Beaufort County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Beaufort County, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Beaufort County, North Carolina has a population of 44,499, the 57th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $58,357 and the median home value is $192,700. The poverty rate is 17.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Beaufort County Quick Facts

Population 44,499

Median Household Income $58,357

Median Home Value $192,700

Poverty Rate 17.8%

Unemployment Rate 3.9%

Median Age 47.7 years

Homeownership Rate 69.5%

Affordability Ratio 3.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 21.2%

High School Graduation 89.3%

Cities/Places 11

Population 44,499 57th of 100

Median Income $58,357 19% lower than state

Poverty Rate 17.8%

Unemployment 3.9%

How Beaufort County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	44,597	44,499	-0.2%
Median household income	$57,997	$58,357	+0.6%
Median home value	$181,200	$192,700	+6.3%

Median Household Income

Beaufort

$58,357

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Beaufort

$192,700

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.1%

$25K-$50K 20.4%

$50K-$100K 30.1%

$100K+ 26.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.4%

$10K-$15K

7.5%

$15K-$20K

5.5%

$20K-$25K

4.7%

$25K-$30K

3.8%

$30K-$35K

5.1%

$35K-$40K

4.2%

$40K-$45K

4.2%

$45K-$50K

3.1%

$50K-$60K

8.0%

$60K-$75K

9.7%

$75K-$100K

12.5%

$100K-$125K

8.8%

$125K-$150K

6.0%

$150K-$200K

6.0%

$200K+

5.5%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

55.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.5%

Renter 30.5%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $871/mo 17.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.1%

18-34

17.0%

35-54

22.9%

55-74

30.7%

75+

10.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Beaufort County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Washington	9,726	$40,186	23.1%	$206,800
River Road	3,366	$46,352	22.3%	$232,800
Belhaven	1,577	$32,644	40.3%	$103,000
Cypress Landing	1,044	$83,785	0.5%	$440,000
Chocowinity	903	$41,382	26.9%	$114,300
Aurora	560	$46,131	26.2%	$87,300
Pantego	493	$60,417	5.7%	$111,900
Washington Park	456	$88,750	16.4%	$315,500
Bath	391	$103,611	10.0%	$382,400
Bayview	253	$113,333	3.6%	$328,100
Pinetown	19	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Beaufort County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 44,499. It is the 57th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Beaufort County is 47.7 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Beaufort County is $58,357. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $192,700. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 69.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Beaufort County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.8%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

21.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Beaufort County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Beaufort County, North Carolina?

Beaufort County has a population of 44,499, making it the 57th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Beaufort County?

The median household income in Beaufort County is $58,357 with a poverty rate of 17.8%.

How many cities are in Beaufort County, North Carolina?

Beaufort County contains 11 Census-designated places.