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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Sunset Beach

North Carolina · 321 residents · 6.968 sq mi
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The short version

Sunset Beach is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $49,583. Population has fallen 82% since 2000, a loss of 1,503 residents. 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $175,000. With a median age of 49.9, the population is older than the US median of 33.0. Households here earn about 86% more than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 49.9
US median: 33.0
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
321
−82%vs 2000
vs 1,824 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
49.9
−17%vs 2000
vs 60.2 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
01K2K4K5K1990201020202024Sunset Beach
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 52.8%(9)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 91.9%(6)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 144.7%(15)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.8%(25)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 243.1%(10)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 346.9%(22)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4412.5%(40)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5424.9%(80)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6419.6%(63)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7414.3%(46)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 840.6%(2)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.9%(3)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,583
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $47,356 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,658
−13%vs 2000
vs $36,181 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
6.9%
+2.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.2% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,000
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $174,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$617
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $829 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
87.3%
−3.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 90.3% in 2000
12.7% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sunset Beach on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(1,758)
Black0.5%(9)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(25)
Asian0.4%(7)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic100%(321)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(10)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Spaniard0.3%(14)
Puerto Rican0.2%(10)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(7)
Ancestry
Irish19.4%(845)
English19.1%(833)
German14%(609)
Italian10.6%(461)
Scottish10.6%(460)
American8%(350)
French4.1%(180)
Polish4.1%(179)
Scotch-Irish3.1%(136)
British1.6%(69)
Hungarian1%(45)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1%(42)
Norwegian0.9%(38)
Swedish0.9%(38)
Brazilian0.7%(30)
Welsh0.7%(30)
Lithuanian0.6%(28)
Slovak0.6%(26)
Armenian0.3%(14)
Danish0.3%(13)
Canadian0.2%(10)
Finnish0.2%(10)
Swiss0.2%(9)
Austrian0.2%(7)
Croatian0.1%(6)
Australian0.1%(5)
Greek0.1%(5)
Russian0.1%(5)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
46.1%
+10.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 35.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
91.0%
−0.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 91.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
19.1%
+7.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 12.1% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.7 min
+38%vs 2000
vs 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married6.7%(115)
Married85%(1,467)
Widowed4.4%(76)
Divorced3.9%(68)
Women 15+
Never married7%(178)
Married59.1%(1,493)
Widowed23.6%(596)
Divorced10.2%(258)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Sunset Beach to nearby cities

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Income$65,786+33%
Home value$305,800+75%
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SUNSET BEACH VS
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Income$72,722+47%
Home value$416,900+138%
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SUNSET BEACH VS
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Home value$456,500+161%
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SUNSET BEACH VS
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Income$74,436+50%
Home value$336,800+92%
Population26,263+466%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sunset Beach, North Carolina?

Sunset Beach, North Carolina has about 321 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Sunset Beach, North Carolina earns about $49,583 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 $175,000, and the typical rent is about $617 a month.

How educated are people in Sunset Beach, North Carolina?

About 46.1% 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 6.9% of people in Sunset Beach, 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 →