Median Age
52 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 19% of Residents
Under 20
16%
Over 65
27%
Carolina Beach, NC
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,880
Population
10,886
Renter Mix
26% Rent
A charming beach town just south of Wilmington
Park
•
Coastal
•
Beach
Nestled on the Atlantic coast just 12 miles south of Wilmington, Carolina Beach is a highly sought-after coastal oasis. Home to Carolina Beach State Park, residents can enjoy a fishing marina, cozy campgrounds, hiking trails, and waterfront views of Cape Falls River. Carolina Beach is known for being a top-notch tourist destination with its sandy shoreline and vibrant restaurants. Local establishments include the colorful SeaWitch Café & Tiki Bar and Michael’s Seafood Restaurant.
For more outdoor adventures, visit Freeman Park in the northernmost corner of town. This vehicle-friendly beach is perfect for oceanfront recreation like swimming, fishing, camping, and boating. A range of apartments, houses, condos, and townhomes are available for rent in this beach town. Nearby attractions include Wrightsville Beach, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, and the North Carolina Aquarium.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$82,378
Average: $107,917
Education
4,391
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
5,662
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Carolina Beach has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
26%
Non-Renters
74%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
32%
Other Education
68%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Carolina Beach, NC is $1,842 for one bedroom, and $2,434 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in Carolina Beach has increased by 6.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,842/month
772 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Carolina Beach, NC is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
431 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Carolina Beach State Park
- Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
- North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Airports
- Wilmington International
Top Apartments in Carolina Beach
Houses for Rent in Carolina Beach
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Nearby City Guides
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.