Carolina Beach 72 Excellent
Carolina Beach Livability #81 ranked city in North Carolina#5,359 ranked city in the USARanks better than 81% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Carolina Beach

PROS
  • Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

  • Ratings

    Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

New Real Estate Listings in Carolina Beach Area
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What's it like Living in Carolina Beach?

Carolina Beach is a smaller city located in the state of North Carolina. The city has a population of 6,324 inhabitants. The majority of Carolina Beach residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. In Carolina Beach, there seems to be a shift in population towards an older age group. The average age of the population is now 48, which is significantly higher than the nation’s average. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Carolina Beach is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 26 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Carolina Beach could be a positive experience compared to other cities in North Carolina if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, cost of living, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Carolina Beach and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Carolina Beach to North Carolina and the national average.

With a livability score of 72/100, Carolina Beach is ranked #4,560 in the United States and #56 in North Carolina. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Carolina Beach has received high marks for education (B+) and housing (B). Unfortunately for Carolina Beach, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (D-).

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Carolina Beach apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that Carolina Beach meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Carolina Beach. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Carolina Beach are simply unattainable. The median home price for Carolina Beach homes is $359,800, which is 129% higher than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Carolina Beach, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.2, which is 57.6% higher than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Carolina Beach

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Carolina Beach?

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Compare Carolina Beach, NC Livability

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      Carolina Beach transportation information

      Statistic Carolina Beach North Carolina National
      Average one way commute26min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work77.5%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.2%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle1.4%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.9%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home11.6%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Carolina Beach, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).