Moving to Bolivia, NC: Living in Bolivia Guide

Bolivia is the tiny town that runs Brunswick County. Only 149 people lived inside town limits at the 2020 Census, but it has been the county seat since 1977, so the county government center, the sheriff’s headquarters, Brunswick Community College’s main campus and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center all carry a Bolivia address. The town was settled in the 1890s, incorporated in 1911, and, as one local story goes, took its name from shipping boxes marked for the South American country.

For most movers, “Bolivia” means the wider 28422 ZIP code: pine woods, rural roads, golf and newer subdivisions between Leland, Southport and Supply. It suits people who work for the county, the hospital or the college, commuters who want a central spot in Brunswick County, and anyone who wants more land for the money while staying about 15 miles from the beach at Oak Island. This guide covers the numbers and the local details, from the team behind our Bolivia movers page.

Planning a move to Bolivia? Call our NC & SC team at 910-758-0081 or get your price online.

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Where Is Bolivia, NC?

Bolivia sits in the middle of Brunswick County. Old U.S. 17 (Old Ocean Highway) passes through the center of town, while the current U.S. 17 (Ocean Highway) bypasses it to the northwest. U.S. 17 leads northeast to Wilmington and southwest toward Myrtle Beach. State roads including N.C. 211 and N.C. 87 connect the area to Southport and Boiling Spring Lakes.

The town’s history is tied to that highway. When U.S. 17 was widened to four lanes and a bypass was built around Bolivia, traffic and shoppers moved away. The county’s decision in 1977 to move the county seat from Southport to Bolivia brought government offices, and businesses followed.

Road distances from Bolivia, measured with OpenStreetMap routing:

Supply: about 9 miles
Leland: about 13 miles
Southport: about 15 miles
Oak Island: about 15 miles
Shallotte: about 16 miles
Downtown Wilmington: about 19 miles
Wilmington International Airport (ILM): about 25 miles
North Myrtle Beach, SC: about 40 miles
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR): about 60 miles
Fayetteville: about 95 miles
Raleigh: about 149 miles
Charlotte: about 203 miles

Bolivia Population & Demographics

The Town of Bolivia is very small: 149 residents in the 2020 Census, compared with 143 in 2010 and a high of 252 in 1980. Because the town is so small, the Census Bureau’s survey estimates for it swing widely; the 2020–2024 estimate of 247 residents carries a margin of error of plus or minus 130.

The 28422 ZIP code area, which most people mean when they say they live in Bolivia, gives a steadier picture. It had an estimated 10,059 residents in 2020–2024, a median age of 52.1 and a high rate of homeownership. Note that this ZIP code area also takes in land toward Supply.

Measure (2020–2024 ACS unless noted)	Town of Bolivia	ZIP 28422	Brunswick County	North Carolina
Population, 2020 Census	149	—	—	—
Population (ACS estimate)	247	10,059	152,568	10,730,404
Median age	37.5	52.1	56.4	39.1
Median household income	$57,159	$69,412	$77,024	$72,388
Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+	46.4%	27.8%	34.7%	35.7%
Owner-occupied housing rate	87.1%	86.3%	84.6%	66.6%
Median home value	$290,000	$295,200	$349,800	$288,900

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (town, ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28422, county and state), via Census Reporter. Town-level figures have very large margins of error; the town’s income estimate, for example, is plus or minus about $34,900.

Is Bolivia Safe?

We haven’t found a reliable crime rate for Bolivia that we’d feel right quoting, and the town is too small for the usual rankings to mean much. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is headquartered in Bolivia at 70 Stamp Act Drive and takes crime tips online. For questions about a specific road or subdivision, contact the Sheriff’s Office’s non-emergency line, and drive the area at different times of day before you buy.

Cost of Living in Bolivia

The Bolivia area offers more house and more land for the money than the beach towns, and home values sit below the county’s typical value.

Home Prices

Zillow doesn’t publish a home value index for the Town of Bolivia itself, but its index for the 28422 ZIP code was $331,055 in August 2026, up 1.9% from $324,958 a year earlier. That compares with $404,783 for Brunswick County, $334,773 for North Carolina and $368,697 for the U.S. The Census Bureau’s survey-based median home value was $295,200 for ZIP 28422 in 2020–2024.

Rent

Zillow’s Observed Rent Index for Bolivia was $1,890 a month in August 2026, up from $1,876 a year earlier and above the Brunswick County index of $1,734. The Census Bureau’s median gross rent for ZIP 28422 was $1,564 for 2020–2024, though with a margin of error of about $370. Rentals are limited because most homes are owner-occupied, so start your search early.

For context, Zillow’s rent index was $1,734 for Brunswick County (up 3.8% from a year earlier), $1,734 for the Wilmington metro and $1,948 for the U.S. in August 2026. Beyond rent or a mortgage, budget for driving: with most shopping in Supply, Leland or Southport and the nearest airport about 25 miles away, a car is a must here.

Best Neighborhoods in Bolivia

The Town Center on Old Ocean Highway

The original town sits along Old Ocean Highway, with the post office and Town Hall at 105 Danford Road SE. It’s small and quiet, with less than a square mile of land inside town limits. It suits people who want a true small-town address and a short drive to the county offices, and who don’t mind that most shopping is in Supply, Leland or Southport.

The Government Center and Hospital Area

The Brunswick County Government Center on Government Center Drive NE, the Sheriff’s Office on Stamp Act Drive, Brunswick Community College on College Road NE and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center on Hospital Drive NE form Bolivia’s working core. Living nearby suits county employees, hospital staff, students and anyone who wants a short commute to the county’s major public offices.

The 28422 Countryside and Golf Communities

The Bolivia mailing area stretches far beyond town limits, and much of it is wooded and rural. It also includes Carolina National Golf Club, a 27-hole Fred Couples signature course set in an Audubon Certified Sanctuary along the Lockwood Folly River. This part of Bolivia suits golfers, retirees and families who want a bigger lot and don’t mind driving for groceries.

Weather & Climate

The closest NOAA normals station is Southport 5 N, about 10 miles southeast of town. Its 1991–2020 normals put the annual average temperature at 65.0°F. July averages a high of 91.6°F and a low of 72.8°F, while January averages a high of 60.0°F and a low of 35.5°F.

Average rainfall at the station is 54.64 inches a year, and September is the wettest month at 8.16 inches. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with most storms arriving August through October, according to NOAA. Even inland, heavy rain and fallen trees can close rural roads after a big storm.

Best months to move: April (average high 75.8°F), May (82.5°F), October (78.9°F) and November (69.9°F).

Things to Do in Bolivia

Carolina National Golf Club

A Fred Couples signature design with three nines named Egret, Heron and Ibis, Champion Bermuda greens and views of the Lockwood Folly River. Golf Digest gave it a 4½-star rating. The clubhouse has a pro shop and the Winding River Grille, and the practice area includes a 320-yard driving range.

Brunswick County Botanical Garden

The county’s botanical garden is at 25 Referendum Drive NE in Bolivia, a quiet stop for newcomers learning their way around the county seat.

Dinah E. Gore Sports & Aquatics Complex

Brunswick Community College runs this sports and aquatics complex at 210 College Road NE on its Bolivia campus, a local option for swimming and fitness.

Green Swamp Preserve

About five miles north of Supply on N.C. 211, The Nature Conservancy’s 17,424-acre preserve protects longleaf pine savanna with Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews, orchids and red-cockaded woodpeckers. A 1.3-mile trail (2.6 miles round trip) is open daily from dawn to dusk. Bring water and bug spray, since there are no restrooms.

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site

In Winnabow, this free state historic site holds the ruins of Brunswick, a major port town destroyed in 1776, including St. Philips Church, and the earthworks of a Civil War-era fort. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Oak Island and Southport

The beaches at Oak Island and the waterfront in Southport are each about 15 miles away, close enough for a weeknight sunset.

Where to Eat in and Around Bolivia

Bolivia has only a few restaurants of its own, and locals also eat in neighboring Supply. Here are three picks featured by Brunswick County’s tourism office.

D’s Italian Restaurant (Bolivia)

D’s serves traditional Italian food, including pasta and pizza, with wine service. It’s a good choice close to home when you’re too tired to unpack the kitchen.

El Grill (Supply)

El Grill has been serving burgers and other familiar comfort food at good prices since 1987, for dine-in or takeout. It’s the kind of casual place that feeds a moving crew well.

Lockwood Folly Marketplace (Supply)

A neighborhood market with a full-service Boar’s Head deli, gourmet goods, desserts and all-natural ice cream from a North Carolina dairy. Call ahead for takeout, and pick up sandwiches for moving day.

Jobs & Economy

For a town of fewer than 300 people, Bolivia is home to a lot of jobs. As the county seat, it hosts the Brunswick County Government Center, the Sheriff’s Office, the Board of Elections and other county departments. Brunswick Community College’s main campus is on College Road NE, and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, at 240 Hospital Drive NE, provides emergency care, surgery, maternity and other services for the region.

