| | Emerald Isle, NC | Indian Beach, NC | United States |
| Population | 3,844 | 197 | 329,725,481 |
| Female Population | 52.0% | 52.8% | 50.5% |
| Male Population | 48.0% | 47.2% | 49.5% |
| Median Age | 57.3 | 63.4 | 38.4 |
| space3 | | | |
| Population - 2010 | 3,671 | 115 | 309,327,143 |
| Population - 2000 | 3,488 | 95 | 285,036,114 |
| Population - 1990 | 2,434 | 153 | 251,960,433 |
| Pop. 2000 to Now | 5.4% | 25.3% | 15.6% |
| Pop. 1990 to Now | 51.0% | -22.2% | 30.8% |
| space4 | | | |
| Population Density | 780.8 | 346.2 | 93.4 |
| Land Area | 4.9 | 0.6 | 3,531,905.4 |
| Water Area | 0.1 | 0.0 | 264,836.8 |
| space | | | |
| Est. Total Population By Age | | | |
| | Emerald Isle, NC | Indian Beach, NC | United States |
| Age 0 to 4 | 3.3% | 2.0% | 5.9% |
| Age 5 to 9 | 2.1% | 5.6% | 6.1% |
| Age 10 to 14 | 5.1% | 2.0% | 6.6% |
| Age 15 to 17 | 4.8% | 2.0% | 3.9% |
| Age 18 to 20 | 1.7% | 1.0% | 4.0% |
| Age 21 to 24 | 1.1% | 1.5% | 5.2% |
| Age 25 to 34 | 5.4% | 5.1% | 13.8% |
| Age 35 to 44 | 7.6% | 9.6% | 12.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 | 14.8% | 1.0% | 12.6% |
| Age 55 to 59 | 11.6% | 13.7% | 6.7% |
| Age 60 to 64 | 12.0% | 21.3% | 6.3% |
| Age 65 to 74 | 21.2% | 25.9% | 9.6% |
| Age 75 to 84 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and over | 1.8% | 0.0% | 1.9% |
| space1 | | | |
| Race | | | |
| | Emerald Isle, NC | Indian Beach, NC | United States |
| White | 89.7% | 96.4% | 59.4% |
| Black | 0.4% | 3.0% | 12.2% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.6% |
| Native American | 1.1% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races | 6.5% | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 1.8% | 0.5% | 18.4% |
| space2 | | | |
| Marriage & Family | | | |
| | Emerald Isle, NC | Indian Beach, NC | United States |
| Married Population | 72.3% | 74.7% | 49.8% |
| Currently Married | 70.3% | 74.7% | 48.0% |
| Married but Separated | 2.0% | 0.0% | 1.8% |
| Single Population | 27.7% | 25.3% | 50.2% |
| Never Married | 14.7% | 6.2% | 33.8% |
| Divorced | 9.2% | 15.2% | 10.8% |
| Widowed | 3.8% | 3.9% | 5.6% |
| space5 | | | |
| Household Size | 2.18 | 2.01 | 2.60 |
| Households | 1,764 | 93 | 124,010,992 |
| Family Households | 1,304 | 72 | 80,755,759 |
| Married couple, w/children | 18.8% | 8.3% | 30.5% |
| Married couple, no children | 71.5% | 84.7% | 42.9% |
| Non Family Households | 460 | 21 | 43,255,233 |
| Single householder, w/children | 6.8% | 0.0% | 15.8% |
| Single householder, no children | 2.9% | 6.9% | 10.8% |