Topsail Beach, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 406, Topsail Beach's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Topsail Beach is a small community located in North Carolina, within Pender County. The total population is 406. It ranks as the 624th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Topsail Beach is 68.2 years. This is 74% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 4.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 19.5% 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 Topsail Beach is $93,250. This is 29% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 16% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.6%. This is 41% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.6%. This is 87% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $691,200. Housing costs are 139% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 96.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Topsail Beach was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

59.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Topsail Beach 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 99.5%. Notably, 25.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Topsail Beach, 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.