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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Emerald Isle

North Carolina · 3,488 residents · 4.92 sq mi
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Part of the Morehead City micropolitan area
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The short version

With 3,488 people, Emerald Isle is a city in North Carolina. The median age is 50.1, about 15 years above the US median. This is an unusually credentialed place: 40% of adults have a four-year degree. The population is up 43% since 1990. Owners hold 80% of the housing stock. Households here earn about 36% more than in North Carolina as a whole.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 50.1
US median: 35.2
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,488
+43%since 1990
from 2,434 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
50.1
+21%since 1990
from 41.2 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
4.92 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K3K4K4K19902000201020202024Emerald Isle
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 53.6%(125)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 93.3%(116)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 143.6%(124)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 193.7%(129)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 243.8%(131)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.2%(426)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4411.8%(411)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5416.7%(584)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6418.9%(660)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7416%(559)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.6%(197)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.7%(26)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,274
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $36,230 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,316
+45%since 1990
from $21,622 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
2.7%
−1.8 ptssince 1990
from 4.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$185,600
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $133,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$750
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $525 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
80.2%
+6.9 ptssince 1990
from 73.3% in 1990
19.8% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic99.7%(2,427)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(20)
Asian0.1%(2)
2000
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(3,335)
Black0.8%(27)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(57)
Asian0.6%(22)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Cuban0.1%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English30.2%(1,187)
German18.2%(715)
Irish15.9%(625)
American9.2%(361)
Polish5.6%(222)
Scottish3.9%(153)
Italian3.4%(134)
Scotch-Irish2.5%(97)
Norwegian2.4%(96)
French2.4%(93)
Russian1.5%(59)
Dutch1%(39)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.9%(37)
Danish0.7%(28)
Ukrainian0.7%(27)
British0.7%(26)
Hungarian0.6%(23)
West Indian0.6%(23)
Canadian0.6%(22)
Slovak0.4%(14)
Romanian0.2%(9)
Swedish0.2%(9)
Swiss0.2%(9)
Arab0.2%(6)
Lebanese0.2%(6)
Austrian0.2%(6)
Czech0.2%(6)
Greek0.2%(6)
Australian0.1%(4)
Portuguese0.1%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.2%
+2.7 ptssince 1990
from 37.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
95.1%
+4.2 ptssince 1990
from 90.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
13.9%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 13.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.2 min
−17%since 1990
from 23.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married22.1%(357)
Married64.8%(1,046)
Widowed2.5%(40)
Divorced10.7%(172)
Women 15+
Never married11.5%(174)
Married69.4%(1,050)
Widowed8.3%(126)
Divorced10.8%(163)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
2.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 9.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
56.2%
+6.1 ptssince 2020
from 50.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
30.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 29.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
38.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2020
from 32.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
6.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 5.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 6.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
86.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 85.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
43.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2020
from 38.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)34.4%(148)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)44.4%(191)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.9%(150)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War7.2%(31)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 430 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Emerald Isle to nearby cities

EMERALD ISLE VS
Piney Green
Income$72,177+35%
Home value$227,600+23%
Population14,078+255%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMERALD ISLE VS
Morehead City
Income$56,233+6%
Home value$357,400+93%
Population10,434+163%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMERALD ISLE VS
Havelock
Income$58,408+10%
Home value$207,700+12%
Population17,430+339%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMERALD ISLE VS
Jacksonville
Income$57,697+8%
Home value$210,100+13%
Population72,732+1732%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

Emerald Isle, North Carolina has about 3,488 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

The typical household in Emerald Isle, North Carolina earns about $53,274 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Emerald Isle, North Carolina expensive?

In Emerald Isle, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $185,600, and the typical rent is about $750 a month.

How educated are people in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

About 40.2% of adults age 25 and over in Emerald Isle, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

About 2.7% of people in Emerald Isle, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Emerald Isle, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Emerald Isle, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,054 residents, a change of about 43 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →