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CITY

Carolina Shores

North Carolina · 5,540 residents (2025 est.) · 2.872 sq mi
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Part of the Wilmington metro area
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Notable rankings
#50Oldest by median ageof 6,82665.3#162Highest homeownership rateof 6,82394.7%
The short version

Carolina Shores has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $76,087. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 3,535 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $288,600. With a median age of 65.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Poverty is rare here, at 3.9% of residents.

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

Total population
5,017
+239%since 2000
from 1,482 in 2000
2000 – 2025
Population density
1,747 / sq mi
+92%since 2009
from 908 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
65.3
−3%since 2000
from 67.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,540 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 2000 – 2024
1K2K3K4K5K2000201020202024Carolina Shores
20245K
2000201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 51%(50)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93%(150)
US avg: 6%
10 to 142%(100)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 192.6%(130)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 241.8%(90)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 345.7%(284)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 444%(202)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.4%(522)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6418.6%(935)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7431.6%(1,584)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8414.9%(748)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.4%(222)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,087
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,933 in 2000
US average: $82,259
2000 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,497
+57%since 2000
from $27,093 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.0%
+32.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
3.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.354
+11%since 2010
from 0.320 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food6%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade1.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$288,600
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $152,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
2000 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,973
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $772 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
94.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 97.5% in 2000
5.3% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.5%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 28.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.0%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
−12%since 2009
from 4.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
35
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carolina Shores on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic99.1%(1,468)
Black0.4%(6)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(8)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(4,722)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(17)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.5%(278)
Diversity Score
14
+68%since 2009
from 8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Venezuelan0.3%(17)
Ancestry
Irish23.4%(1,174)
German18.4%(925)
Italian16.4%(824)
English14.2%(712)
Polish4.6%(230)
American3.8%(193)
French3.2%(160)
Scotch-Irish2.7%(133)
Scottish2.7%(133)
Serbian2%(99)
Norwegian1.8%(91)
Welsh1.1%(56)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Armenian0.7%(33)
Dutch0.6%(30)
Lithuanian0.6%(30)
Danish0.5%(25)
Canadian0.4%(22)
Finnish0.4%(21)
Turkish0.4%(21)
Greek0.4%(20)
Hungarian0.4%(19)
British0.3%(16)
Nigerian0.3%(16)
Ukrainian0.3%(15)
Slovene0.2%(11)
Swedish0.2%(9)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 26.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.8%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 93.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.2 min
+63%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.0%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 88.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.0%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−8.0 ptssince 2011
from 11.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
40.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 38.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.5%
−25.6 ptssince 2009
from 68.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.4%
−34.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 19.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.1%
−88.0 ptssince 2013
from 92.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.4%
+9.9 ptssince 2017
from 85.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
+5.5 ptssince 2016
from 93.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 1.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married14.8%(332)
Married65.5%(1,470)
Widowed5.9%(133)
Divorced13.8%(310)
Women 15+
Never married6.1%(151)
Married61.1%(1,511)
Widowed18.6%(461)
Divorced14.1%(349)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Carolina Shores to nearby cities

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CAROLINA SHORES VS
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CAROLINA SHORES VS
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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.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Carolina Shores, North Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy