The Town FilesColumbus County, North Carolina
50,140 people. The median home is worth $146,000 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $49,442.
Towns in Columbus County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiteville | 4,766 | $187,500 | $31,167 | 35.7 |
| Tabor City | 3,781 | $115,900 | $38,714 | 41.2 |
People and housing
| Columbus County | Typical North Carolina town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $824 | $969 |
| Median household income | $49,442 | $60,458 |
| Median age | 42.6 | 41.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.2% | 14.3% |
Jobs and pay
14,466 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,896 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 530 storm events in Columbus County from 1996 to 2026, with 14 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Columbus County has been included in 29 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| 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 |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).