1st Advantage MortgageIn Beaufort County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $58,357 a year and the typical rent is $871. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Beaufort County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Beaufort County
- Paychecks and income spread in Beaufort County
- Renting and owning in Beaufort County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Beaufort County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Beaufort County
- People and households in Beaufort County
- Reading the Beaufort County data as a borrower
- Four steps for Beaufort County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Beaufort County
- More guides for Beaufort County
- Frequently asked questions
Beaufort County at a glance
With an estimated 44,499 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Beaufort County ranks 57th of 100 in North Carolina for population. Packed into 833 square miles, that is close to 53 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Beaufort County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (7 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Washington, with about 9,726 residents, or 22% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Beaufort County
The biggest employer of Beaufort County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Public administration stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Beaufort County averages 3.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 6.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Beaufort County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Beaufort County
At $58,357, the typical Beaufort County household income is 11% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 60th of 100.
| Yearly household income | Beaufort County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.9% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -4.8 pts |
About 32% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. 17.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.465 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Beaufort County median.
Renting and owning in Beaufort County
Renters in Beaufort County pay a median of $871 a month, 29% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. With a median value of $192,700, a typical Beaufort County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 70% of Beaufort County households own their home and 30% rent.
| Measure | Beaufort County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $871/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $192,700 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Beaufort County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 42% of Beaufort County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,644 in Belhaven to $83,785 in Cypress Landing. Median rent ranges from $794 in Chocowinity to $958 in Aurora. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | city | 9,726 | $40,186 | $856 | 13 mi |
| River Road | CDP | 3,366 | $46,352 | $817 | 8 mi |
| Belhaven | town | 1,577 | $32,644 | $929 | 13 mi |
| Cypress Landing | CDP | 1,044 | $83,785 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Chocowinity | town | 903 | $41,382 | $794 | 15 mi |
| Aurora | town | 560 | $46,131 | $958 | 13 mi |
| Pantego | town | 493 | $60,417 | $840 | 13 mi |
| Washington Park | town | 456 | $88,750 | $1,167 | 11 mi |
| Bath | town | 391 | $103,611 | $1,146 | 2 mi |
| Bayview | CDP | 253 | $113,333 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Pinetown | CDP | 19 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 39 miles). Income ranges from $41,813 in Washington County to $65,873 in Craven County; 2 of these neighbors top Beaufort County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County | - | $58,357 | $871/mo | 70% |
| Pamlico County, NC | 25 mi | $59,717 | $752/mo | 83% |
| Craven County, NC | 29 mi | $65,873 | $1,110/mo | 68% |
| Washington County, NC | 29 mi | $41,813 | $743/mo | 68% |
| Martin County, NC | 30 mi | $48,578 | $758/mo | 67% |
| Pitt County, NC | 31 mi | $58,188 | $993/mo | 51% |
| Hyde County, NC | 39 mi | $53,713 | $1,263/mo | 72% |
Room for a loan payment in Beaufort County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Beaufort County's medians:
- $58,357 a year is $4,863 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($871)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $880 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,220 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Beaufort County
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Beaufort County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Beaufort County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Reading the Beaufort County data as a borrower
Where the Beaufort County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 22% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 47.7 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Four steps for Beaufort County borrowers
Quick steps for Beaufort County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Beaufort County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Beaufort County, check the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Beaufort County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Beaufort County earn?
The median is $58,357; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Beaufort County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $871 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Washington?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Beaufort County, such as River Road, Belhaven, Cypress Landing.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Beaufort County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Beaufort County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.