The Town FilesCarolina Beach, North Carolina
Town in New Hanover County · population 6,564 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $566,200
- Household income
- $94,398
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 53.2
Carolina Beach is a town of 6,564 people in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $566,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 100% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 100% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of North Carolina towns.
How Carolina Beach ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carolina Beach is worth $566,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $94,398, which is more affordable than 6% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,513 a month. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carolina Beach | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $566,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,513 | $969 |
| Median household income | $94,398 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.3% | — |
Who lives in Carolina Beach
| People | Carolina Beach | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Carolina Beach
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 35.5°F. About 54.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carolina Beach since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 30, 2023 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in New Hanover County since 1996
New Hanover County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in New Hanover County
New Hanover County had 130,464 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,611 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Carolina Beach itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Carolina Beach
1 public school with 432 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Beach Elementary | K-5 | 432 | 14.9 |
Towns near Carolina Beach
- Myrtle Grove, NC5.9 mi · 11,476 people · home $439,100
- Silver Lake, NC7.0 mi · 6,500 people · home $325,500
- Southport, NC9.7 mi · 3,971 people · home $437,700
- Boiling Spring Lakes, NC10.8 mi · 5,943 people · home $292,300
- Wilmington, NC11.6 mi · 115,451 people · home $383,800
- St. James, NC13.3 mi · 6,529 people · home $636,800
- Leland, NC14.4 mi · 22,908 people · home $398,900
- Oak Island, NC15.3 mi · 8,396 people · home $456,500
Carolina Beach questions
Is Carolina Beach, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carolina Beach scores better for retirees than 74% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 70%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.2).
How much does a house cost in Carolina Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Carolina Beach is valued at $566,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,398, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,513 a month.
What is the weather like in Carolina Beach?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 35.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Carolina Beach get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carolina Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 30, 2023. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)