The Town FilesSouthern Shores, North Carolina
Town in Dare County · population 3,090 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $712,300
- Household income
- $131,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 58.7
Southern Shores is a town of 3,090 people in Dare County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $712,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 97% of North Carolina towns.
- #4 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in North Carolina
- #6 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
- #15 in 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Mildest Winters
- #23 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in North Carolina
- #31 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in America
- #32 in The 50 Best Vacation-Home Places in America
How Southern Shores 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 Southern Shores is worth $712,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $131,429, which is more affordable than 11% of North Carolina towns. 91.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Southern Shores | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $712,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $131,429 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 91.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.4% | — |
Who lives in Southern Shores
| People | Southern Shores | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 23.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Southern Shores
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 46.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southern Shores since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 28, 1982 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 25, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 22, 2009.
Severe weather in Dare County since 1996
Dare County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Dare County
Dare County had 20,359 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,480 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Southern Shores itself the ACS puts it at 13.2%.
Towns near Southern Shores
- Kitty Hawk, NC3.3 mi · 3,689 people · home $535,000
- Kill Devil Hills, NC7.7 mi · 7,656 people · home $442,200
- Grandy, NC11.6 mi · 2,776 people · home $306,000
- Nags Head, NC13.1 mi · 3,168 people · home $490,800
Southern Shores questions
Is Southern Shores, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Southern Shores scores better for retirees than 96% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 97%. 31.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.7).
How much does a house cost in Southern Shores?
The median owner-occupied home in Southern Shores is valued at $712,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $131,429, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Southern Shores?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Southern Shores get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southern Shores since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 28, 1982. 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)