Across Brunswick County, the school system is the largest single employer, with more than 1,000 employees, and retail trade is the largest industry by employment, with 6,437 jobs in 2023, according to the NC Rural Center. County employment grew 38% between 2013 and 2023, and the unemployment rate averaged 4.2% in 2023. Many Bolivia-area residents also commute to Leland, Southport and Wilmington, about 19 miles away.

Schools in Bolivia

Bolivia is served by Brunswick County Schools, which the National Center for Education Statistics reports had 13,561 students in 20 schools in the 2024–2025 school year. Two elementary schools, Bolivia Elementary and Virginia Williamson Elementary, are in Bolivia, along with COAST, a high school program, and Brunswick Virtual Academy. Middle and high school assignments depend on your address, so check with the district.

Brunswick Community College’s main campus is at 50 College Road NE in Bolivia, so college classes and job training are close by. The college also runs the Brunswick Educational & Trades Center on Ocean Highway East in Supply, plus centers in Leland and Southport. UNCW and Cape Fear Community College are in Wilmington, about 19 miles away.

Bolivia Quick Facts

County	Brunswick County (county seat since 1977)
ZIP code	28422
Area codes	910, with the 472 overlay
Incorporated	1911
Nearest airports	Wilmington International (ILM), about 25 miles; Myrtle Beach International (MYR), about 60 miles
Main roads	U.S. 17 (Ocean Highway), Old Ocean Highway
Population	149 (2020 Census, town limits)
Hospital	Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center
Public school district	Brunswick County Schools
Annual average temperature	65.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normal, Southport 5 N)

Moving to Bolivia: Tips From Our Crew

Check if your address is in town limits. Many homes with a Bolivia mailing address are outside the Town of Bolivia and fall under county rules instead. Check before you call about permits or services. Town Hall keeps short hours, open Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Get involved early. The town’s board meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., and the planning board on the third Tuesday. Meetings are open to the public and are a good way to learn what’s being built nearby.
Handle county paperwork in one trip. The Brunswick County Government Center, the Board of Elections and the Sheriff’s Office are all in Bolivia, so newcomers can often take care of several errands on the same morning.
Describe your driveway. Rural lots in the 28422 area can mean long drives, gravel or soft shoulders. Tell our Bolivia moving team about access when you book so we send the right size truck.
Watch for burn bans and water alerts. Brunswick County issues burn bans and water conservation alerts during dry spells. If you’re clearing brush or packing up a yard before the move, check current rules first.
Leave room for storms. From August through October, build a spare day or two into your plans. Fallen trees can close rural roads after a storm.
Downsizing from a big lot? Our junk removal can haul off what you don’t want to move, and heavy items like safes and pianos are handled by our heavy item crew.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Bolivia

How much does it cost to hire movers in Bolivia?

Cost depends on the size of your home, the distance, access (a long gravel drive is different from a paved cul-de-sac) and whether you want packing. The only honest way to price it is a free quote. Call 910-758-0081 and an owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Why is Bolivia the county seat if it’s so small?

Brunswick County moved its seat from Southport to Bolivia in 1977. The government offices that followed helped the town’s businesses recover after the U.S. 17 bypass pulled traffic and shoppers away. Today the county government center, Sheriff’s Office and Board of Elections are all in Bolivia.

Is Bolivia, NC close to the beach?

Fairly close. Oak Island is about 15 road miles away, and Holden Beach is about 21. Southport’s waterfront is about 15 miles. You’ll drive to the sand, but not far.

Is there a hospital in Bolivia?

Yes. Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center is at 240 Hospital Drive NE in Bolivia. It offers emergency care, surgery, maternity care, imaging and rehabilitation, and serves a wide stretch of the coast and inland communities.

When is the best time to move to Bolivia?

April, May, October and November bring mild weather and fewer storms. Summers are hot, with July highs averaging 91.6°F at the nearest station, and August through October is peak hurricane season. Book a few weeks ahead for end-of-month dates.

Move to Bolivia With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015. When you call, you talk to an owner, not a call center, and if anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day, with claims resolved in 60 to 90 days. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. From local moves across Brunswick County to long-distance moves with a binding estimate and guaranteed delivery date, we’ll get you settled. Visit our Bolivia moving page or call 910-758-0081, and an owner will call you back within 15 minutes.

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