The Town FilesSpring Lake, North Carolina
Town in Cumberland County · population 11,660 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,000
- Household income
- $51,958
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 26.1
Spring Lake is a town of 11,660 people in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $124,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 90% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 89% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 86% of North Carolina towns.
How Spring 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 Spring Lake is worth $124,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $51,958, which is more affordable than 92% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,351 a month. 19.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spring Lake | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,351 | $969 |
| Median household income | $51,958 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 19.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Spring Lake
| People | Spring Lake | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 21.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Spring Lake
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spring Lake since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 5.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 145 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 23, 1975.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 122,995 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,785 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Spring Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Spring Lake
7 public schools with 5,365 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overhills High | 9-12 | 2,024 | 20.7 |
| Overhills Elementary | PK-5 | 897 | 14.2 |
| Overhills Middle | 6-8 | 829 | 16.9 |
| William T Brown Elementary | PK-5 | 554 | 13.9 |
| Spring Lake Middle | 6-8 | 516 | 15.6 |
| Anderson Creek Academy (charter) | K-5 | 292 | 16.2 |
| Manchester Elementary | K-5 | 253 | 13.3 |
Towns near Spring Lake
- Anderson Creek, NC6.7 mi · 13,636 people · home $282,200
- Spout Springs, NC6.8 mi · 11,040 people · home $358,500
- Fayetteville, NC7.1 mi · 208,501 people · home $188,000
- Eastover, NC13.3 mi · 3,656 people · home $241,600
- Rockfish, NC14.1 mi · 3,383 people · home $199,900
- Hope Mills, NC15.0 mi · 17,808 people · home $190,600
- Lillington, NC18.9 mi · 4,735 people · home $247,200
- Raeford, NC19.3 mi · 4,559 people · home $201,800
Spring Lake questions
Is Spring Lake, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spring Lake scores better for retirees than 0% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 0%. 7.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.1).
How much does a house cost in Spring Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Spring Lake is valued at $124,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,958, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,351 a month.
What is the weather like in Spring Lake?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Spring Lake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spring Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. 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)