Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Sunset Beach, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

4,351

Median Agei

69.1

Race & Ethnicityi

White

94.2%4,098

Black

2%85

Two or More

1.6%68

Hispanic/Latino

1.5%67

Other

0.6%26

Asian

0.2%7

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.7%113

High School Diploma

24.1%1,000

Some College (<1 yr)

10.8%449

Some College (1+ yr)

10.2%423

Associate's Degree

10.5%436

Bachelor's Degree

25.7%1,066

Master's Degree

10.3%427

Professional Degree

1.7%70

Doctorate

2.3%97

HS or Higher

98.3%

BA or Higher

40%

Graduate+

14.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$410,900

Median Renti

$537

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

86.4%2,057

Renter-Occupied

13.6%324

Total Units

5,238

Homeownership

86.4%

Vacancy Rate

54.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.4%28

$50K–$100K

0.1%3

$100K–$150K

0.9%18

$150K–$200K

13.7%281

$200K–$300K

16.5%339

$300K–$500K

38%782

$500K–$1M

27.9%573

$1M+

1.6%33

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

147

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

$1,250–$1,500

Year Built

2020 or later

2.4%126

2010–2019

10.9%569

2000–2009

35.6%1,866

1990–1999

27.4%1,437

1980–1989

14.7%772

1970–1979

8.1%422

1960–1969

0.7%35

1939 or earlier

0.2%11

Heating Fuel

Electricity

92.1%2,193

Bottled/LP Gas

5.9%140

Utility Gas

1.9%46

No Fuel

0.1%2

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$81,976

Mean Household Incomei

$100,611

Per Capita Incomei

$57,169

Poverty Ratei

5.7%

Unemploymenti

0.7%

Labor Forcei

1,395

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.2%147

$10K–$15K

0.8%18

$15K–$20K

6.7%159

$20K–$25K

1.6%39

$25K–$30K

3.6%86

$30K–$35K

6.3%149

$35K–$40K

2.2%52

$40K–$45K

2.3%54

$45K–$50K

3.1%74

$50K–$60K

7.4%176

$60K–$75K

6.5%154

$75K–$100K

12.9%308

$100K–$125K

15.2%362

$125K–$150K

5.5%130

$150K–$200K

6.8%163

$200K+

13%310

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers9 homes

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1272.9%

By Region

Top Countries

Canada

United Kingdom

Poland

Philippines

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

1,336

Avg. Commutei

19.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

1,385

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

353(8.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

98.4%Insured

1.6%Uninsured