The Town FilesNavassa, North Carolina
Town in Brunswick County · population 1,367 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,100
- Household income
- $62,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 33.5
Navassa is a town of 1,367 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $187,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 98% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 80% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of North Carolina towns.
How Navassa 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 Navassa is worth $187,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $62,000, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,313 a month. 78.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Navassa | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,313 | $969 |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Navassa
| People | Navassa | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Navassa
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 0.9 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
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Navassa since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 13, 1962 about 2.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 16, 1971.
Severe weather in Brunswick County since 1996
Brunswick County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 3, 2025 | Fire | FM-5582: Sunset Drive Fire |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Brunswick County
Brunswick County had 41,268 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,701 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Navassa itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Navassa
- Leland, NC4.8 mi · 22,908 people · home $398,900
- Belville, NC5.1 mi · 2,406 people · home $282,600
- Hightsville, NC5.9 mi · 710 people · home $228,000
- Wrightsboro, NC6.2 mi · 5,526 people · home $255,700
- Northwest, NC6.5 mi · 703 people · home $225,900
- Skippers Corner, NC7.7 mi · 2,912 people · home $247,500
- Castle Hayne, NC8.9 mi · 1,243 people · home $377,900
- Northchase, NC9.4 mi · 3,842 people · home $318,400
Navassa questions
Is Navassa, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Navassa scores better for retirees than 5% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 38%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.5).
How much does a house cost in Navassa?
The median owner-occupied home in Navassa is valued at $187,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,000, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,313 a month.
What is the weather like in Navassa?
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 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Navassa get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Navassa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 13, 1962. 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)