Moving to Southport, NC: The Local's Guide
Neighborhoods, utilities, DMV deadlines, schools, hurricane prep and moving-day tips from our Calabash crew.
Thinking About Moving to Southport?
Southport is a historic small town at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, with a working waterfront, live oaks and a slower pace that keeps drawing retirees and families from all over. Our Calabash crew moves people into Southport, St. James, Oak Island and the rest of eastern Brunswick County, and this guide covers what new residents need to know.
Every fact below links to the official source so you can double-check it. Rules and numbers change, so confirm anything important before you rely on it.
Southport at a Glance
Population
4,205 (ACS 2024 5-year estimate); 3,971 at the 2020 census (source)
County
Brunswick County (Southport was the county seat from 1808 to 1977) (source)
Median home value
$437,700 median value of owner-occupied housing units (ACS 2024 5-year) (source)
Median household income
$87,641 (ACS 2024 5-year) (source)
Climate
Humid subtropical; described as the warmest place in North Carolina with a 65.0°F yearly average. July mean daily high 91.6°F, January mean daily low 35.5°F, about 54.6 inches of precipitation a year (Southport 5 N, 1991–2020 normals) (source)
Southport Neighborhoods
A quick look at the areas new residents ask us about most. Our crews move families into all of them.
Historic Downtown & Waterfront
Southport grew up around colonial Fort Johnston and was founded as Smithville in 1792, so the core near the Cape Fear River waterfront has older homes on compact lots where careful loading and floor protection matter.
Howe Street / NC 211 Corridor
NC 211 enters town from the north as North Howe Street and runs to one block from the waterfront, making it the main route in and out for a moving truck.
St. James
A town of 6,529 residents (2020) about 5 miles west of Southport along NC 211, bordered by Oak Island on three sides.
Oak Island
The beach town next door has about 8,396 permanent residents but a summer population near 50,000, so warm-season moves compete with vacation traffic.
Caswell Beach
A small town (395 residents in 2020) on the eastern end of Oak Island at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, home to Fort Caswell and the Oak Island Lighthouse.
Boiling Spring Lakes
A city of 5,943 people (2020) named for the nearly 50 springs and lakes in the area, a short drive inland from Southport.
Bald Head Island
A village across the Cape Fear River reached by ferry from Southport rather than by public road, so moves there take extra planning.
Your First 30 Days in Southport: Setup Checklist
Utilities
- Electric: Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) — the city lists BEMC for electric service and bill pay; Southport & Oak Island District Office, 4335 Southport-Supply Rd (Hwy 211), 910-457-9808; start new service on bemc.org (source)
- Water & sewer: Brunswick County Public Utilities (BCPU). Southport’s water and sewer system merged into BCPU, which now bills water, sewer and recycle/yard debris; Brunswick County Utility Billing (910) 253-2655 (options 2 or 3), Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. (source)
- Trash, bulky items & recycling: Household garbage inside the city is collected every Tuesday by GFL Environmental, only from the 95-gallon roll-out cart (at the curb by 6 a.m.); new residents contact Brunswick County Solid Waste at 910-253-2520 for a cart. Yard debris goes out Wednesdays. Recycling carts are picked up every two weeks and boxes must be flattened; large items go to the county convenience center at 8392 River Road SE (source)
Driver’s license & car
- Driver’s license & vehicle registration: Within 60 days of establishing permanent residence you must get an NC driver license and title/register your vehicles with NCDMV (license or ID first); if you take a job in NC, register when you start work or when your prior state’s reciprocity period (usually 30 days) ends, whichever is first (source)
- Nearest DMV offices: Find the nearest driver license office or license plate agency with the NCDMV office locator (source)
Register to vote
- North Carolina State Board of Elections; deadline is 25 days before Election Day, and existing NCDMV customers can register online (source)
Schools
- School district: Brunswick County Schools — link (source)
- How to enroll: Complete the Infinite Campus online registration (all children in one application) and upload an immunization record, certified birth certificate, proof of Brunswick County residence (current utility bill, mortgage statement or rental agreement), withdrawal form/last report card, and the NC Health Assessment Transmittal Form for students new to NC public schools (source)
- Find your zoned school: Edulog WebQuery — search by physical address: link (source)
Property taxes
- Southport city property taxes are collected by the Brunswick County Tax Collector; questions go to the Brunswick County Tax Office, (910) 253-2829 (source)
- Since July 1, 2024, vehicles registered inside Southport city limits pay a $30 city fee at annual registration renewal (source)
- NC property tax relief programs available to qualifying owners include the Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion, the Disabled Veteran Homestead Exclusion and the Homestead Circuit Breaker (Brunswick County Tax Office, 910-253-2811) (source)
Hurricane & Flood Prep
- Know your evacuation zone: NC Know Your Zone address lookup (color-coded tiered evacuation zones), plus Brunswick County’s Evacuation Zones Map (PDF) (source)
- Check flood risk: Brunswick County Flood Zone Viewer (search your address), NC Flood Risk Information System (fris.nc.gov) and FEMA flood maps; Brunswick County Floodplain Administrator 910-253-2046. Updated preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps have been issued for Southport (source)
- Hurricane season: Hurricane season runs June 1–November 30; Brunswick County urges residents to sign up for ReadyBrunswick emergency alerts (source)
Plan your move date with storm season in mind, and keep a backup date. Our crews watch the forecast for every coastal move.
