The Town FilesSilver Lake, North Carolina
Community in New Hanover County · population 6,500 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $325,500
- Household income
- $76,756
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 42.9
Silver Lake is a community of 6,500 people in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $325,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 78% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 72% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake is worth $325,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $76,756, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,416 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Silver Lake | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $325,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,416 | $969 |
| Median household income | $76,756 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Silver Lake
| People | Silver Lake | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Silver Lake
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 36.1°F. About 65.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 41 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Lake since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 30, 2023 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 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 Silver Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Towns near Silver Lake
- Myrtle Grove, NC1.6 mi · 11,476 people · home $439,100
- Wilmington, NC4.8 mi · 115,451 people · home $383,800
- Sea Breeze, NC5.3 mi · 2,245 people · home $405,100
- Carolina Beach, NC7.0 mi · 6,564 people · home $566,200
- Belville, NC7.3 mi · 2,406 people · home $282,600
- Wrightsville Beach, NC8.0 mi · 2,473 people · home $1,168,700
- Hightsville, NC8.9 mi · 710 people · home $228,000
- Kings Grant, NC9.0 mi · 8,466 people · home $300,700
Silver Lake questions
Is Silver Lake, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Silver Lake scores better for retirees than 72% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 31%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Silver Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Silver Lake is valued at $325,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,756, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,416 a month.
What is the weather like in Silver Lake?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 36.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 65.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Silver Lake get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Silver Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 30, 2023. 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)