With 4,351 people, Sunset Beach is a city in North Carolina. The median age is 69.1, about 30 years above the US median. The population has more than doubled since 2000, adding 2,527 people. 86% of homes are owner-occupied. Renters pay $537 a month at the median. The foreign-born share is 3%.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $81,976, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 69.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Sunset Beach
What changed most since 1990
Population321 → 4,351(+1,255%)US over the same years: +35%
Median age49.9 → 69.1(+19.2 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Adults with a bachelor's degree46.1% → 40.0%(−6.1 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Sunset Beach's population equals 2.9% of Brunswick County's. Its number of households without a car equals 1.6% of the county's. Its number of residents 65 and older equals 5.0% of the county's.
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)2.8%(10)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)8.8%(31)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era58.4%(206)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.3%(8)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 353 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
Over time
Sunset Beach, decade by decade
Sunset Beach population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
321
$119,003
$420,012
46.1%
7.5
2000
1,824
$86,266
$318,425
35.3%
8.8
2010
3,572
$91,072
$448,978
40.1%
9.8
2020
4,175
$74,489
$309,676
42.6%
13.8
2024
4,351
$81,976
$410,900
40.0%
14.0
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Sunset Beach, North Carolina?
Sunset Beach, North Carolina has about 4,351 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Sunset Beach, North Carolina?
The typical household in Sunset Beach, North Carolina earns about $81,976 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Sunset Beach, North Carolina expensive?
In Sunset Beach, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $410,900, and the typical rent is about $537 a month.
How educated are people in Sunset Beach, North Carolina?
About 40.0% of adults age 25 and over in Sunset Beach, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Sunset Beach, North Carolina?
About 5.7% of people in Sunset Beach, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Sunset Beach, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Sunset Beach, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,030 residents, a change of about 1255 percent over that period.
