1st Advantage Mortgage29% of Pamlico County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $59,717 (ACS 2020-24). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in North Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- Pamlico County by the numbers
- Rent, home values and ownership in Pamlico County
- How Pamlico County residents earn a living
- Earnings across Pamlico County households
- How Pamlico County ranks in North Carolina
- The communities that make up Pamlico County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Reading the Pamlico County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Pamlico County median
- Pamlico County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Pamlico County borrowers
- North Carolina rules that apply in Pamlico County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pamlico County by the numbers
Pamlico County is home to about 12,390 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 91st most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Density: about 36.8 residents per square mile across 337 square miles of land. Metro status: none; Pamlico County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (9 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Bayboro, with about 1,266 residents, or 10% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Pamlico County
$752 a month is the median gross rent in Pamlico County, 39% below the state. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 48% in Pamlico County, 49% statewide. Pamlico County homes are worth $216,800 at the median, a 3.6-to-1 ratio to income. Owners occupy 83% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Pamlico County | North Carolina | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $752/mo | $1,228/mo | 39% lower |
| Median home value | $216,800 | $288,900 | 25% lower |
| Owners | 83% | 67% | +16.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | -1.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 25% | +4.5 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Pamlico 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.
How Pamlico County residents earn a living
Education and health care (26%), professional and administrative services (10%) and retail trade (10%) lead Pamlico County's job mix. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 1%). Unemployment in Pamlico County, ACS five-year: 5.1%; North Carolina: 4.7%. About 81% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 3.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Pamlico County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.4% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pamlico County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Earnings across Pamlico County households
Pamlico County households have a median income of $59,717 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 53rd of 100 in North Carolina.
| Income band | Share in Pamlico County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.2% | +9.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.5% | -2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | 0.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -6.0 pts |
32% under $35,000 and 29% at $100,000 or more: that is the Pamlico County income split. Pamlico County counts about 1,877 residents below the poverty line, 15.2% of the population. Gini index for Pamlico County: 0.455. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Pamlico County ranks in North Carolina
Out of every North Carolina county, Pamlico County is most unusual on these measures.
- Pamlico County ranks 4th highest of 100 North Carolina counties for median age: 54.1, against 39.1 statewide. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
- Pamlico County ranks 5th highest of 100 North Carolina counties for homeownership: 83%, against 67% statewide. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- Population: 12,390 in Pamlico County. Only 9 of 100 North Carolina counties are lower. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
- On households without a vehicle, Pamlico County sits near the bottom of North Carolina at 3.5%, 12th lowest of 100. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
The communities that make up Pamlico County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Pamlico County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 5,033 people, so roughly 59% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $73,690 at the median in Minnesott Beach, $33,636 in Bayboro. Bayboro and every other Pamlico County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayboro | town | 1,266 | $33,636 | $1,084 | 6 mi |
| Oriental | town | 873 | $57,880 | $1,138 | 8 mi |
| Alliance | town | 709 | $50,341 | $497 | 8 mi |
| Grantsboro | town | 645 | $54,583 | $838 | 10 mi |
| Minnesott Beach | town | 593 | $73,690 | $1,405 | 14 mi |
| Arapahoe | town | 397 | n/a | $1,136 | 13 mi |
| Vandemere | town | 209 | $35,833 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Mesic | town | 205 | $47,750 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Stonewall | town | 131 | $50,000 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Hobucken | CDP | 5 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Carteret County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Washington County, is 48 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Pamlico County; Carteret County is highest at $72,322 and Washington County lowest at $41,813.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pamlico County | - | $59,717 | $752/mo | 83% |
| Carteret County, NC | 21 mi | $72,322 | $1,108/mo | 75% |
| Craven County, NC | 24 mi | $65,873 | $1,110/mo | 68% |
| Beaufort County, NC | 25 mi | $58,357 | $871/mo | 70% |
| Hyde County, NC | 34 mi | $53,713 | $1,263/mo | 72% |
| Jones County, NC | 40 mi | $59,641 | $747/mo | 79% |
| Washington County, NC | 48 mi | $41,813 | $743/mo | 68% |
Reading the Pamlico County data as a borrower
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 25% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Age 54.1 at the median. Many Pamlico County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of Pamlico County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Budget math at the Pamlico County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Pamlico County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,976 a month: gross income for a household at the Pamlico County median
- Less median rent of $752, which is 15% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,040 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $59,717 median has less room than this, often none.
Pamlico County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Pamlico County | Compared with North Carolina | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | +15.0 yrs | +12.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.4% | -10.2 pts | +3.2 pts |
| Work from home | 11.1% | -5.3 pts | +2.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | +2.1 pts | +2.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | -1.9 pts | -2.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | -1.4 pts | +0.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | +0.4 pts | +0.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | +0.1 pts | n/a |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
Four steps for Pamlico County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Pamlico County credit union about member loans.
North Carolina rules that apply in Pamlico County
Pamlico County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
No city in Pamlico County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pamlico County household make?
About $59,717 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% below the North Carolina median.
Is Pamlico County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $752 against $1,228 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Is Hobucken covered?
Yes. Hobucken is one of 10 Census places in Pamlico County, and this guide covers all of them.
Will a Pamlico County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming North Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Pamlico County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.