Sign In Register

Sunset Beach, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Horry County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
4,326 Population 640/sq mi density
$84,934 Median Income $57,493 per capita
$354,300 Home Value $435,276 Zillow
$541 Median Rent 17.9% income on rent
64°F Avg Temperature 308 sunny days/yr
27 Violent Crime/100K 2,531 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$84,934 median income, 0.7% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.3 / 5.0
$354,300 home value, $541/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
27 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.2 / 5.0
39.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Sunset Beach enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 308 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 48.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

46°F Jan (8°C) 81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average64.0°F
19% above US avg
January Average46°F (8°C)
July Average81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days308 days/yr

Geography

Elevation26 ft (8 m)
Area7.3 sq mi (19.0 km²)
Population Density640/sq mi
Coordinates33.8948°N, 78.5050°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyHorry County County
Nearest AirportMyrtle Beach International (MYR)
28 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 48.5"
28% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug) 6.61"
Driest Month (Apr) 2.87"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0446 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.8 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability65.4 / 100
Community Resilience66.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Hurricane History

25 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 92 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 1 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 79 km
2018 Florence Category 2 15 km
2016 Matthew Category 2 36 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 79 km
2011 Irene Category 1 167 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 86 km
2004 Alex Category 2 143 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 142 km
2004 Charley Category 1 21 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 235 km
1999 Irene Category 2 116 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 48 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 148 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 75 km
1996 Fran Category 3 47 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 50 km
1994 Gordon Category 1 245 km
1991 Bob Category 2 244 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

284 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 25 fatalities, 374 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Nov 7, 1995 EF4 83 km 0
Feb 15, 2021 EF3 2 km 3
Nov 16, 2006 EF3 55 km 8
Nov 24, 1967 EF3 66 km 0
Aug 17, 1965 EF3 17 km 0
Oct 9, 1950 EF3 32 km 0
Aug 7, 2024 EF2 94 km 0
Aug 3, 2020 EF2 51 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 70 km 0
Sep 5, 2019 EF2 3 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 76 km 1
Apr 6, 2009 EF2 61 km 0
Mar 28, 2009 EF2 74 km 0
Nov 14, 2008 EF2 94 km 0
Aug 13, 2004 EF2 80 km 3
Oct 11, 2002 EF2 94 km 0
Jul 6, 2001 EF2 41 km 0
Apr 15, 1999 EF2 95 km 0
Nov 7, 1995 EF2 51 km 0
Nov 7, 1995 EF2 46 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (77,768 ac, 1986).

Year Name Acres Distance
1986 UNNAMED 77,768 100 km
2009 HIGHWAY 31 17,004 33 km
1997 UNNAMED 3,111 77 km
2001 UNNAMED 2,204 25 km
2020 TRAM ROAD/GRASSY ROAD 2,076 98 km
1993 UNNAMED 2,073 35 km
1986 UNNAMED 2,024 78 km
2007 LONGBRANCH-ROBESON COMPLEX 1,944 88 km
2009 UNNAMED 1,870 66 km
2010 UNNAMED 1,683 67 km
2002 LEGENDS 1,666 48 km
2016 CLEMMONS ROAD 1,468 33 km
1990 UNNAMED 1,335 78 km
2011 WOLF ISLAND 1,310 94 km
2008 EDNA BUCK ROAD 1,256 80 km
2009 JOE BAY 1,124 68 km
2010 UNNAMED 1,109 93 km
1988 UNNAMED 1,077 35 km
1988 UNNAMED 1,005 25 km
2007 EAST PENDER COMPLEX 986 86 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 46°F (8°C) 4.3 in Coldest
February 48°F (9°C) 3.7 in
March 55°F (13°C) 4.3 in
April 62°F (17°C) 2.9 in Driest
May 70°F (21°C) 4.3 in
June 76°F (25°C) 5.2 in
July 81°F (27°C) 6.3 in Warmest
August 79°F (26°C) 6.6 in Wettest
September 74°F (24°C) 5.8 in
October 64°F (18°C) 3.2 in
November 56°F (13°C) 3.0 in
December 48°F (9°C) 3.5 in

Sunset Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 46°F in January to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 52.9 inches, with August being the wettest month (6.6") and April the driest (2.9").

View full weather details →