Moving to Calabash, NC: Living in Calabash Guide

Calabash is the little fishing town on the North Carolina–South Carolina line that gave its name to a whole style of fried seafood. Boats still tie up along the Calabash River, the waterfront restaurants still fill up at dinnertime, and the town’s nickname, the “Seafood Capital of the World,” dates back to the decades when dozens of family seafood houses lined its streets. Today Calabash is also a golf and retirement town, with gated golf communities, quiet streets and North Myrtle Beach about 10 miles away.

It suits retirees, golfers and anyone who wants small-town living with easy access to the beaches of both Carolinas. It is also home to our NC & SC office and our Calabash movers. This guide covers population, home prices, weather, neighborhoods and the moving-day details that are specific to Calabash.

Planning a move to Calabash? Call our NC & SC team at 910-758-0081 or get your price online.

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Where Is Calabash, NC?

Calabash sits in southwestern Brunswick County, right on the South Carolina state line. The tidal Calabash River runs through the south side of town toward the Intracoastal Waterway. U.S. 17 is the main highway, running north toward Shallotte, Leland and Wilmington and south into North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach. Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Carolina Shores are close neighbors.

The town has an interesting name story. According to the Brunswick Islands tourism bureau, the settlement was once called Pea Landing because of its peanut trade, and around 1883 residents renamed it Calabash, a word for a gourd. For generations, life here revolved around the river’s tidal creeks, which supplied the oysters, shrimp, fish and clams that later made the town famous.

Road distances from Calabash, measured with OpenStreetMap routing:

North Myrtle Beach, SC: about 10 miles
Myrtle Beach, SC: about 27 miles
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR): about 30 miles
Downtown Wilmington: about 49 miles
Wilmington International Airport (ILM): about 54 miles
Fayetteville: about 106 miles
Charleston, SC: about 122 miles
Raleigh: about 178 miles
Charlotte: about 183 miles

Most residents fly out of Myrtle Beach International, which is closer than Wilmington. For shopping and errands, Shallotte is to the north and North Myrtle Beach is to the south.

Calabash Population & Demographics

Calabash counted 2,011 residents in the 2020 Census, up from 1,786 in 2010. The Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,377 people today. It is an older community, with a median age of 56.0, and most homes are owner-occupied. Neighboring Carolina Shores split off as its own town in 1998, so the two share a lot of history.

Small-town survey estimates come with wide margins of error, so treat these figures as a general picture.

Measure (2020–2024 ACS unless noted)	Calabash	Brunswick County	North Carolina
Population, 2020 Census	2,011	—	—
Population (ACS estimate)	2,377	152,568	10,730,404
Median age	56.0	56.4	39.1
Median household income	$65,310	$77,024	$72,388
Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+	22.1%	34.7%	35.7%
Owner-occupied housing rate	69.7%	84.6%	66.6%
Median home value	$253,200	$349,800	$288,900
Median gross rent	$1,360	$1,351	$1,228

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (via Wikipedia) and American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (via Census Reporter).

Is Calabash Safe?

Calabash is a small, quiet town, but we haven’t found a recent, reliable crime rate for it that we’d be comfortable quoting. For current information about a specific address, contact the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, which serves the county, and check the Town of Calabash website for local contacts. As anywhere, drive the neighborhood at different times of day before you commit, and ask neighbors how they like it.

Cost of Living in Calabash

Calabash is one of the more affordable places on the Brunswick County coast, especially compared with the island beach towns nearby. Housing ranges from older homes near the river to condos and homes in gated golf communities, which is part of why the numbers vary so much by source.

Home Prices

Zillow’s Home Value Index for Calabash was $351,876 in August 2026, up 1.9% from $345,483 a year earlier. That’s a bit above the statewide figure of $334,773 and below the U.S. figure of $368,697. For comparison, Zillow puts the Myrtle Beach metro area, just over the state line, at $339,754. The Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 median home value for Calabash, based on owner estimates, was lower at $253,200.

For perspective, Zillow’s August 2026 index puts nearby Ocean Isle Beach at $532,537 and Sunset Beach at $439,311, so Calabash can be a more affordable way to live a short drive from the sand. Compare HOA dues and flood insurance quotes too, since both can change the monthly math.

Rent

The Census Bureau’s median gross rent for Calabash was $1,360 for 2020–2024, close to the Brunswick County median of $1,351. Zillow’s Observed Rent Index showed $1,880 a month for Calabash in August 2026, based on a small number of current listings, and $1,709 for the Myrtle Beach metro. Year-round rentals can be limited in a town this size, so start your search early.

Best Neighborhoods in Calabash

The Riverfront Village

The historic core along the Calabash River is where the seafood restaurants, fishing docks and older, smaller-lot homes are. You can walk to dinner and watch the boats come in. It suits people who want the classic Calabash experience and don’t mind summer visitors. Homes here are close to the water, so check flood zones and insurance carefully.

Crow Creek

Crow Creek is a 400-acre gated golf community with custom single-family homes and condominiums around an 18-hole championship course. Residents have an activity center with a lap pool and fitness facilities. It suits retirees and golfers who want a full-amenity community with a gate and an HOA.

Meadowlands

Meadowlands is a single-family community built around its own 18-hole golf course, with a clubhouse, resort-style pool, fitness room and walking trails. It suits buyers who want a quiet, natural setting that’s still a short drive from the beaches and U.S. 17 shopping.

Weather & Climate

Calabash has mild winters and hot, humid summers. The closest long-term NOAA station is at North Myrtle Beach’s airport, about 10 miles away. Its 1991–2020 normals show an average July high of 87.6°F and low of 73.7°F, and an average January high of 55.7°F and low of 36.7°F. The annual average temperature is 64.0°F.

Average rainfall is 48.47 inches a year, with the most in August (6.25 inches) and September (6.65 inches). Those are also the heart of hurricane season, which officially runs June 1 through November 30, with most storms in August through October according to NOAA. Homes near the Calabash River and the Intracoastal Waterway deserve a close look at flood risk.

Best months to move: April (average high 71.8°F), May (78.7°F) and late October into November (66.4°F in November) are the most comfortable. Summer brings heat and heavy tourist traffic on U.S. 17, so plan early starts if you move in June, July or August.

Things to Do in Calabash

The Calabash Waterfront

Walk the docks along the Calabash River to watch the boats and wildlife, then stay for dinner. The waterfront is the town’s front porch and the reason most people first visit.

Calabash Fishing Fleet

Operating from Nance Street on the waterfront, the Calabash Fishing Fleet runs deep-sea fishing trips, private charters, dolphin cruises and sunset excursions. It’s a fun way to show off your new town when family visits.

Golf

According to the Brunswick Islands tourism bureau, five championship courses are located in Calabash, part of more than 30 courses across the Brunswick Islands. If golf is part of your retirement plan, you’ll have plenty of options within a few miles of home.

Sunset Beach and the Kindred Spirit Mailbox

Next door in Sunset Beach, a walk of about 1.5 miles from the West 40th Street public beach access leads to the Kindred Spirit mailbox on Bird Island, where visitors have left notes and letters for decades. It’s one of the most loved walks on this stretch of coast.

Ingram Planetarium and the Museum of Coastal Carolina

The Ingram Planetarium at 7625 High Market Street in Sunset Beach offers dome shows and laser shows. Its sister attraction, the Museum of Coastal Carolina at 21 East Second Street in Ocean Isle Beach, has live animals, a touch tank and exhibits on shells, fossils and sea turtles. Both run reduced off-season hours, so check the schedule.

Callahan’s of Calabash

Open since 1978, Callahan’s is a Calabash gift shop landmark and a fun stop for souvenirs when friends come to visit.

Where to Eat in Calabash

You can’t write about Calabash without the food. According to the Brunswick Islands tourism bureau, the town’s first restaurants grew out of oyster roasts in the 1930s, and by 1983 more than 30 restaurants were serving about 1.5 million customers a year. “Calabash-style” today usually means a platter of fried shrimp, flounder, scallops and clam strips.

Beck’s Restaurant (River Road)

Beck’s, at 1014 River Road, traces its roots to Ruth Beck, whose cooking experiments in the 1940s helped create what became Calabash-style seafood. It serves lunch and dinner. There’s also a Beck’s on Causeway Drive in Ocean Isle Beach.

Calabash Seafood Hut (River Road)

Look for the blue awning at 1125 River Road. The Seafood Hut dates to 1968, is family owned and operated, and is known for long lines of people waiting for its fried seafood. Take-out is available if you’d rather eat on your new porch.

Captain Nance’s Seafood (Nance Street)

Family-owned since 1975, Captain Nance’s sits on the Calabash River at 9939 Nance Street. It’s a no-frills, family-friendly waterfront spot for classic Calabash platters.

