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CITY

Southern Shores

North Carolina · 3,110 residents (2025 est.) · 3.95 sq mi
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The short version

Southern Shores is a city of 3,139 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 58.7, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 82% more than in North Carolina as a whole. 91% of homes are owner-occupied. 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $712,300.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 58.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
59% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 77%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,139
+43%since 2000
from 2,201 in 2000
3,110 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
795 / sq mi
+20%since 2009
from 664 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
58.7
+14%since 2000
from 51.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
3.95 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K3K3K19902000201020202024Southern Shores
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.2%(69)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.1%(128)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.5%(111)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.6%(143)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 242.5%(79)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.9%(312)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.2%(319)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 547.4%(232)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6423.9%(750)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7418.2%(570)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8411%(345)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(81)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$131,429
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,676 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$64,777
+80%since 2000
from $35,933 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
81.6%
+31.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
0.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.334
−14%since 2010
from 0.387 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services9%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade3.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$712,300
+77%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $220,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Owner-occupied
91.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 93.7% in 2000
8.7% rent
Vacancy rate
48.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.40 people
+12%since 2009
from 2.15 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
−18.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.5%
+40.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.4
−21%since 2009
from 6.9 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.
Gentrification Score
57
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(2,142)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(34)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(3,026)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(7)
Asian0.3%(8)
Other3.1%(98)
Diversity Score
9
+165%since 2009
from 3 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
Mexican0.2%(7)
Asian origin
Ancestry
English25.2%(791)
German20.1%(631)
Irish15.5%(488)
American11%(344)
Italian6.8%(215)
Polish6.1%(190)
Scottish4.1%(128)
Welsh2%(62)
Swedish1.6%(50)
Dutch1.4%(45)
Norwegian1.4%(43)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
Latvian1.2%(38)
French0.7%(21)
Hungarian0.5%(15)
Russian0.5%(15)
Portuguese0.4%(14)
British0.2%(7)
Austrian0.2%(6)
Canadian0.2%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
59.1%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 48.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
99.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 96.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
23.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+57%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.5%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.1%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
23.9%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.2%
+7.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 56.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
76.2%
+17.4 ptssince 2020
from 58.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
17.0%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
56.4%
+19.1 ptssince 2009
from 37.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Female
52.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Foreign born
3.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.3%
+6.4 ptssince 2012
from 8.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.7%
−6.2 ptssince 2013
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
98.5%
+5.2 ptssince 2017
from 93.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
98.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 98.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
95.3%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 92.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
95.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married21.2%(277)
Married74%(967)
Widowed4.1%(54)
Divorced0.7%(9)
Women 15+
Never married13.8%(210)
Married64.1%(977)
Widowed13.6%(208)
Divorced8.5%(129)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.7%
−6.2 ptssince 2013
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
53.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 51.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
23.1%
−12.8 ptssince 2020
from 35.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
32.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 32.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
6.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 5.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 2.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
79.9%
−5.2 ptssince 2020
from 85.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
36.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 36.5% 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)23.9%(49)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.6%(32)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era36.1%(74)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.9%(10)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 205 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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Compare Southern Shores to nearby cities

SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Elizabeth City
Income$52,141−60%
Home value$187,700−74%
Population19,622+531%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Virginia Beach
Income$92,968−29%
Home value$382,500−46%
Population453,737+14490%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Chesapeake
Income$95,373−27%
Home value$378,400−47%
Population255,332+8110%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Portsmouth
Income$60,491−54%
Home value$246,900−65%
Population96,777+3012%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Southern Shores, North Carolina?

Southern Shores, North Carolina has about 3,139 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Southern Shores, North Carolina?

The typical household in Southern Shores, North Carolina earns about $131,429 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Southern Shores, North Carolina expensive?

In Southern Shores, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $712,300.

How educated are people in Southern Shores, North Carolina?

About 59.1% of adults age 25 and over in Southern Shores, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Southern Shores, North Carolina?

About 0.6% of people in Southern Shores, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Southern Shores, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Southern Shores, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,692 residents, a change of about 117 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 →

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