What it's like to live in Spring Lake
Spring Lake is a small city in North Carolina with home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Spring Lake deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Spring Lake compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Spring Lake
Based on Spring Lake's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,702
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,040 a year
- 49% of Spring Lake renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$24,800
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $12,400
- Homes cost 2.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,351/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,351 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $124,000. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $124,000 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cumberland County is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Cumberland County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 53% above US
504 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2713/100k · Spring Lake Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 30% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Moores Creek National Battlefield (71 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Spring Lake's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,351/mo) equals 31% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes.
See all the data for Spring Lake →·All North Carolina cities →
Other places near Spring Lake
All North Carolina guides →Moving to Spout Springs →
7 mi away · pop. 11,242
Rent $2,010/mo · Income $92,402
Compare with Spring Lake →Moving to Fayetteville →
7 mi away · pop. 210,815
Rent $1,250/mo · Income $58,407
Compare with Spring Lake →Moving to Anderson Creek →
8 mi away · pop. 13,927
Rent $1,251/mo · Income $87,287
Compare with Spring Lake →Moving to Hope Mills →
15 mi away · pop. 17,939
Rent $1,141/mo · Income $65,774
Compare with Spring Lake →Not sure Spring Lake is the one?
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