Jobs & Economy

Calabash’s own economy centers on restaurants, fishing charters, golf and tourism. Nearby job centers include North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach to the south and Shallotte to the north, with Wilmington farther up U.S. 17.

Across Brunswick County, the school system is the largest single employer, and retail trade is the largest industry by employment, with 6,437 jobs in 2023, according to the NC Rural Center. Countywide employment grew 38% from 2013 to 2023, adding 10,839 jobs, With a median age of 56.0, many Calabash residents are also retired.

Schools in Calabash

Calabash is part of Brunswick County Schools, which the National Center for Education Statistics reports had 13,561 students in 20 schools in the 2024–2025 school year. The district’s western high school, West Brunswick High, is in Shallotte, and Shallotte Middle and Union Elementary are also in the Shallotte area. School assignments depend on your exact address, so confirm with the district before you buy or sign a lease.

Brunswick Community College has its main campus in Bolivia and a Brunswick Educational & Trades Center in Supply. Across the state line, Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, is another option for families with college students.

Calabash Quick Facts

County	Brunswick County
ZIP code	28467
Area codes	910 and 472
Land area	About 4.53 square miles
Nearest airports	Myrtle Beach International (MYR), about 30 miles; Wilmington International (ILM), about 54 miles
Main highway	U.S. 17
Population	2,011 (2020 Census)
Public school district	Brunswick County Schools
Known for	Calabash-style seafood, the Calabash River waterfront, golf

Moving to Calabash: Tips From Our Crew

Get gate access sorted before moving day. Communities like Crow Creek are gated, and many HOAs have rules about truck parking, move hours and portable storage containers. Send our Calabash moving crew the gate instructions and HOA rules ahead of time so the truck isn’t waiting at the entrance.
Avoid River Road at dinnertime in summer. The waterfront restaurants draw long lines, and parking near the river fills up in the evening. If you’re moving near the waterfront, an earlier start keeps the truck out of the dinner rush.
Plan around summer traffic on U.S. 17. Between Calabash, Sunset Beach and North Myrtle Beach, summer weekends are busy with vacation turnover. A midweek move is usually faster and easier.
Know which side of the state line you’re on. Some addresses and shopping centers near Calabash are in South Carolina. If you’re moving from Little River or North Myrtle Beach into Calabash, you’re changing states, which affects your driver’s license, vehicle registration and utilities.
Take hurricane season seriously. From August through October, leave a few flexible days between closing and moving. Homes near the river may be raised, so expect extra stairs.
Use climate-controlled storage. The humidity here is hard on wood furniture, pianos and photos. If there’s a gap between homes, choose climate-controlled storage.
Clear out before you move in. Buying a home that needs cleaning out, or downsizing into a condo? Ask about junk removal from our NC & SC office here in Calabash so you only move what you’ll keep.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Calabash

How much does it cost to hire movers in Calabash?

It depends on the size of your home, the distance, stairs, packing and the time of year. A local move across town is priced very differently from a long-distance move into Brunswick County. The best way to get an accurate number is a free quote. Call 910-758-0081 and an owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Is Calabash a good place to retire?

Many retirees think so. The median age is 56.0, golf communities are close by, winters are mild and North Myrtle Beach’s shopping and health care are about 10 miles away. The trade-offs include summer tourist traffic, hurricane risk and a longer drive to Wilmington.

Is Calabash in North Carolina or South Carolina?

Calabash is in North Carolina, in Brunswick County, right on the South Carolina line. Little River and North Myrtle Beach are just across the border, and many residents shop, work and see doctors on both sides.

How far is Calabash from the beach?

Calabash is on the Calabash River, not the ocean, but Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach are close, and North Myrtle Beach is about 10 miles away. Most residents are at the sand in a short drive.

What does “Calabash-style” seafood mean?

It’s the fried seafood platter, usually shrimp, flounder, scallops and clam strips, that made the town famous. The style grew out of family restaurants on the Calabash waterfront starting in the 1930s and 1940s, and it’s now found up and down the Carolina coast.

Move to Calabash With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015, and our NC & SC office is based right here in Calabash and in North Myrtle Beach. Owners Matthew Treharn and Amber Hallaman stand behind every move with our Owner’s Promise: you talk to an owner, not a call center; if anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day; and claims are resolved in 60 to 90 days. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors.

We handle local and long-distance moves, packing and piano and safe moving. Visit our Calabash movers page or call 910-758-0081.

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