The county seat is the tiny town of Bolivia, with only about 150 residents. The largest town is Leland, with roughly 25,000 people, located near Wilmington and serving as a growing bedroom community. Southport is a charming historic port town of about 4,000 residents, known for its waterfront and maritime heritage. Other key communities include Shallotte, with around 4,000 people and acting as a commercial hub for the southern part of the county, and Calabash, famous for its seafood restaurants and sitting right on the South Carolina line.

The real population boom happens along the coast. Beach towns like Holden Beach, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, and Caswell Beach draw thousands of visitors and seasonal residents. Bald Head Island, accessible only by ferry, is a quiet, car-free community at the southern tip of the county.

Overall, Brunswick County has a population of about 150,000 residents, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina. Most of that growth is concentrated in Leland and the coastal beach communities, while the inland areas remain more rural and forested. The county blends suburban growth near Wilmington with classic coastal beach towns and small historic communities.