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Sunset Beach, NC
Town in Brunswick County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28468.
Population
4,351
Land area
6.8sq mi
People per sq mi
644
ZIP codes
1
Sunset Beach and its ZIP codes
Sunset Beach at a glance
- Sunset Beach is about 2.9 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $81,976, 13% above the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $410,900 (42% above North Carolina) and median rent is $537 a month.
Local data for Sunset Beach, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Sunset Beach, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$81,976
Poverty rate
5.7%
Median home value
$410,900
Median rent
$537/mo
Homeownership
86.4%
Bachelor's or higher
40.0%
Median age
69.1
Average commute
19.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (845), German Americans (609), Italian Americans (461).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Brunswick County. PPP loans are for Sunset Beach.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,523
43,201 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$64,262
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2B
FY 2026, $14,846 per person
PPP loans
$4.8M
104 loans, 845 jobs reported
How people get to work
Sunset Beach, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.3%
- Carpooled2.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.1%
- Worked from home22.2%
Average one-way commute: 19.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Sunset Beach, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
526
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
18,204
21.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 36°F
56.5 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Sunset Beach, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
29.7%
U.S. 33.3% -3.6 pts
Diabetes
15.3%
U.S. 12.1% +3.2 pts
Smoking
9.9%
U.S. 12.8% -2.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
5.7%
U.S. 11.1% -5.4 pts
ZIP codes in Sunset Beach
1 in or overlapping Sunset Beach. Population shown
Cities near Sunset Beach
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| CalabashTown | 2.4 mi | 7.3 |
| Ocean Isle BeachTown | 4.1 mi | 3.8 |
| Carolina ShoresTown | 4.2 mi | 2.9 |
| Little River, SCCensus-designated place | 7.5 mi | 10.5 |
| ShallotteTown | 8.6 mi | 10 |
| Holden BeachTown | 10 mi | 3 |
| North Myrtle Beach, SCCity | 12 mi | 22.4 |
| Atlantic Beach, SCTown | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| Briarcliffe Acres, SCTown | 16 mi | 0.6 |
| VarnamtownTown | 16 mi | 0.9 |
| Oak IslandTown | 20 mi | 19.3 |
| St. JamesTown | 22 mi | 9.1 |
| BoliviaTown | 24 mi | 0.6 |
| Myrtle Beach, SCCity | 24 mi | 23.4 |
| Carolina Forest, SCCensus-designated place | 25 mi | 16.8 |
| Loris, SCCity | 26 mi | 4.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Sunset Beach, NC in?
- Sunset Beach is in Brunswick County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Sunset Beach, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Sunset Beach include 28468.
- What is the population of Sunset Beach, NC?
- About 4,351 people live in Sunset Beach, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Sunset Beach?
- Nearby places include Calabash (2.4 mi), Ocean Isle Beach (4.1 mi), Carolina Shores (4.2 mi), Little River, SC (7.5 mi), Shallotte (8.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023