The Town FilesShallotte, North Carolina
Town in Brunswick County · population 4,185 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $349,500
- Household income
- $88,367
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 45.5
Shallotte is a town of 4,185 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $349,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks quieter than 90% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 86% of North Carolina towns.
How Shallotte 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 Shallotte is worth $349,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $88,367, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,256 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shallotte | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $349,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,256 | $969 |
| Median household income | $88,367 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.5% | — |
Who lives in Shallotte
| People | Shallotte | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Shallotte
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 36.4°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 37 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shallotte since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 15, 2021 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 20, 2024.
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 Shallotte itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Shallotte
3 public schools with 2,723 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Brunswick High | 9-12 | 1,512 | 16.6 |
| Shallotte Middle | 6-8 | 608 | 16.0 |
| Union Elementary | K-5 | 603 | 15.1 |
Towns near Shallotte
- Holden Beach, NC5.7 mi · 921 people · home $658,900
- Ocean Isle Beach, NC6.1 mi · 867 people · home $835,500
- Varnamtown, NC8.8 mi · 525 people · home $293,800
- Sunset Beach, NC9.5 mi · 4,175 people · home $410,900
- Calabash, NC10.5 mi · 2,011 people · home $253,200
- Carolina Shores, NC12.0 mi · 4,588 people · home $288,600
- Oak Island, NC15.6 mi · 8,396 people · home $456,500
- St. James, NC16.2 mi · 6,529 people · home $636,800
Shallotte questions
Is Shallotte, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shallotte scores better for retirees than 57% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 90%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Shallotte?
The median owner-occupied home in Shallotte is valued at $349,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,367, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,256 a month.
What is the weather like in Shallotte?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 36.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Shallotte get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shallotte 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)