Beaufort County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Beaufort County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 44,597. It is the 57th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Beaufort County is 47.1 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Beaufort County is $57,997. This is 17% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 26% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.0%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $181,200. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 70.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Beaufort County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.7%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

20.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.1%.