Sunset Beach town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Sunset Beach town is a small community located in North Carolina. The total population is 4,326. It ranks as the 195th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sunset Beach town is 68.3 years. This is 75% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 2.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 32.5% 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 Sunset Beach town is $84,934. This is 22% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.0%. This is 54% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $354,300. Housing costs are 37% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 87.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sunset Beach town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.4% vs 60.7%). The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

39.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% 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 98.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sunset Beach 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.