The Town FilesSouthern Pines, North Carolina
Town in Moore County · population 15,545 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $451,100
- Household income
- $88,535
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.7
Southern Pines is a town of 15,545 people in Moore County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $451,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 91% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Southern Pines 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 Southern Pines is worth $451,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $88,535, which is more affordable than 15% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,354 a month. 56.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Southern Pines | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $451,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,354 | $969 |
| Median household income | $88,535 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Southern Pines
| People | Southern Pines | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Southern Pines
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southern Pines since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 11, 1981 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 6, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 12, 2024.
Severe weather in Moore County since 1996
Moore County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression | DR-4889: Tropical Depression Chantal |
| 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 Moore County
Moore County had 40,121 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,059 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Southern Pines itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Southern Pines
4 public schools with 3,794 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinecrest High | 9-12 | 2,310 | 21.8 |
| McDeeds Creek Elementary | K-5 | 660 | 16.5 |
| Southern Pines Elementary | PK-5 | 590 | 14.8 |
| Moore Montessori Community School (charter) | K-7 | 234 | 19.5 |
Towns near Southern Pines
- Pinehurst, NC3.8 mi · 17,581 people · home $476,600
- Whispering Pines, NC4.0 mi · 4,987 people · home $464,800
- Aberdeen, NC4.6 mi · 8,516 people · home $314,900
- Taylortown, NC5.2 mi · 634 people · home $187,500
- Pinebluff, NC7.1 mi · 1,473 people · home $234,200
- Vass, NC7.8 mi · 952 people · home $257,500
- Carthage, NC8.8 mi · 2,775 people · home $208,200
- Foxfire, NC9.2 mi · 1,288 people · home $386,700
Southern Pines questions
Is Southern Pines, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Southern Pines scores better for retirees than 88% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 41%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Southern Pines?
The median owner-occupied home in Southern Pines is valued at $451,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,535, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,354 a month.
What is the weather like in Southern Pines?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Southern Pines get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southern Pines since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 11, 1981. 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)