Population 5,773 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sunset Beach
Household size in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.05 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.18 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.07 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.98 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Sunset Beach is a place of small households, averaging 1.98 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.05, mirroring the country. Only three of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 57.4 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 60.5 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 61.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 64.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.2 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 64.6, Sunset Beach is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 57.4 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other North Carolina city with 5,000+ people is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.8% of households in Sunset Beach, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only three of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Sunset Beach
Renters in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sunset Beach is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 12.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 51.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 51.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −12.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 43.6% of the housing in Sunset Beach, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 12.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1993 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1997 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2001 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Sunset Beach has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2001, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1993 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Sunset Beach has newer homes than the great majority of North Carolina cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $750 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $780 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,068 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $950 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$200 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sunset Beach costs $950 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $200 a month from 2006–10, a 27% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Sunset Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.9% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.1% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in Sunset Beach (37.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.9 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Sunset Beach: 96.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 11.8 points, as it has nationally. Only 17 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Sunset Beach
| Period | Sunset Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sunset Beach has been low: just 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 26 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 7.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Sunset Beach compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Beach | 1.98 | 64.6 | 3.8% | 12.2% | 43.6% | 2001 | $950 | 37.9% | 96.7% | 2.4% |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 2.32 | 60.3 | 3.1% | 11.3% | 34.4% | 2000 | $1,075 | 44.2% | 95.5% | 2.4% |
| Carolina Shores | 1.98 | 64.2 | 3.2% | 7.6% | 15.5% | 2001 | $1,483 | 27.3% | 95.3% | 4.8% |
| Calabash | 1.96 | 64.2 | 4.7% | 14.3% | 19.5% | 2002 | $1,436 | 33.9% | 96.2% | 5.0% |
| Grissettown | 2.21 | 41.2 | 5.3% | 25.0% | 24.4% | 2003 | $1,000 | 17.9% | 81.7% | 1.4% |
| Shallotte | 2.18 | 48.7 | 13.5% | 21.5% | 20.3% | 1997 | $1,205 | 21.3% | 90.3% | 3.9% |
| Little River | 2.27 | 56.6 | 7.4% | 17.4% | 24.7% | 2002 | $1,425 | 25.4% | 93.0% | 4.0% |
| Olyphic | 2.30 | 45.0 | 6.1% | 30.7% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,247 | 10.2% | 91.5% | 1.7% |
| Holden Beach | 2.00 | 65.5 | 1.5% | 5.4% | 81.2% | 1992 | $1,475 | 66.9% | 98.9% | 2.3% |
| Supply | 2.22 | 46.8 | 17.0% | 21.9% | 38.9% | 1994 | $1,015 | 16.1% | 85.6% | 6.2% |
| North Myrtle Beach | 2.16 | 58.2 | 3.6% | 19.7% | 48.3% | 1997 | $1,321 | 38.0% | 94.7% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Afton, TN · Akron, PA · Albia, IA · Ovilla, TX · Olympia Fields, IL · Ona, WV · Onsted, MI · Oologah, OK · Oracle, AZ · Oronoco, MN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Sunset Beach. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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