The Town FilesNorthwest, North Carolina
City in Brunswick County · population 703 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,900
- Household income
- $53,214
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 51.5
Northwest is a city of 703 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $225,900, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 74% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Northwest 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 Northwest is worth $225,900, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $53,214, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northwest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $825 | $969 |
| Median household income | $53,214 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Northwest
| People | Northwest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Northwest
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
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northwest since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 16, 2006 about 5.6 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 May 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 8, 2024.
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 Northwest itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Towns near Northwest
- Riegelwood, NC4.6 mi · 545 people · home $200,300
- Navassa, NC6.5 mi · 1,367 people · home $187,100
- Leland, NC9.2 mi · 22,908 people · home $398,900
- Belville, NC10.8 mi · 2,406 people · home $282,600
- Hightsville, NC12.3 mi · 710 people · home $228,000
- Wrightsboro, NC12.4 mi · 5,526 people · home $255,700
- Skippers Corner, NC13.2 mi · 2,912 people · home $247,500
- Castle Hayne, NC13.7 mi · 1,243 people · home $377,900
Northwest questions
Is Northwest, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northwest scores better for retirees than 11% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 44%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.5).
How much does a house cost in Northwest?
The median owner-occupied home in Northwest is valued at $225,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,214, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Northwest?
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 Northwest get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northwest 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)