CensusEasy
CITY

Holden Beach

North Carolina · 916 residents (2025 est.) · 3.033 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Wilmington metro area
Compare
The short version

Holden Beach is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $116,250. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $658,900. With a median age of 64.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 64.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
70% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
962
+22%since 2000
from 787 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
317 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 259 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
64.4
+16%since 2000
from 55.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:916 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5196878561K1K1990201020202024Holden Beach
2024962
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$116,250
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,583 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$76,771
+119%since 2000
from $35,114 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
70.9%
+29.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
−21%since 2010
from 0.523 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade32.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services13.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Information6.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade5.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$658,900
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $244,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,475
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $725 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
94.6%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 87.3% in 2000
5.4% rent
Vacancy rate
80.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.7%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
65.4%
+54.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.7
+38%since 2000
from 4.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
61
RELATED:See current rent listings in Holden Beach on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.6%(776)
Black0.4%(3)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(1)
Asian0.3%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.9%(15)
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(921)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(24)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.8%(17)
Diversity Score10.3%(99)
Diversity Score
10
+440%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
69.5%
+23.4 ptssince 2000
from 46.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 96.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
24.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.0 min
+38%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 74.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
24.5%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% 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
1.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
46.5%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 51.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
54.0%
−22.4 ptssince 2009
from 76.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
Female
52.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−39.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−93.8 ptssince 2013
from 97.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2017
from 92.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 98.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Holden Beach

Southport
Pop 873
Bethany Beach
Pop 1,104
Shalimar
Pop 758
Heritage Bay
Pop 802
Places similar to Holden Beach
Head to head

Compare Holden Beach to nearby cities

HOLDEN BEACH VS
Oak Island
Income$85,872−26%
Home value$456,500−31%
Population9,337+919%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOLDEN BEACH VS
Little River
Income$65,786−43%
Home value$305,800−54%
Population11,771+1185%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOLDEN BEACH VS
North Myrtle Beach
Income$72,722−37%
Home value$416,900−37%
Population21,346+2230%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOLDEN BEACH VS
Leland
Income$91,977−21%
Home value$398,900−39%
Population35,731+3801%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Holden Beach, North Carolina?

Holden Beach, North Carolina has about 962 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Holden Beach, North Carolina earns about $116,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Holden Beach, North Carolina expensive?

In Holden Beach, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $658,900, and the typical rent is about $1,475 a month.

How educated are people in Holden Beach, North Carolina?

About 69.5% of adults age 25 and over in Holden Beach, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 4.9% of people in Holden Beach, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Holden Beach, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Holden Beach, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 320 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Holden Beach with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Holden Beach, North Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy