The Town FilesWhite Lake, North Carolina
Town in Bladen County · population 843 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,300
- Household income
- $84,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 49.8
White Lake is a town of 843 people in Bladen County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $235,300, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 96% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 87% of North Carolina towns.
How White 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 White Lake is worth $235,300, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $84,375, which is more affordable than 85% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $893 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | White Lake | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $893 | $969 |
| Median household income | $84,375 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 57.9% | — |
Who lives in White Lake
| People | White Lake | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in White Lake
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 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
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Lake since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 6.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 15, 2024.
Severe weather in Bladen County since 1996
Bladen County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, 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 Bladen County
Bladen County had 13,453 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,430 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in White Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near White Lake
- Elizabethtown, NC6.8 mi · 3,296 people · home $159,200
- Garland, NC10.8 mi · 595 people · home $123,900
- Clarkton, NC14.6 mi · 614 people · home $140,100
- Bladenboro, NC18.8 mi · 1,648 people · home $99,500
- Roseboro, NC21.1 mi · 1,163 people · home $130,300
- Lake Waccamaw, NC23.0 mi · 1,296 people · home $305,900
- Bolton, NC23.6 mi · 519 people · home $146,700
- Whiteville, NC25.1 mi · 4,766 people · home $187,500
White Lake questions
Is White Lake, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White Lake scores better for retirees than 87% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 96%. 27.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in White Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in White Lake is valued at $235,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,375, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $893 a month.
What is the weather like in White Lake?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does White Lake get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)