Morehead City town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Morehead City town is a small city located in North Carolina. The total population is 9,696. It ranks as the 98th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Morehead City town is 44.1 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 11.6% 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 Morehead City town is $53,718. This is 23% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.4%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $330,900. Housing costs are 28% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 47.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Morehead City town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.9%. The Black or African American population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

34.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about average 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 90.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Morehead City 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.