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CITY · 2020 ACS

Southern Shores

North Carolina · 3,090 residents · 3.95 sq mi
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The short version

With 3,090 people, Southern Shores is a city in North Carolina. At a median age of 58.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 88% more than in North Carolina as a whole. 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 33% nationally. 90% of homes are owner-occupied. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $475,900.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 58.8
US median: 38.8
More educated
59% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,090
+40%since 2000
from 2,201 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
58.8
+14%since 2000
from 51.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
3.95 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K3K3K19902000201020202024Southern Shores
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 53.1%(96)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.3%(132)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 144.3%(133)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 194.8%(149)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 242.9%(89)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 344.5%(140)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 448.4%(260)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.2%(347)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6419.7%(610)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7422.8%(706)
US avg: 10%
75 to 8410.7%(332)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.1%(96)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$106,523
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,676 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$61,953
+72%since 2000
from $35,933 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
67.7%
+17.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
4.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information23.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services13.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade3.8%
US avg: 10%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance2.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$475,900
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $220,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,081
+63%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $850 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
90.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 93.7% in 2000
9.7% rent
Persons per household
2.56 people
+19%since 2009
from 2.15 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
4.5
−35%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.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(2,142)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(34)
Asian0.2%(5)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(2,870)
Black0.5%(15)
Hispanic / Latino2%(63)
Asian0.7%(22)
Other6%(184)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(12)
Ancestry
German20.9%(612)
American18.2%(533)
English14.1%(412)
Irish13.5%(396)
Scottish7.8%(228)
Italian7.3%(213)
Polish3.6%(106)
Scotch-Irish2.7%(78)
Swedish2.6%(77)
French1.9%(55)
Dutch1.8%(54)
Greek1.3%(38)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
British1.2%(35)
Welsh1%(29)
Portuguese0.9%(26)
Austrian0.9%(25)
Norwegian0.4%(13)
Hungarian0.4%(12)
Swiss0.4%(12)
Russian0.3%(9)
Serbian0.3%(8)
Belgian0.2%(7)
Canadian0.2%(6)
Slovak0.2%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
58.6%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 48.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
98.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 96.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
27.2%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.3 min
+81%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
0.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
14.0%
+8.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.0%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 56.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
58.8%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
51.8%
+14.5 ptssince 2009
from 37.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Female
48.1%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.9%
−5.0 ptssince 2013
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
98.9%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
92.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
7.9%
−5.0 ptssince 2013
from 12.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
51.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
35.9%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
32.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
5.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
85.1%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
36.5%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)8.1%(21)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)31.4%(81)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era55.8%(144)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3.9%(10)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.3%(11)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 258 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 Southern Shores to nearby cities

SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Elizabeth City
Income$52,141−51%
Home value$187,700−61%
Population19,622+531%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Virginia Beach
Income$92,968−13%
Home value$382,500−20%
Population453,737+14490%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Chesapeake
Income$95,373−10%
Home value$378,400−20%
Population255,332+8110%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SOUTHERN SHORES VS
Portsmouth
Income$60,491−43%
Home value$246,900−48%
Population96,777+3012%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Southern Shores, North Carolina?

Southern Shores, North Carolina has about 3,090 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Southern Shores, North Carolina earns about $106,523 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 $475,900, and the typical rent is about $2,081 a month.

How educated are people in Southern Shores, North Carolina?

About 58.6% 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 4.0% 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 1,643 residents, a change of about 114 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 →