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CITY · 2010 ACS

Carolina Beach

North Carolina · 5,706 residents · 2.45 sq mi
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The short version

With 5,706 people, Carolina Beach is a city in North Carolina. At a median age of 43.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 28% nationally. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. Owners hold 54% of the housing stock. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $317,500.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 43.9
US median: 37.2
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 71%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,706
+21%since 2000
from 4,701 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
43.9
+1%since 2000
from 43.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
2.45 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K5K6K7K19902000201020202024Carolina Beach
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 54.3%(243)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 94.3%(248)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 144.4%(252)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 194.9%(281)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245%(286)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3414%(800)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4414.4%(821)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5417.4%(993)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6418.1%(1,030)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 748.7%(499)
US avg: 7%
75 to 843.3%(187)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over1.2%(66)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,213
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,662 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,878
+32%since 2000
from $24,128 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
29.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
13.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.451
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Wholesale trade14.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services8.5%
US avg: 7%
Information6.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade5%
US avg: 10.9%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.3%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 2.4%
Finance & insurance1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$317,500
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $146,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,084
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $700 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
53.9%
−11.8 ptssince 2000
from 65.7% in 2000
46.1% rent
Vacancy rate
53.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Persons per household
2.12 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.14 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
Owner cost-burdened
33.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.4%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
6.3
−19%since 2009
from 7.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(4,536)
Black1.2%(56)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(36)
Asian0.4%(21)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(5,435)
Black0.7%(41)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(94)
Asian0.4%(22)
Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Colombian0.2%(13)
Ancestry
German21.5%(1,220)
English21.3%(1,205)
Irish16.1%(914)
Scottish8.9%(502)
American8.7%(494)
Italian7.2%(407)
Scotch-Irish5.4%(306)
French4.9%(278)
Polish4.6%(261)
Norwegian2.6%(149)
Dutch2.1%(120)
Iranian2.1%(120)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish2.1%(117)
Greek1.4%(79)
Croatian1%(59)
British0.8%(47)
Welsh0.8%(47)
Romanian0.6%(34)
Swiss0.3%(17)
Austrian0.3%(15)
Arab0.2%(14)
Lebanese0.2%(14)
Hungarian0.2%(11)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.7%
+17.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 89.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
14.3%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.7 min
+30%since 2000
from 20.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
74.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 71.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
12.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
2.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
8.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
0.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
8.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
46.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.5% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married21%(630)
Married62.7%(1,883)
Widowed4.9%(148)
Divorced11.4%(343)
Women 15+
Never married18.9%(562)
Married61.5%(1,828)
Widowed7.6%(226)
Divorced12%(357)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
10.8%
−8.0 ptssince 2013
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
47.3%
−4.2 ptssince 2020
from 51.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
23.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 21.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
21.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 19.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
10.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 7.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 69.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
31.5%
+5.3 ptssince 2020
from 26.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)27.8%(145)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)30.5%(159)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.4%(179)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 521 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Carolina Beach to nearby cities

CAROLINA BEACH VS
Myrtle Grove
Income$113,463+126%
Home value$439,100+38%
Population12,637+84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROLINA BEACH VS
Wilmington
Income$66,738+33%
Home value$383,800+21%
Population126,809+1746%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROLINA BEACH VS
Leland
Income$91,977+83%
Home value$398,900+26%
Population35,731+420%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROLINA BEACH VS
Oak Island
Income$85,872+71%
Home value$456,500+44%
Population9,337+36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carolina Beach, North Carolina?

Carolina Beach, North Carolina has about 5,706 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Carolina Beach, North Carolina?

The typical household in Carolina Beach, North Carolina earns about $50,213 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carolina Beach, North Carolina expensive?

In Carolina Beach, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $317,500, and the typical rent is about $1,084 a month.

How educated are people in Carolina Beach, North Carolina?

About 40.7% of adults age 25 and over in Carolina Beach, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Carolina Beach, North Carolina?

About 13.3% of people in Carolina Beach, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carolina Beach, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Carolina Beach, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,075 residents, a change of about 57 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →