Emerald Isle, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

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

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Emerald Isle, North Carolina had a total population of 3,934, the 212th largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $89,773, which is 24% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 4.9%.

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

Key Takeaways

An exceptionally low poverty rate of 4.9% — among the lowest in North Carolina.
57.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in North Carolina.
Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.2%.

Emerald Isle Quick Facts

Population 3,934

Median Household Income $89,773

Median Home Value $603,700

Poverty Rate 4.9%

Unemployment Rate 1.2%

Median Age 60.3 years

Homeownership Rate 85.6%

Affordability Ratio 6.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 57.1%

High School Graduation Rate 98.7%

Diversity Index 14/100

Population 3,934 212th of 772

Median Income $89,773 top 20%

Poverty Rate 4.9% 60% lower than national

Median Home Value $603,700 top 10%

How Emerald Isle 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	3,915	3,934	+0.5%
Median household income	$89,432	$89,773	+0.4%
Median home value	$563,600	$603,700	+7.1%

How Emerald Isle Compares

Median Household Income

Emerald Isle

$89,773

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Emerald Isle

$603,700

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.7%

$25K-$50K 16.1%

$50K-$100K 28.5%

$100K+ 46.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.7%

$10K-$15K

2.9%

$15K-$20K

1.2%

$20K-$25K

1.9%

$25K-$30K

1.7%

$30K-$35K

1.9%

$35K-$40K

0.6%

$40K-$45K

5.3%

$45K-$50K

6.7%

$50K-$60K

5.1%

$60K-$75K

9.3%

$75K-$100K

14.1%

$100K-$125K

9.2%

$125K-$150K

7.5%

$150K-$200K

10.6%

$200K+

19.3%

Employment

1.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

41.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 85.6%

Renter 14.4%

Affordability Index Expensive

6.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,704/mo 22.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

11.1%

18-34

9.2%

35-54

18.4%

55-74

51.4%

75+

9.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very 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+)

Emerald Isle Rankings in North Carolina

#212 Population of 772

#126 Median Income of 716

#59 Education of 772

#23 Home Value of 725

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

Other Cities 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
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

Cities Similar to Emerald Isle

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Bethlehem	4,101	$87,795	$327,000	43.3%	4.5%
Troutman	3,995	$98,462	$398,800	41.4%	6.1%
Southport	4,205	$87,641	$437,700	37.4%	6.4%
Kitty Hawk	3,724	$94,450	$535,000	43.5%	4.7%
Eastover	3,666	$85,156	$241,600	31.9%	13.4%

Population Overview

Emerald Isle is a small community located in North Carolina, within Carteret County. The total population is 3,934. It ranks as the 212th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Emerald Isle is 60.3 years. This is 54% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 11.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Emerald Isle is $89,773. This is 24% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 11% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.9%. This is 62% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.2%. This is 75% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $603,700. Housing costs are 109% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 85.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Emerald Isle has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.7% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.

Education

57.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Emerald Isle in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 60% higher 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 98.7%. Notably, 24.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Emerald Isle, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

Emerald Isle, North Carolina has a population of 3,934 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Emerald Isle, NC?

The median household income in Emerald Isle is $89,773, which is 11% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Emerald Isle, NC?

The poverty rate in Emerald Isle is 4.9%. This means approximately 194 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

Emerald Isle's population is 92.7% White, 0.3% Black, 0.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Emerald Isle, NC?

The median home value in Emerald Isle is $603,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.7x.

How educated is Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

57.1% of adults (25+) in Emerald Isle hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 24.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.