Columbus County, North Carolina
51,706 parcels. Parcel data edition 2026-11-02.
Who owns the land
| Measure | County | Of what | North Carolina | Rank in state (highest first) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-state owners | 10.6% | 5,298 of 49,814 parcels with a known mailing state | 9.8% | 36 of 96 |
| Absentee owners | 63.8% | Estimated from 42,073 in-state parcels whose addresses could be compared, plus out-of-state owners | 39.6% | 6 of 78 |
| Vacant lots | 50.6% | 26,166 of 51,706 parcels in all | 22.8% | 3 of 91 |
| Inherited (estate or heirs) | 2.3% | 1,164 of 51,088 parcels with an owner name | 1.3% | 34 of 99 |
| Owned by individuals | 85.0% | 43,435 of 51,088 parcels with an owner name | 80.2% | 34 of 99 |
| Publicly owned | 2.4% | 1,232 of 51,088 parcels with an owner name | 1.5% | 10 of 99 |
Where out-of-state owners live
By the owner's mailing address, for the 5,298 out-of-state parcels.
| Mailing state | Parcels | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 1,724 | 32.5% |
| Maryland | 444 | 8.4% |
| Georgia | 434 | 8.2% |
| New York | 434 | 8.2% |
| Virginia | 325 | 6.1% |
| Florida | 278 | 5.2% |
| New Jersey | 272 | 5.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 184 | 3.5% |
| Texas | 130 | 2.5% |
| District of Columbia | 105 | 2.0% |
| 40 other states and territories | 875 | 16.5% |
| US military mail (APO/FPO) | 1 | under 0.1% |
| Outside the US, or an unrecognized code | 92 | 1.7% |
Housing context
| Measure | County | North Carolina | Rank in state (highest first) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms | $925/month | $1,095/month (median county) | 72 of 99 |
| Fair market rent, change over 5 years | +33.5% | +35.5% (median county) | 54 of 99 |
| Median home value (owners' estimate) | $146,000 | $220,100 (median county) | 83 of 99 |
| Price-to-rent (home value / a year of rent) | 13.2 | 16.3 (median county) | 76 of 99 |
| Housing units, 2020 to 2025 | +1.2% | +9.3% | 96 of 99 |
Rent: HUD FMR (FY26); HUD sets one rent for a whole metro area. Rent change: HUD FMR, FY2021 to FY2026. Home value: Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average; price-to-rent divides it by twelve months of the HUD rent above. Housing units: Census Housing Unit Estimates (vintage 2025).
Compared with neighboring counties
| County | Out-of-state owners | Absentee owners | Vacant lots | Inherited (estate or heirs) | Owned by individuals | Publicly owned | 2BR rent | Rent change, 5 yrs | Price-to-rent | Housing units 2020-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus County | 10.6% | 63.8% | 50.6% | 2.3% | 85.0% | 2.4% | $925 | +33.5% | 13.2 | +1.2% |
| Bladen County | 9.2% | no data | 46.1% | 1.6% | 86.0% | 1.5% | $925 | +33.5% | 12.2 | +3.1% |
| Brunswick County | 16.4% | 52.2% | 38.5% | 0.4% | 74.4% | 1.3% | $1,426 | +69.6% | 20.4 | +29.1% |
| Pender County | 9.9% | 45.1% | 29.9% | 1.7% | 80.2% | 1.5% | $1,166 | +38.3% | 21.4 | +15.6% |
| Robeson County | 7.0% | 53.9% | 37.9% | 2.0% | 87.3% | 2.0% | $925 | +33.5% | 8.5 | +3.4% |
Also borders, in states not covered yet: Dillon County, SC, Horry County, SC.