United States › North Carolina › Carolina Shores CITY
Carolina Shores North Carolina · 5,540 residents (2025 est.) · 2.87 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Carolina Shores is a city of 5,017 people in North Carolina. The median age is 65.3, about 26 years above the US median. The population has roughly tripled since 2000, adding 3,535 people. Owners hold 95% of the housing stock. 2% of people here were born outside the United States. Poverty is uncommon here, at 3.9% of people here.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 65.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 1,482 in 2000
5,540 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,747 / sq mi
+92%since 2009
from 908 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 67.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 2000 – 2024
1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 2000 2010 2020 2024 Carolina Shores Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $76,087
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,933 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $27,093 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.320 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Arts, entertainment, food 6%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.7%
Public administration 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Education & health services 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$288,600
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $152,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,973
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $772 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 97.5% in 2000
5.3% rent
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 1.96 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 28.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 99.1%(1,468)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 94.1%(4,722)
Hispanic / Latino 0.3%(17)
from 8 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 26.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 93.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 88.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 38.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 49.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 19.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 85.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 95.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 85.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 93.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 56.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 21.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 55.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 7.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 6.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 71.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 59.9% 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) 2.5%(13)
Share of the 530 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
Places similar to Carolina Shores Head to head
Compare Carolina Shores to nearby cities CAROLINA SHORES VS
Little River
Income $65,786 −14%
Home value $305,800 +6%
Population 11,771 +112%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROLINA SHORES VS
North Myrtle Beach
Income $72,722 −4%
Home value $416,900 +44%
Population 21,346 +285%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROLINA SHORES VS
Carolina Forest
Income $74,436 −2%
Home value $336,800 +17%
Population 26,263 +374%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAROLINA SHORES VS
Myrtle Beach
Income $60,394 −21%
Home value $388,800 +35%
Population 40,937 +639%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Carolina Shores, North Carolina? Carolina Shores, North Carolina has about 5,017 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Carolina Shores, North Carolina? The typical household in Carolina Shores, North Carolina earns about $76,087 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Carolina Shores, North Carolina expensive? In Carolina Shores, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $288,600, and the typical rent is about $1,973 a month.
How educated are people in Carolina Shores, North Carolina? About 27.6% of adults age 25 and over in Carolina Shores, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Carolina Shores, North Carolina? About 3.9% of people in Carolina Shores, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Keep going
Explore from here 