1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Carteret County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $72,322. 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
- Carteret County at a glance
- Household income in Carteret County
- Work, industries and travel time in Carteret County
- What it costs to live in Carteret County
- Counties near Carteret County
- The communities that make up Carteret County
- People and households in Carteret County
- Before borrowing in Carteret County
- Budget math at the Carteret County median
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- A Carteret County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Carteret County
- Frequently asked questions
Carteret County at a glance
Carteret County is home to about 69,148 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 39th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Land area is 508 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 136 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Carteret County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 18 Census places inside Carteret County, Morehead City leads by population with about 9,806; 11 of the 18 are incorporated.
Household income in Carteret County
Carteret County households have a median income of $72,322 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 21st of 100 in North Carolina.
| Band | Carteret County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.1% | +0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | -0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.1% | +0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.8% | -0.6 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.1% of Carteret County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.472 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Carteret County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Carteret County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 9% locally and 4% for North Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. Households without a car make up 3.7% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Top industries | Carteret County share | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.9% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 8.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.4% | +0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Carteret County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,108 in Carteret County versus $1,228 statewide. By the Census definition, 57% of Carteret County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $333,300, or 4.6 years of median income. 75% of Carteret County households own their home and 25% rent.
| Measure | Carteret County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,108/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $333,300 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 39% | 13% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Carteret County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Counties near Carteret County
Distances run center to center, from Pamlico County at 21 miles out to Onslow County at 55. Income ranges from $53,713 in Hyde County to $68,148 in Onslow County; none of these neighbors top Carteret County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret County | - | $72,322 | $1,108/mo | 75% |
| Pamlico County, NC | 21 mi | $59,717 | $752/mo | 83% |
| Craven County, NC | 36 mi | $65,873 | $1,110/mo | 68% |
| Hyde County, NC | 44 mi | $53,713 | $1,263/mo | 72% |
| Beaufort County, NC | 46 mi | $58,357 | $871/mo | 70% |
| Jones County, NC | 48 mi | $59,641 | $747/mo | 79% |
| Onslow County, NC | 55 mi | $68,148 | $1,265/mo | 64% |
The communities that make up Carteret County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 18 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Carteret County residents live in one of the 18. Pine Knoll Shores has the highest median household income on the list ($109,375) and Atlantic the lowest ($51,071), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Beaufort ($835) and steepest in Brandywine Bay ($2,141). No Carteret County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 18.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead City | town | 9,806 | $56,233 | $1,134 | 15 mi |
| Beaufort | town | 4,689 | $53,321 | $835 | 11 mi |
| Newport | town | 4,441 | $56,351 | $896 | 20 mi |
| Emerald Isle | town | 3,934 | $89,773 | $1,704 | 31 mi |
| Cape Carteret | town | 2,703 | $86,136 | $1,745 | 32 mi |
| Cedar Point | town | 1,917 | $98,750 | $1,438 | 33 mi |
| Broad Creek | CDP | 1,836 | $57,500 | $908 | 23 mi |
| Atlantic Beach | town | 1,719 | $70,402 | $1,206 | 16 mi |
| Pine Knoll Shores | town | 1,351 | $109,375 | $1,750 | 20 mi |
| Brandywine Bay | CDP | 1,313 | $105,000 | $2,141 | 19 mi |
| Harkers Island | CDP | 1,060 | $60,000 | $1,125 | 11 mi |
| Peletier | town | 1,009 | $55,893 | $1,196 | 32 mi |
| Bogue | town | 756 | $93,516 | $1,188 | 30 mi |
| Atlantic | CDP | 522 | $51,071 | n/a | 11 mi |
People and households in Carteret County
College graduates make up 35% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.1%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Indicator | Carteret County | All of North Carolina | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Carteret County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Before borrowing in Carteret County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Carteret County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Retirees. At a median age of 50.5, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Budget math at the Carteret County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Carteret County's medians:
- Start: $6,027 gross per month ($72,322 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,108, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,001 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,712 total minus rent leaves $1,604
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Before sharing details with a lender, a Carteret County resident can confirm its license with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
A Carteret County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Carteret County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Carteret County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Carteret County earn?
The median is $72,322; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Carteret County rent compare with North Carolina?
$1,108 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 10% below.
I own my home in Carteret County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Morehead City?
Yes, along with the other 17 Census places in Carteret County, such as Beaufort, Newport, Emerald Isle.
Are Carteret County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.