Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★2.6 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Carolina Beach, NC
Explore Carolina Beach and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match6.1 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Carolina Beach at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population6,745
Median Household Income$94,398
Median Home Value$566,200
Median Gross Rent$1,513
Median Age53.2
Average Household Size2.2
Unemployment7.8%
Work From Home19.7%
Homeownership84.4%
Housing Vacancy51.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Carolina Beach is a smaller community, so land use, housing supply and its relationship with surrounding communities can be especially important to movers. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here. Unemployment is elevated enough that job location and industry-specific opportunities deserve closer review.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Carolina Beach Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Carolina Beach →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Carolina Beach and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Carolina Beach
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$566,200
Median Gross Rent$1,513
Homeownership84.4%
Housing Vacancy51.0%
Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. A large majority of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Carolina Beach, NC
Median Household Income$94,398
Unemployment7.8%
Work From Home19.7%
The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Carolina Beach and how households are structured
Population6,745
Median Age53.2
Average Household Size2.2
Carolina Beach is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Carolina Beach
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Carolina Beach point to hot summers, cool winters, substantial annual rainfall and little to no annual snowfall.
Average Summer High91.6°F
Average Winter Low35.5°F
Annual Rainfall54.6 in.
Annual Snowfall0.9 in.
Seasonal Life in Carolina Beach
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.
Summer
Summer heat is a meaningful part of daily life. During a trial stay, pay attention to afternoon comfort, cooling use, vehicle heat and how much outdoor activity shifts toward mornings and evenings.
Fall
Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.
Winter
Winter is generally cool with limited snowfall. Heating needs still matter, but snow-related disruption should be less central than in colder markets.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
Carolina Beach is located in New Hanover County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. New Hanover County.
County Intelligence
Carolina Beach & New Hanover County
Data Pending
Foreclosure Activity
Carolina Beach is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Carolina Beach.
Current NarrowTheList data for Carolina Beach shows a population of about 6,745. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
New Hanover County
How NarrowTheList uses it
County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Carolina Beach.
For someone considering a move to Carolina Beach, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting and employment conditions that make job-specific research important. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.