5-8 | 855 | 19.9 |
| Surf City Elementary | PK-5 | 850 | 17.0 |
| Surf City Middle | 6-8 | 750 | 21.4 |
| South Topsail Elementary | PK-5 | 610 | 16.1 |
| Topsail Annandale Elementary School | PK-4 | 587 | 14.0 |
| North Topsail Elementary | PK-5 | 565 | 16.1 |
Towns near Hampstead
- Porters Neck, NC4.9 mi · 7,397 people · home $569,700
- Bayshore, NC5.8 mi · 3,833 people · home $525,800
- Murraysville, NC7.0 mi · 16,582 people · home $320,700
- Ogden, NC7.1 mi · 8,200 people · home $463,700
- Northchase, NC8.0 mi · 3,842 people · home $318,400
- Kings Grant, NC9.0 mi · 8,466 people · home $300,700
- Skippers Corner, NC9.5 mi · 2,912 people · home $247,500
- Wrightsboro, NC11.3 mi · 5,526 people · home $255,700
Hampstead questions
Is Hampstead, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hampstead scores better for retirees than 76% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 60%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Hampstead?
The median owner-occupied home in Hampstead is valued at $402,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,745, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,216 a month.
What is the weather like in Hampstead?
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 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Hampstead get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hampstead 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)