Hampstead is a community in Pender County, North Carolina, home to about 9,292 people across 20 square miles. Its ZIP code is 28443, and parts of 28457 are in Hampstead too.
Homes sold for a median of $215 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Hampstead; also Surf City
Part is in Hampstead, part in Rocky Point and Long Creek
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Hampstead. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Hampstead’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)87 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Wilmington International Airport (ILM)16 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Raleigh, NC114 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA412 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Hampstead; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Hampstead had 7,016 residents in the 2020 census, up 72% since 2010.
It’s the 103rd largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.
Pender County grew from 13,381 residents in 1900 to 60,203 in 2020.
Pender County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 89°F in summer, and winter lows average 33°F. About 63.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 0 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wilmington 7 N, NC weather station (15 miles away).
11,591 jobs at 1,499 businesses in Pender County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
182 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Hampstead.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 13 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 4 |
| Dentists | 17 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 26 |
| Mental health providers | 64 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 53 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 4 |
| Pharmacies | 12 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (21 nearby)
Grocery stores (2 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 3 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Pender County Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Topsail ElementaryHampstead | Pre-K–5 | 529 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| South Topsail ElementaryHampstead | Pre-K–5 | 618 | Public | 2.7 mi |
| Topsail Annandale Elementary SchoolHampstead | Pre-K–4 | 580 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| Topsail MiddleHampstead | 5–8 | 837 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| Surf City MiddleHampstead | 6–8 | 752 | Public | 7.3 mi |
| Topsail HighHampstead | 9–12 | 1,945 | Public | 0.9 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topsail Montessori LlcHampstead | Pre-K–4 | 38 | Nonsectarian | 4.6 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Surf City, Rocky Point and Long Creek.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.