Southern Shores, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Southern Shores, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Southern Shores, North Carolina had a total population of 3,139, the 256th largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $131,429, which is 82% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 0.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 82% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in North Carolina.
An exceptionally low poverty rate of 0.6% — among the lowest in North Carolina.
59.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in North Carolina.
Unemployment rate of 13.3% is notably above the national average.

Southern Shores Quick Facts

Population 3,139

Median Household Income $131,429

Median Home Value $712,300

Poverty Rate 0.6%

Unemployment Rate 13.3%

Median Age 58.7 years

Homeownership Rate 91.3%

Affordability Ratio 5.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 59.1%

High School Graduation Rate 99.0%

Diversity Index 7/100

Population 3,139 256th of 772

Median Income $131,429 top 10%

Poverty Rate 0.6% 95% lower than national

Median Home Value $712,300 top 10%

How Southern Shores Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	3,119	3,139	+0.6%
Median household income	$116,859	$131,429	+12.5%
Median home value	$621,100	$712,300	+14.7%

How Southern Shores Compares

Median Household Income

Southern Shores

$131,429

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Southern Shores

$712,300

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 5.1%

$25K-$50K 5.3%

$50K-$100K 22.1%

$100K+ 67.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

0.0%

$10K-$15K

0.0%

$15K-$20K

3.4%

$20K-$25K

1.7%

$25K-$30K

1.2%

$30K-$35K

0.0%

$35K-$40K

1.1%

$40K-$45K

1.2%

$45K-$50K

1.7%

$50K-$60K

3.5%

$60K-$75K

4.6%

$75K-$100K

14.1%

$100K-$125K

13.9%

$125K-$150K

8.9%

$150K-$200K

20.8%

$200K+

24.0%

Employment

13.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

57.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 91.3%

Renter 8.7%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.4x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

12.0%

18-34

14.8%

35-54

17.5%

55-74

42.0%

75+

13.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Southern Shores Rankings in North Carolina

#256 Population of 772

#25 Median Income of 716

#50 Education of 772

#12 Home Value of 725

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Dare County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Kill Devil Hills	7,761	$89,773	9.2%	$442,200
Kitty Hawk	3,724	$94,450	4.7%	$535,000
Nags Head	3,160	$91,264	2.4%	$490,800
Manteo	2,020	$83,777	19.2%	$444,400
Wanchese	1,956	$88,750	6.3%	$311,800
Buxton	1,267	N/A	6.7%	$409,900
Manns Harbor	926	$51,800	25.1%	$253,000
Rodanthe	781	N/A	2.3%	N/A
Duck	669	$136,250	10.8%	$767,500
Frisco	664	$43,846	1.1%	$439,600

Cities Similar to Southern Shores

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Lake Royale	3,168	$107,806	$280,400	22.1%	7.3%
Avery Creek	2,887	$113,261	$412,900	38.6%	1.4%
Nags Head	3,160	$91,264	$490,800	50.9%	2.4%
Wallburg	3,150	$88,406	$343,700	35.1%	2.4%
Bayshore	2,949	$94,632	$525,800	60.9%	3.8%

Population Overview

Southern Shores is a small community located in North Carolina, within Dare County. The total population is 3,139. It ranks as the 256th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Southern Shores is 58.7 years. This is 50% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 12.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.6% 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 is $131,429. This is 82% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 63% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 0.6%. This is 96% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 13.3%. This is 181% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $712,300. Housing costs are 147% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 91.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Southern Shores has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.4% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.4% vs 60.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

59.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Southern Shores in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 66% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 99.0%. Notably, 23.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Southern Shores, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Southern Shores, North Carolina?

Southern Shores, North Carolina has a population of 3,139 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Southern Shores, NC?

The median household income in Southern Shores is $131,429, which is 63% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Southern Shores, NC?

The poverty rate in Southern Shores is 0.6%. This means approximately 18 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Southern Shores, North Carolina?

Southern Shores's population is 96.4% White, 0.0% Black, 0.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.

What is the median home value in Southern Shores, NC?

The median home value in Southern Shores is $712,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x.

How educated is Southern Shores, North Carolina?

59.1% of adults (25+) in Southern Shores hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 23.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.