Carolina Beach
A lively beach town on Pleasure Island known for its iconic boardwalk, laid-back coastal charm, and a mix of oceanfront condos, classic cottages, and new luxury builds just 12 miles south of Wilmington.
A lively beach town on Pleasure Island known for its iconic boardwalk, laid-back coastal charm, and a mix of oceanfront condos, classic cottages, and new luxury builds just 12 miles south of Wilmington.
Carolina Beach sits on Pleasure Island, about 12 miles south of downtown Wilmington, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Cape Fear River to the west, and separated from the mainland by Snow's Cut and the Intracoastal Waterway. It's one of the Cape Fear region's most recognizable beach towns, a place where 1950s-style beach cottages sit alongside newer luxury single-family homes and multi-story oceanfront condominiums.
The heart of town is the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, home to amusement rides, arcades, live music, and local shops and eateries, including Britt's Donuts, a boardwalk tradition since 1939. A few blocks inland, Carolina Beach Lake Park offers a quieter counterpoint — a scenic freshwater lake with paddle boating, walking paths, and regular community events and farmers markets. Just south of town, Carolina Beach State Park adds 700 acres of hiking trails, fishing spots, and maritime forest, including one of the few places on earth where the Venus flytrap grows wild.
Housing here spans the full range of coastal living: direct oceanfront condos with private beach access, canal-front homes with docks, classic Charleston-style cottages in neighborhoods like Carolina Sands and Seagrove, and a growing number of new-construction luxury builds minutes from the sand. Many properties carry strong rental potential, making Carolina Beach a popular choice for both full-time residents and investment buyers. Browse current Carolina Beach listings to see what's available now, or get a free home valuation if you're considering selling.
Life on the island runs at its own pace. Mornings might start with a walk on the beach or an early fishing trip; evenings often mean dinner at a boardwalk seafood house or a stroll to catch the sunset over the marina. The town hosts a full calendar of events, from the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival to the holiday Island of Lights Festival, with its boardwalk lighting, home tours, and New Year's Eve celebration on the water.
Carolina Beach is zoned to New Hanover County Schools (buyers should confirm specific school assignment for any given address), and Wilmington's shopping, dining, and cultural attractions are a short drive away via Snow's Cut Bridge — close enough for easy access, far enough to keep the small beach-town feel intact. For a closer look at current pricing trends, see our below.
7,034 people live in Carolina Beach, where the median age is 51.8 and the average individual income is $56,407. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Carolina Beach, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Good Hops Brewing, Beach Break Donuts & Ice Cream, and Carolina Cannabis Creations.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining · $ | 0.23 miles | 120 reviews | 4.5/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.55 miles | 10 reviews | 4.2/5 stars | |
| Shopping | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.2 miles | 2 reviews | 4.5/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.52 miles | 3 reviews | 4.7/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.53 miles | 1 review | 4/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.55 miles | 5 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.57 miles | 26 reviews | 4.9/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.57 miles | 1 review | 1/5 stars | |
| Nightlife | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.13 miles | 7 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.55 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.55 miles | 7 reviews | 4.7/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.55 miles | 45 reviews | 3.8/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.55 miles | 12 reviews | 4.5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.55 miles | 2 reviews | 2.5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.55 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.56 miles | 4 reviews | 3.5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.56 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.58 miles | 2 reviews | 3/5 stars | |
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Carolina Beach has 3,110 households, with an average household size of 2.26. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Carolina Beach do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 7,034 people call Carolina Beach home. The population density is 1,363 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
0-9 Years
10-17 Years
18-24 Years
25-64 Years
65-74 Years
75+ Years
Education Level
Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
With Children:
Without Children:
Marital Status
Blue vs White Collar Workers
Blue Collar:
White Collar:
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