Topsail Beach is a small town of 471 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $112,708
and a 2.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Topsail Beach stands out for a well-educated population.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Topsail Beach is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Topsail Beach city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.1
Topsail Beach's overall cost of living index is 97.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Topsail Beach costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Topsail Beach, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$588,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,219
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
95.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$112,708
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Topsail Beach's violent crime rate is 176.0 per 100,000 residents
— 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
176.0 /100k
Property Crime
1095.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Topsail Beach, NC
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
63.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Topsail Beach sees average highs of 54.8°F in January
and 87.5°F in July,
with 60.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Topsail Beach's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Topsail Beach roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $588,200 and median rent is $1,219/month.
Topsail Beach's violent crime rate is 176.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1095.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Topsail Beach, NC has a population of 471, a median household income of $112,708, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Topsail Beach averages 54.8°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.6 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Topsail Beach, North Carolina is 471 with a median age of 64.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Topsail Beach: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $588,200, median household income $112,708, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Topsail Beach side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.