Objective To measure the carotid viscoelasticity using ultrasound shear wave dispersion (USWD), and to explore the correlation between the viscoelasticity and hemodynamics. Methods Forty-five volunteers without history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were recruited and divided into elder group (≥ 50 years old, n=23) and younger group (<50 years old, n=22) according to the median age. The common carotid arteries were detected by USWD, and SWE_R (elastic index) and SWD_R (viscous index) were obtained. Hemodynamic parameters, including velocity time integral (VTI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and mean flow velocity (MFV), were measured using Doppler ultrasound. Correlations between SWE_R, SWD_R and hemodynamic parameters were analyzed using Pearson analysis. Results The SWE_R, SWD_R, VTI, PSV, EDV and MFV in the elder group were significantly lower than those in the younger group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The SWE_R was positively correlated with VTI, PSV, EDV and MFV (r=0.354, 0.400, 0.467 and 0.310;P<0.01, P<0.05). The SWD_R was negatively correlated with VTI and PSV (r=-0.481 and -0.522, both P<0.01), but positively correlated with MFV (r=0.352, P<0.01). Conclusion USWD may identify the change of carotid viscoelasticity, and the change of viscoelasticity is related to hemodynamics.