Carolina Beach, NC

Census place 3710500 · pop 6,745

C60/ 100
😐 Meh
B
in NC
📍 North Carolina ranks #16 of 50 states →
🏆 Broadband98.0% · top 3%
🚽 Inequality0.51 · bottom 9%
Taxes
0.50% property · US 0.99%7.00% sales · US 7.00%3.99% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Income inequality0.519

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.51 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Rent$2,655/mo14

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,655/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Housing cost$566,20016

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$566,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level99/10017

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult smoking12.6%57

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

12.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Commute time22 min62

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Adult obesity31.9%67

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

31.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Median household income$94,39871

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$94,398 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Air quality (AQI)County-level39 AQI73

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+7.7%74

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+7.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity20.7%74

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

20.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.1%75

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poverty rate6.0%80

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

6.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Uninsured adults6.5%81

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

6.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poor mental health14.7%81

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

14.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Bachelor's degree or higher50.5%82

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

50.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.50%91

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.50% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Homeownership84.4%91

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

84.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Broadband access98.0%97

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

98.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Not measured for Carolina Beach: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Carolina Beach, NC a good place to live?
By the numbers, Carolina Beach scores 60/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is broadband access and its weakest is income inequality. North Carolina overall ranks #16 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Carolina Beach, NC expensive to live in?
Carolina Beach has a median home value of $566,200 and typical rent around $2,655/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Carolina Beach, NC?
Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.51) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Carolina Beach, NC best at?
Its strongest measured area is broadband access (98.0%) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.