Harkers Island, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Harkers Island is a small community located in North Carolina, within Carteret County. The total population is 1,060. It ranks as the 448th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Harkers Island is 61.5 years. This is 57% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 11.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.5% 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 Harkers Island is $60,000. This is 17% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Harkers Island, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $313,100. Housing costs are 8% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 89.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Harkers Island has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.4% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 92.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Harkers Island, 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.