Cost to Own
United StatesNorth CarolinaBrunswick CountyCarolina Shores Population 4,843 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Carolina Shores, North Carolina

A $276,000 home here costs

$2,063

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,419. The real number is $644 higher every month — 45% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Carolina Shores median: $276,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $220,800 borrowed $1,419
Property tax0.481% effective rate for Carolina Shores itself $111
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $100
Electricity15.09¢/kWh — North Carolina residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $230
Total monthly $2,063

Carolina Shores against Brunswick County and North Carolina

MeasureCarolina ShoresBrunswick County
Median home value$276,000$314,700
Median property tax$1,328$1,789
Effective tax rate0.481%0.568%
Median gross rent$1,948$1,267
Population4,843145,889

The weather behind that power bill

Carolina Shores sits in Brunswick County, which averages a high of 87.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.4°F in its coldest, with 56.53" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,865 cooling and 2,429 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Brunswick County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Brunswick County

Full Brunswick County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Carolina Shores?

A $276,000 home in Carolina Shores, North Carolina costs approximately $2,063 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,419 principal and interest, $111 property tax, $100 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $230 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Carolina Shores?

Carolina Shores has an effective property tax rate of 0.481%, based on a median home value of $276,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,328. That is lower than the Brunswick County average of 0.568%.

What is the average home price in Carolina Shores?

The median owner-occupied home value in Carolina Shores, North Carolina is $276,000, against $314,700 across Brunswick County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carolina Shores?

Median gross rent in Carolina Shores is $1,948 a month, against $2,063 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Carolina Shores — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology