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Morehead City, NC
Town in Carteret County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28557.
Population
9,806
Land area
7.4sq mi
People per sq mi
1,323
ZIP codes
1
Morehead City and its ZIP codes
Morehead City at a glance
- Morehead City is about 6 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 98th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $56,233 a year, 22% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $357,400 (24% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,134 a month.
Local data for Morehead City, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes2
- Schools8
- Colleges1
- Banks10
- Post Offices1
- Parks6
- Grocery Stores16
- Restaurants114
- Affordable Housing4
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers1
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment7
- Private Schools3
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities2
- Historic Places1
Housing and community stats
Morehead City, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,233
Poverty rate
18.1%
Median home value
$357,400
Median rent
$1,134/mo
Homeownership
46.7%
Bachelor's or higher
35.6%
Median age
44.2
Average commute
18.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,258), Irish Americans (964), Italian Americans (586).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Carteret County. PPP loans are for Morehead City.
Unemployment rate
2.8%
Sep 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
How people get to work
Morehead City, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.9%
- Carpooled3.5%
- Public transit0.4%
- Walked1.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home12.1%
Average one-way commute: 18.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Morehead City, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
462
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
9,202
21.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 36°F
61.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Morehead City, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.9%
U.S. 33.3% +1.6 pts
Diabetes
12.6%
U.S. 12.1% +0.5 pts
Smoking
13.5%
U.S. 12.8% +0.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.5%
U.S. 11.1% -1.6 pts
Crime in Morehead City
Morehead City Police Department, reported to the FBI for 2025
- Violent crime
- 268
- per 100,000 people · 80% of the NC rate
- Property crime
- 2,008
- per 100,000 people · 111% of the NC rate
Crime trends and details for Morehead City Police Department
ZIP codes in Morehead City
1 in or overlapping Morehead City. Population shown
Cities near Morehead City
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Brandywine BayCensus-designated place | 2.9 mi | 0.8 |
| Pine Knoll ShoresTown | 2.9 mi | 2.2 |
| Atlantic BeachTown | 2.9 mi | 2.4 |
| NewportTown | 6.3 mi | 7.9 |
| BeaufortTown | 7.2 mi | 5.1 |
| Indian BeachTown | 7.2 mi | 0.6 |
| Broad CreekCensus-designated place | 8.2 mi | 3.1 |
| Harkers IslandCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 2.2 |
| GloucesterCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.4 |
| HavelockCity | 14 mi | 17.1 |
| Cherry BranchCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| BogueTown | 14 mi | 2.7 |
| MarshallbergCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| Emerald IsleTown | 15 mi | 4.9 |
| Cape CarteretTown | 16 mi | 2.5 |
| Cedar PointTown | 17 mi | 2.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Morehead City, NC in?
- Morehead City is in Carteret County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Morehead City, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Morehead City include 28557.
- What is the population of Morehead City, NC?
- About 9,806 people live in Morehead City, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Morehead City?
- Nearby places include Brandywine Bay (2.9 mi), Pine Knoll Shores (2.9 mi), Atlantic Beach (2.9 mi), Newport (6.3 mi), Beaufort (7.2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023