City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Calabash, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Calabash - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,397
Residents
$60,048
Median income
$202,000
Median home
$1,426
Median rent (state)

Calabash - the verdict

Nationally, Calabash sits in the 35th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

35th
percentile, household income
43rd
percentile, home value
56th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Calabash, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,397 residents in Calabash, a small town within North Carolina. Calabash households earn a median of $60,048 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.6%. Home values in Calabash run a median of $202,000, and the median resident age is 54.0 years. About 22.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 53.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 142 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 137% from five years earlier.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,426 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 95.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

2,397 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$60,048 /yr

Poverty 10.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Calabash compare to other US cities?

Where Calabash sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 43% pricier than other cities
Median rent 56% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Calabash against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Calabash toward the top of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Calabash ranks #159 - the 77th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Calabash only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#334 of 700
52nd percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#159 of 746
77th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#328 of 708
54th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#345 of 746
53rd percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#358 of 746
52nd percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

35thIncome percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Calabash's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$202,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 57% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Calabash $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Calabash, NC Calabash, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Calabash, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Calabash, NC median $60,048/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Calabash, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Calabash, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,397
Median Income
$60,048
Median Home Value
$202,000
Median Age
54.0
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Labor force participation
53.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.2%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,500 residents2,000 residents2,500 residents3,000 residents3,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,987 residents 3,069 residents ▲ +54.5%
Calabash's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
142
housing units authorized
Single-Family
142
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
59.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 60
2020 119
2021 98
2022 105
2023 497
2024 142

Permit volume increased 137% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.7%
Carpool
10.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
18.6%

Based on 1,113 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Calabash sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,426/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Maxton
2,398 people
Laurel Park
2,391 people
Neuse Forest
2,406 people
Richlands
2,387 people
Taylorsville
2,386 people
Spruce Pine
2,381 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Calabash's 2,397 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mendenhall, MS
2,397 people
Amboy, IL
2,396 people
Sterling, KS
2,396 people
Jamestown West, NY
2,398 people
Lake Meade, PA
2,398 people
Gold Bar, WA
2,396 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Calabash's $60,048 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Moreland, ID
$60,048 median income
Warren AFB, WY
$60,048 median income
Alcoa, TN
$60,049 median income
Poughkeepsie, NY
$60,050 median income
Charleston, AR
$60,058 median income
Durand, MI
$60,032 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Calabash, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Calabash, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.1% 6.0% 14.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.6% White 75.1% Black or African American 6.0% Asian 1.6% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 14.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Calabash compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Calabash (this city) 2,397 $60,048
Maxton 2,398 $22,632
Laurel Park 2,391 $89,107
Neuse Forest 2,406 $88,333
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Calabash, NC?

What is the population of Calabash, NC? +

The population of Calabash, NC stands at 2,397 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Calabash, NC? +

The median household income in Calabash is $60,048 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Calabash? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Calabash; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Calabash, NC? +

Homes in Calabash carry a median value of $202,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.