The Town FilesCalabash, North Carolina
Town in Brunswick County · population 2,011 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $253,200
- Household income
- $65,310
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 56.0
Calabash is a town of 2,011 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $253,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Calabash 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 Calabash is worth $253,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $65,310, which is more affordable than 47% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,360 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Calabash | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,360 | $969 |
| Median household income | $65,310 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.1% | — |
Who lives in Calabash
| People | Calabash | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 10.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Calabash
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 34.4°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calabash since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 15, 2021 about 2.0 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 57 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 23, 2014.
Severe weather in Brunswick County since 1996
Brunswick County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 3, 2025 | Fire | FM-5582: Sunset Drive Fire |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Brunswick County
Brunswick County had 41,268 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,701 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Calabash itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Calabash
1 public school with 384 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary | PK-5 | 384 | 14.8 |
Towns near Calabash
- Carolina Shores, NC1.7 mi · 4,588 people · home $288,600
- Sunset Beach, NC2.4 mi · 4,175 people · home $410,900
- Little River, SC5.9 mi · 11,711 people · home $305,800
- Ocean Isle Beach, NC6.1 mi · 867 people · home $835,500
- Shallotte, NC10.5 mi · 4,185 people · home $349,500
- North Myrtle Beach, SC11.1 mi · 18,790 people · home $416,900
- Holden Beach, NC12.8 mi · 921 people · home $658,900
- Varnamtown, NC18.0 mi · 525 people · home $293,800
Calabash questions
Is Calabash, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Calabash scores better for retirees than 77% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 98%. 32.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.0).
How much does a house cost in Calabash?
The median owner-occupied home in Calabash is valued at $253,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,310, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,360 a month.
What is the weather like in Calabash?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 34.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Calabash get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calabash since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 15, 2021. 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)