Getting Around Southport
- Main roads: NC 211 is the main route into town, entering from the north as North Howe Street; it continues as East Moore Street and Ferry Road to the ferry terminal. Brunswick County’s major highways include US 17, NC 87 and NC 133 (source)
- Airport: Cape Fear Regional Jetport near Oak Island serves general aviation; Wilmington International Airport (ILM) in New Hanover County is the nearest commercial airport (source)
- Public transit: The NCDOT Southport–Fort Fisher ferry crosses the Cape Fear River to New Hanover County; the private Bald Head Island Ferry serves Bald Head Island (source)
Things to Do in Southport
NC Maritime Museum
North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport — 204 E. Moore Street, open Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; maritime history of the Lower Cape Fear (source)
Fort Johnston–Southport Museum
Fort Johnston–Southport Museum & Visitors’ Center, overlooking the mouth of the Cape Fear River (source)
Southport–Fort Fisher Ferry
Ride the Southport–Fort Fisher ferry across the Cape Fear River (source)
Oak Island Lighthouse
Oak Island Lighthouse in neighboring Caswell Beach, owned by the town since 2004 (source)
Bald Head Island
Bald Head Island by ferry, home to Old Baldy Lighthouse and the Smith Island Museum (source)
Local Events Worth Knowing
- NC 4th of July Festival — established in 1972, draws 40,000–50,000 people to Southport each year (source)
- Southport Winterfest — holiday festival downtown with lights, music, crafts and food vendors (source)
- Southport Springfest — a tradition since the 1990s with live music, handmade crafts and local food downtown (source)
Moving Day in Southport: Tips From Our Crew
Parking, trash pickup, traffic and building rules we plan around on every local move.
Tuesday trash pickup
Household garbage inside Southport is collected every Tuesday by GFL Environmental, and only from the 95-gallon roll-out cart, which must be at the curb by 6 a.m. Don’t pile moving trash beside the cart.
Flatten boxes for recycling
The city’s blue recycling cart is picked up every two weeks (Schedule A west of Howe Street and Rivermist, Schedule B east of Howe Street). Corrugated boxes must be broken down and flattened, and nothing should be bagged.
Haul big items yourself
Brunswick County does not collect large items or extra trash with normal pickup. Take them to the convenience center at 8392 River Road SE in Southport, open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Avoid Fourth of July week
Southport hosts the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival, which draws 40,000 to 50,000 visitors a year, so schedule your move away from the holiday if you can.
Register your golf cart
Bringing a golf cart? Southport requires an annual inspection and registration through the police department. Bring the registration form and proof of insurance to 111 N. Rhett Street on Wednesday mornings, or to the Summer Market at Waterfront Park from May through August.
Moving to Southport: FAQs
You must get an NC driver license and title and register your vehicles within 60 days of establishing permanent residence, getting your license or ID first. If you take a job in NC, register the vehicle when you start work or when your old state’s reciprocity period (usually 30 days) ends, whichever comes first.
Electric service is through Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (910-457-9808). Water and sewer are now Brunswick County Public Utilities, which took over the city’s system and bills water, sewer and recycling/yard debris.
Inside city limits, GFL Environmental collects household garbage every Tuesday from the 95-gallon roll-out cart, which must be at the curb by 6 a.m. New residents can call Brunswick County Solid Waste at 910-253-2520 about a cart.
Enter your address in North Carolina’s Know Your Zone lookup. For flood risk, use Brunswick County’s Flood Zone Viewer, NC FRIS or FEMA’s flood maps, or call the county Floodplain Administrator at 910-253-2046.
Local moves are billed by the hour, with the clock starting when our crew arrives at your home. Long-distance moves get a binding, flat-price estimate that won’t change after you book. Call 910-758-0081 for a free written quote.
Yes. Our long-distance moves come with your own truck, the same crew from door to door and a guaranteed delivery date.
Ready to Move to Southport?
Get a free, written quote from our Calabash crew. Family-owned since 2015.