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City · 6,745 residents · New Hanover County, North Carolina

Carolina Beach , North Carolina

In Carolina Beach, a typical home is worth $566,200 and typical rent is $1,513 a month. Compared with all of New Hanover County, the typical home value is 46% higher, typical household income is 26% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 23 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $566,200

    46% above the county

    96% above North Carolina

    • Carolina Beach
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,513a month

    7% above the county

    23% above North Carolina

    • Carolina Beach
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $94,398a year

    26% above the county

    30% above North Carolina

    • Carolina Beach
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    84%

    23 points above the county

    18 points above North Carolina

    • Carolina Beach
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$604,565
1.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,347 a month
3.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Carolina Beach is in New Hanover County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of New Hanover County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Carolina Beach apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 84% of households in Carolina Beach own their home, against 61% in New Hanover County.

  2. Nearby, in Boiling Spring Lakes, the typical home value is $292,300: 48% less than in Carolina Beach ($566,200).

  3. The typical home in Carolina Beach is worth $566,200, 46% more than in New Hanover County as a whole ($387,800).

  4. The typical household income in Carolina Beach is $94,398, 26% more than in New Hanover County as a whole ($75,166).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Carolina Beach

What homes there are in Carolina Beach, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Carolina Beach; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 42%, less than in New Hanover County (61%).

Year built

The typical home in Carolina Beach was built in 1988, 5 years before the typical one in New Hanover County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,303 a month

New Hanover County: $1,888 a month

Without a mortgage

$882 a month

New Hanover County: $658 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

New Hanover County: 67%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Carolina Beach is $2,303 a month, more than in New Hanover County ($1,888); without one, $882.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Carolina Beach rose 60% since 2015–2019, about the same as in New Hanover County (59%).

Rent in Carolina Beach moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCarolina BeachNew Hanover CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 47.1%7.4%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.3%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.192.192.442.53
Drive alone 68%71%72%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate6%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 20%19%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Carolina Beach is 47.1%, higher than in New Hanover County (7.4%).

By size, households in Carolina Beach look like those in New Hanover County: 2.19 people on average.

The car rules in Carolina Beach: 68% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Carolina Beach?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Carolina Beach, worth $566,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 57% of the typical household income in Carolina Beach, which is $94,398 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $192,361 a year. Note: at that price the loan is above the FHA limit for New Hanover County ($541,287), so FHA would not insure it; the payment is only a reference.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of New Hanover County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Carolina Beach. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $19,817 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,488

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$555,945
Total interest
$799,874
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $9,562 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,203 a month

  • Tight

    $2,203 to $2,832 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,832 a month

    Your payment · 57%

Compared with the typical household income in Carolina Beach ($94,398 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,488
Principal & interest$3,766
Property tax$236
Home insurance$236
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$250

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $546,383, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Carolina Beach is $541,287. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $19,817 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Carolina Beach and New Hanover County

Carolina Beach is in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Carolina Beach's own numbers

Typical home value
$566,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,513
Typical yearly household income
$94,398
Households that own their home
84%
Effective property tax rate
0.5%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of New Hanover County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,705
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+69%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
11%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of New Hanover County.

Everything about New Hanover County

Buying

Buying a home in Carolina Beach

A typical home in Carolina Beach is worth $566,200: 46% above the county and 96% above North Carolina. With the typical household income in Carolina Beach ($94,398 a year), a typical home costs 6.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Carolina Beach 6.0 years
  • New Hanover 5.2 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in New Hanover County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in New Hanover County rose 127% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of New Hanover County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.7% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +69% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +127% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Carolina Beach next to New Hanover County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Carolina Beach $566,200
  • New Hanover $387,800
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Carolina Beach $1,513
  • New Hanover $1,417
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Carolina Beach $94,398
  • New Hanover $75,166
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Carolina Beach next to New Hanover County and North Carolina
Measure Carolina Beach New Hanover County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $566,200 $387,800 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,513 $1,417 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $94,398 $75,166 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 84% 61% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,822 $2,105 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.5% 0.54% 0.66% 0.94%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below New Hanover County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Carolina Beach

For a typical $566,200 home in Carolina Beach, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Carolina Beach's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,488a month

    Above the FHA limit for New Hanover County ($541,287)
    Down payment
    $19,817
    Cash to close
    $36,803
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $250

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,385a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $28,310
    Cash to close
    $45,296
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $269

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,540a month

    Down payment
    $113,240
    Cash to close
    $130,226
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $4,064a month

    Down payment
    $84,930
    Cash to close
    $101,916
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is Conventional, 5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Carolina Beach and for New Hanover County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Carolina Beach

0.5%of the home’s value each year

$2,822 a year for the typical owner in Carolina Beach.

  • Carolina Beach 0.5%
  • New Hanover 0.54%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in New Hanover County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of New Hanover County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
11%
9,484
Of those, with NFIP insurance
75%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 11% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 75% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Carolina Beach

Typical rent in Carolina Beach is $1,513 a month: 7% above the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of New Hanover County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,705 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $32.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of New Hanover County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,187 $22.83 $47,480
1 bedroom $1,566 $30.12 $62,640
2 bedrooms $1,705 $32.79 $68,200
3 bedrooms $2,238 $43.04 $89,520
4 bedrooms $2,241 $43.10 $89,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Carolina Beach

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Carolina Beach is in ZIP code 28428.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,840: $135 more than the fair market rent for New Hanover County ($1,705).

  • 28428 $1,840$2,420

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Carolina Beach when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Carolina Beach

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in New Hanover County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Carolina Beach

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Carolina Beach or New Hanover County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Carolina Beach the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Carolina Beach

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Carolina Beach, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Wilmington

    929 N Front St, Wilmington · 14 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 5 more
    (910) 341-7836

  • Cape Fear Regional CDC

    500 Compton St, Wilmington · 15 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 4 more
    (910) 762-7555

  • City of Jacksonville

    815 New Bridge St, Jacksonville · 56 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (910) 938-6551

Every agency in New Hanover County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Carolina Beach

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Carolina Beach

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in New Hanover County is named for Carolina Beach or New Hanover County.

One other authority has an office in New Hanover County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in New Hanover County

These cities are also in New Hanover County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about New Hanover County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Carolina Beach, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If New Hanover County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Carolina Beach.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Carolina Beach

Short answers with the numbers for Carolina Beach and all of New Hanover County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Carolina Beach?

The typical home value in Carolina Beach is $566,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in New Hanover County it is $387,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Carolina Beach?

Typical rent in Carolina Beach is $1,513 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in New Hanover County is $1,705.

What is the FHA loan limit in Carolina Beach?

Carolina Beach uses the FHA limit for all of New Hanover County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Carolina Beach?

The typical homeowner in Carolina Beach pays $2,822 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.5% of the home’s value; in New Hanover County, the rate is 0.54%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Carolina Beach?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in New Hanover County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).