Sunset Beach, North Carolina, is a coastal dream town. Many people live here full-time, and there are many people who live here part-time. It is often a premier vacation destination, and those who come to visit often wonder what it might be like to live full-time in Sunset Beach.
What Is It Like to Live Full Time in Sunset Beach In 2026?
Sunset Beach offers a relaxed, serene coastal lifestyle that is amazing and appealing for those seeking a quiet, natural beach community. It is a barrier island town right at the South Carolina border. It is known for its wide, clean beaches with plenty of sandy shore to stroll and enjoy. The sunsets are amazing, and the unobstructed, undeveloped natural spaces give it something special that the surrounding areas don’t offer.
Daily life and atmosphere
Sunset Beach is a sparse suburban small town with a slower pace of life. The community is friendly and tight-knit. Things are focused, of course, around the water and activities pertaining to it. Popular activities include boating, fishing, golfing, birdwatching, shelling, etc. The off-season is fall through spring, and it can feel very quiet as the population drops significantly. Many businesses shorten their hours to help mitigate the business costs of slower service. Summers are full of vibrant activity as vacationers come in and the town seems to come to life. It may seem like the off-season could be boring, but the full-time residents enjoy what they call the “locals only” season.
Full-time residents number between 4500 to 5000. This means enjoying unspoiled, uncrowded natural beaches year-round and feeling like spaces are your own private coastal oasis when it gets quiet. For more activity levels, locals can and do visit neighboring areas like Ocean Isle, Myrtle Beach, Calabash, and more.
Weather
The weather in Sunset Beach is a mild coastal climate. The summers are pretty warm with highs in the 80s and 90s. Winters are fairly gentle and really hit below freezing. Hurricane season is from June to November, and is a reality for many southern coastal states. Making sure you know everything about preparedness will help you to keep on track and keep your home safe.
Cost of living
Compared to other coastal locations nearby, Sunset Beach is one of the most affordable. It is slightly above the national average, but it is incredibly lower than surrounding coastal spots and large popular coastal areas around America. Median home values range between $400,000 and $630,000. The closer you get to the oceanfront the higher the price becomes.
When you are ready to buy a Sunset Beach home, the team at Sunset Beach and Beyond is here to help you find the best home that fits you and your needs without making any buyer mistakes that you might later regret. You want an experienced Sunset Beach real estate agent at your side who knows the details of searching for homes in the right places in Sunset Beach to help you find exactly what you are looking for. We are ready to help you make your relocation to Sunset Beach as seamless and informative as possible.
“Amy and I have bought and sold four properties in the past twelve years. Both of you are the best realtors we have ever dealt with. Amy and I both felt we could trust you to look out for our interest. The level of service you provided was outstanding, from taking the trash out, helping the buyer with inspecting the irrigation system, dealing with our tenants, always being there if we needed to ask a question, providing constant updates on the market and always keeping us informed on the sale of our house. I think your next venture should be training other realtors, because both of you have mastered the art of providing excellent service. I will be sure to recommend the Frank and Karen team to anybody looking for a trust worthy, knowledgeable and top performing realtor. It was a pleasure working with both of you.” Sunset Beach and Beyond testimonial