CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Sunset Beach

North Carolina · 321 residents · 6.97 sq mi

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The short version

Sunset Beach is a city of 321 people in North Carolina. The median age is 49.9, about 17 years above the US median. That is roughly 86% ahead of the North Carolina median. The population has fallen 82% since 2000. This is an unusually credentialed place: 46% of adults have a four-year degree. Owners hold 87% of the housing stock.

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

Land area

6.97 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20244K

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

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

South American1%(43)

Venezuelan1%(43)

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)

French Canadian1.3%(56)

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

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

1.6%

−3.5 ptssince 2013

from 5.1% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

45.3%

−3.5 ptssince 2020

from 48.8% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

40.9%

+4.7 ptssince 2020

from 36.2% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

61.0%

+13.0 ptssince 2020

from 48.0% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

8.3%

+0.7 ptssince 2020

from 7.6% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

3.8%

+0.5 ptssince 2020

from 3.3% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

80.1%

+2.2 ptssince 2020

from 77.9% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

65.6%

+12.4 ptssince 2020

from 53.2% 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)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

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