Checked
Carteret County, NC
18 cities and towns and 17 ZIP codes in Carteret County, North Carolina.
Population
69,148
Land area
508sq mi
People per sq mi
136
ZIP codes
17
Cities and towns in Carteret County
Carteret County at a glance
- Carteret County is 38% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $72,322, close to the North Carolina median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $333,300 (15% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,108 a month.
- Its largest cities are Morehead City (9,806), Beaufort (4,689) and Newport (4,441).
Local data for Carteret County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes4
- Schools22
- Colleges1
- Libraries5
- Banks19
- Post Offices13
- Parks48
- Grocery Stores39
- Restaurants312
- Affordable Housing7
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers1
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment10
- Private Schools4
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities6
- Historic Places7
Housing and community stats
Carteret County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$72,322
Poverty rate
10.1%
Median home value
$333,300
Prices +9.5% in a year
Median rent
$1,108/mo
Homeownership
74.7%
Bachelor's or higher
34.5%
Median age
50.5
Average commute
23.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (9,510), Irish Americans (8,935), Italian Americans (3,356).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,719
25,622 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$74,177
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$654M
FY 2026, $9,659 per person
PPP loans
$110M
1,873 loans, 17,513 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$1.08M
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Carteret County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.3%
- Carpooled6.4%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked1.0%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home12.6%
Average one-way commute: 23.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Carteret County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
462
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
9,202
21.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 38°F
55.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Carteret County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.0%
U.S. 33.3% +0.7 pts
Diabetes
12.5%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
12.7%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
8.0%
U.S. 11.1% -3.1 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Carteret County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Carteret County, NC?
- Morehead City is the largest city or town in Carteret County, with about 9,806 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Carteret County?
- Carteret County includes 17 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28511, 28512, 28516, 28520, 28524.
- What is the population of Carteret County, NC?
- About 69,148 people live in Carteret County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Carteret County?
- Carteret County borders Onslow County, Craven County, Jones County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023