Southern Shores town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Southern Shores town is a small community located in North Carolina. The total population is 3,119. It ranks as the 253rd most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Southern Shores town is 57.4 years. This is 47% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 14.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Southern Shores town is $116,859. This is 67% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 49% higher. The poverty rate stands at 0.8%. This is 94% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 14.0%. This is 189% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $621,100. Housing costs are 139% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 87.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Southern Shores town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.2% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.2% vs 60.7%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

56.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Southern Shores town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 63% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.9%. Notably, 23.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Southern Shores town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.