Carteret County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

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

Carteret County, North Carolina has a population of 69,148, the 39th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $72,322 and the median home value is $333,300. The poverty rate is 10.1%.

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

Carteret County Quick Facts

Population 69,148

Median Household Income $72,322

Median Home Value $333,300

Poverty Rate 10.1%

Unemployment Rate 4.0%

Median Age 50.5 years

Homeownership Rate 74.7%

Affordability Ratio 4.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 34.5%

High School Graduation 93.8%

Cities/Places 18

Population 69,148 39th of 100

Median Income $72,322 about the same as state

Poverty Rate 10.1%

Unemployment 4.0%

How Carteret 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	68,652	69,148	+0.7%
Median household income	$70,235	$72,322	+3.0%
Median home value	$304,200	$333,300	+9.6%

Median Household Income

Carteret

$72,322

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Carteret

$333,300

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.1%

$25K-$50K 19.0%

$50K-$100K 30.0%

$100K+ 34.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.4%

$10K-$15K

3.6%

$15K-$20K

3.6%

$20K-$25K

4.5%

$25K-$30K

3.9%

$30K-$35K

4.1%

$35K-$40K

3.2%

$40K-$45K

3.7%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

7.1%

$60K-$75K

9.9%

$75K-$100K

13.0%

$100K-$125K

10.6%

$125K-$150K

5.7%

$150K-$200K

8.7%

$200K+

9.8%

Employment

4.0% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

55.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 74.7%

Renter 25.3%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,108/mo 18.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.9%

18-34

15.5%

35-54

23.7%

55-74

33.4%

75+

10.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Carteret County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Morehead City	9,806	$56,233	18.1%	$357,400
Beaufort	4,689	$53,321	11.2%	$354,900
Newport	4,441	$56,351	10.7%	$233,600
Emerald Isle	3,934	$89,773	4.9%	$603,700
Cape Carteret	2,703	$86,136	6.1%	$375,700
Cedar Point	1,917	$98,750	5.4%	$423,700
Broad Creek	1,836	$57,500	7.8%	$244,200
Atlantic Beach	1,719	$70,402	15.6%	$498,400
Pine Knoll Shores	1,351	$109,375	3.5%	$592,300
Brandywine Bay	1,313	$105,000	1.2%	$371,500
Harkers Island	1,060	$60,000	10.4%	$313,100
Peletier	1,009	$55,893	9.8%	$208,500
Bogue	756	$93,516	3.2%	$291,100
Atlantic	522	$51,071	18.2%	$154,300
Marshallberg	398	$88,438	23.4%	$219,400
Gloucester	385	$64,667	3.6%	$353,800
Davis	261	$74,219	6.9%	$200,700
Indian Beach	211	$103,000	3.5%	$534,100

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

Carteret County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 69,148. It is the 39th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 18 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carteret County is 50.5 years. This is 29% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.6% 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 Carteret County is $72,322. This is about the same as the state median of $72,388. It is also 10% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.1%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $333,300. Housing costs are 15% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 74.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carteret County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.9%. The Black or African American population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

34.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% 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 93.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Carteret 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 Carteret County, North Carolina?

Carteret County has a population of 69,148, making it the 39th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Carteret County?

The median household income in Carteret County is $72,322 with a poverty rate of 10.1%.

How many cities are in Carteret County, North Carolina?

Carteret County contains 18 Census-designated places.