The Town FilesSunset Beach, North Carolina
Town in Brunswick County · population 4,175 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $410,900
- Household income
- $81,976
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 69.1
Sunset Beach is a town of 4,175 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $410,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 93% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Sunset 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 Sunset Beach is worth $410,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $81,976, which is more affordable than 16% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $537 a month. 86.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sunset Beach | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $410,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $537 | $969 |
| Median household income | $81,976 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 86.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 38.8% | — |
Who lives in Sunset Beach
| People | Sunset Beach | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 69.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 59.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 3.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 22.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Sunset Beach
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 0.5 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
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sunset Beach 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 1.5 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 August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 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 Sunset Beach itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Sunset Beach
- Calabash, NC2.4 mi · 2,011 people · home $253,200
- Carolina Shores, NC3.9 mi · 4,588 people · home $288,600
- Ocean Isle Beach, NC4.1 mi · 867 people · home $835,500
- Little River, SC7.7 mi · 11,711 people · home $305,800
- Shallotte, NC9.5 mi · 4,185 people · home $349,500
- Holden Beach, NC10.8 mi · 921 people · home $658,900
- North Myrtle Beach, SC12.4 mi · 18,790 people · home $416,900
- Varnamtown, NC16.2 mi · 525 people · home $293,800
Sunset Beach questions
Is Sunset Beach, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sunset Beach scores better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 93%. 59.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 69.1).
How much does a house cost in Sunset Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Sunset Beach is valued at $410,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,976, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $537 a month.
What is the weather like in Sunset Beach?
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 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Sunset Beach get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sunset Beach 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)