Sunset Beach

Population: 4,326
Median household income: $84,934
Median home value: $354,300

Located in Brunswick County, North Carolina, Sunset Beach is a community with a population of 4,326. Its median household income of $84,934 runs above the Brunswick County figure of $74,034.

Between 2019 and 2023, Sunset Beach's population grew 10.9% from 3,901 to 4,326, while its median home value rose 32.3% from $267,900 to $354,300.

55.0% of homes are single-family detached houses. The typical home was built around 1998.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 4,326
Median age: 68.3 yrs
Median household income: $84,934
Median home value: $354,300
Median gross rent: $541
Housing units: 5,220
Homeownership rate: 87.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 39.7%
Unemployment rate: 2.1%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

3,9014,326

Median household income

$57,265$84,934

Median home value

$267,900$354,300

Median gross rent

$1,232$541

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	3,901	$57,265	$267,900	$1,232
2020	3,994	$61,458	$255,500	—
2021	4,091	$67,083	$281,900	—
2022	4,189	$82,261	$333,200	—
2023	4,326	$84,934	$354,300	$541

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 51.1%

5 to 171.7%

18 to 242.1%

25 to 342.2%

35 to 448.1%

45 to 546.9%

55 to 6420.5%

65 to 7425.0%

75 and over32.5%

	Count	Share
Under 5	48	1.1%
5 to 17	72	1.7%
18 to 24	89	2.1%
25 to 34	95	2.2%
35 to 44	349	8.1%
45 to 54	299	6.9%
55 to 64	887	20.5%
65 to 74	1,080	25.0%
75 and over	1,407	32.5%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	4,128	95.4%
Black or African American	64	1.5%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	27	0.6%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	27	0.6%
Two or more races	46	1.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	34	0.8%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma1.5%

High school graduate29.1%

Some college or associate's29.7%

Bachelor's degree26.8%

Graduate or professional degree12.8%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	62	1.5%
High school graduate	1,197	29.1%
Some college or associate's	1,224	29.7%
Bachelor's degree	1,105	26.8%
Graduate or professional degree	529	12.8%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 19 min

Drove alone77.5%

Carpooled1.5%

Public transit0.0%

Walked1.1%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home19.7%

Other means0.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	1,103	77.5%
Carpooled	21	1.5%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	16	1.1%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	281	19.7%
Other means	2	0.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	384	33.6%
15 to 29 min	585	51.2%
30 to 44 min	71	6.2%
45 to 59 min	80	7.0%
60+ min	22	1.9%

Households

Average household size: 1.82
Poverty rate: 6.0% (260 of 4,326)

	Count	Share
Family households	1,420	59.7%
Nonfamily households	957	40.3%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1998

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	2,377	45.5%
Vacant	2,843	54.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	2,077	87.4%
Renter-occupied	300	12.6%

1-unit, detached55.0%

1-unit, attached4.0%

2 to 4 units6.4%

5 to 19 units19.0%

20 or more units5.3%

Mobile home & other10.2%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	2,872	55.0%
1-unit, attached	209	4.0%
2 to 4 units	335	6.4%
5 to 19 units	994	19.0%
20 or more units	278	5.3%
Mobile home & other	532	10.2%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3765900
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 6.76 sq mi
Water area: 0.92 sq mi
Center point: 33.8923, -78.5073