Sunset Beach, NC Demographics

A map of Sunset Beach's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	4,098	3,935	94.2%	94.3%
Black	85	26	2.0%	0.6%
Multiracial	68	65	1.6%	1.6%
Hispanic	67	96	1.5%	2.3%
Native American/Other	26	19	0.6%	0.5%
Asian	7	34	0.2%	0.8%

Sunset Beach, North Carolina has an estimated population of 4,351, an increase from the 4,175 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 94.2% White, 2.0% Black, 1.6% Multiracial, 1.5% Hispanic, 0.6% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Sunset Beach, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Sunset Beach is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Sunset Beach, that probability was 11.1% in 2020 and 11.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Sunset Beach is ranked the 197th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Sunset Beach was ranked the 195th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Sunset Beach's White Population

4,098 residents of Sunset Beach, or 94.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Sunset Beach is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Sunset Beach ranks 23rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sunset Beach's White population has grown by an estimated 4.1%. White residents' share of Sunset Beach's population has remained roughly unchanged at 94.2%.

Sunset Beach is more White than neighboring Calabash (78.8% White), Carolina Shores (94.1% White), Little River (83.3% White), and Shallotte (74.8% White). Sunset Beach is less White than neighboring Ocean Isle Beach (98.2% White).

Sunset Beach's Black Population

85 residents of Sunset Beach, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Sunset Beach is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Sunset Beach ranks 707th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sunset Beach's Black population has grown by an estimated 226.9%. Black residents' share of Sunset Beach's population has increased from 0.6% to 2.0%.

Sunset Beach is more Black than neighboring Carolina Shores (0% Black), and Ocean Isle Beach (0.6% Black). Sunset Beach is less Black than neighboring Calabash (5.6% Black), Little River (6.4% Black), and Shallotte (10.1% Black).

Sunset Beach's Asian Population

7 residents of Sunset Beach, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Sunset Beach is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Sunset Beach ranks 316th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sunset Beach's Asian population has declined by an estimated 79.4%. Asian residents' share of Sunset Beach's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.2%.

Sunset Beach is more Asian than neighboring Carolina Shores (0% Asian), and Ocean Isle Beach (0% Asian). Sunset Beach is less Asian than neighboring Calabash (1.5% Asian), Little River (0.6% Asian), and Shallotte (0.4% Asian).

Sunset Beach's Hispanic Population

67 residents of Sunset Beach, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Sunset Beach is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Sunset Beach ranks 666th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sunset Beach's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 30.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Sunset Beach's population has decreased from 2.3% to 1.5%.

Sunset Beach is more Hispanic than neighboring Carolina Shores (0.3% Hispanic), and Ocean Isle Beach (1.1% Hispanic). Sunset Beach is less Hispanic than neighboring Calabash (6.4% Hispanic), Little River (4.7% Hispanic), and Shallotte (11.5% Hispanic).

Sunset Beach's Native American/Other Population

26 residents of Sunset Beach, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Sunset Beach is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Sunset Beach ranks 602nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sunset Beach's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 36.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Sunset Beach's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Sunset Beach is more Native American/Other than neighboring Calabash (0% Native American/Other), Ocean Isle Beach (0.1% Native American/Other), Little River (0.1% Native American/Other), and Shallotte (0% Native American/Other). Sunset Beach is less Native American/Other than neighboring Carolina Shores (3.3% Native American/Other).

Sunset Beach's Multiracial Population

68 residents of Sunset Beach, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Sunset Beach is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Sunset Beach ranks 735th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sunset Beach's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 4.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Sunset Beach's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.6%.

Sunset Beach is more Multiracial than neighboring Ocean Isle Beach (0% Multiracial). Sunset Beach is less Multiracial than neighboring Calabash (7.7% Multiracial), Carolina Shores (2.3% Multiracial), Little River (4.8% Multiracial), and Shallotte (3.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.