Cape Carteret town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cape Carteret town is a small community located in North Carolina. The total population is 2,598. It ranks as the 289th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cape Carteret town is 47.6 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cape Carteret town is $75,313. This is 8% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% lower. The poverty rate stands at 7.3%. This is 45% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $347,500. Housing costs are 34% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 80.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cape Carteret town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (93.5% vs 60.7%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 10.9%.

Education

31.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% 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 92.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cape Carteret town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.